Lokah Chapter One: Chandra (2025)

 Lokah Chapter One: Chandra — A Review

Overview

Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra, a Malayalam dark fantasy superhero film directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under the Wayfarer Films banner, was released on 28 August 2025.

The film introduces us to Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan), who is secretly a centuries-old supernatural being (a yakshi named Neeli) trying to find her way in the modern world while fighting forces rooted in folklore, myth, and human cruelty.

It also attempts to establish a cinematic universe — several cameos, teases, plot threads, and lore are set up to be redeemed in subsequent entries.

What Works Well

Impressive Lead Performance

Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra is universally praised. Her acting has mythic resonance and emotional anchorage. She can inhabit the supernatural and the human, which the film needs.

World-building & Folklore Anchoring

The merging of Kerala folklore, myth, and fantasy superhero concept is among the film's strong points. Dominic Arun does not merely use folklore as decoration; he weaves it into character backstories, the supernatural rules, and the moral crises. It makes the film feel rooted, not just visually stunning.

Visuals, Technical Craft

Cinematography, production design, colour grading, visual effects and sound are all competently handled and help create an immersive experience. The film is "visually bold," as many reviewers note.

Ambition & Scale

The film is taking a risk — a female lead in a fantasy-superhero based on local myth, with the risk of opening up a bigger universe. It is not every day that such an attempt at scale is being tried without relying solely on spectacle alone. For that, Lokah is being credited by most critics and audiences.

Box Office & Audience Reaction

It has also fared well at the box office as a pan-India film and has been embraced by audiences. Box office numbers are proof that it is not just critical appreciation.

What Doesn't Quite Work / Weaknesses

Pacing Issues and the Second Half

Several reviews mention that while the first half establishes tension, mystery, and intrigue well, the second half is a bit overstuffed — too many setup scenes, cameos, universe building, which sometimes dilute the emotional momentum.

Villain / Antagonist Simplicity

Some antagonistic elements (especially character motives) are felt to be a bit one-dimensional. The villain(s) could have been more nuanced rather than representations of patriarchal or moral decay alone.

Romance / Relationships Could Be Stronger

The character relationships (especially the romantic ones) are sometimes not as developed as the larger mythic and thematic ambition would have you expecting. There were promises of deeper emotional resonance that was not always fully developed.

Length vs. Focus

The running time (around 149 minutes) is long enough that a few audiences may feel fatigued, especially if the narrative switches between epic world-building set pieces and more restrained character moments too frequently. A few strands (cameos or supporting characters) may feel underused.

Significance & What Makes It Special

Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra is one of the first, in Malayalam (and maybe in Indian cinema), to have a female supernatural heroine, based on local mythology, leading a big-budget fantasy/superhero extravaganza. That in itself is notable.

It shows how regional cinema can be world-class in terms of technical craft (VFX, production design) without compromise on connection to local culture and folklore.

It augurs a shift (or at least an expansion) in audience appetite: not just escapism, but myth, moral complexity, and female heroism in genres traditionally ruled by male heroes.

As an opening chapter in a putative universe, it is auspicious: if subsequent chapters rein in what is a bit loose here, there is the possibility of a very sound, sustained franchise.

Lokah Chapter One: Chandra is not flawless, but it's a bold and thrilling step forward. For fantasy, myth, and superhero fans — especially those who enjoy films with heart and local color — there's plenty here to justify a cinema visit. It doesn't break every stereotype, but it bends enough of them to seem fresh.

If I'd recommend it to a person: see it in the theater for the visuals and the experience. Suffer through the first hour, as the payoff is there. And beware the sequel — this has the potential of being one of those starts that could lead somewhere amazing.