Actor Kalyani Priyadarshan recently opened up about the journey behind Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, India’s first female-led superhero film, in an interview with Post-cut Clarity. While the film has gone on to become a box office success—grossing ₹165 crore worldwide in just 10 days—Kalyani revealed that things looked uncertain right before its release.
Reflecting on the night before the film hit theatres on August 28, Kalyani recalled a heartfelt phone call from producer Dulquer Salmaan that grounded and encouraged her.
“He called me and said, ‘I don’t care if I lose money on this film. I’m just glad we made a good film.’ Because we were sure we made something meaningful. Whether or not it resonated with the audience was out of our hands,” she said.
“He told me, ‘Don’t even look at the numbers. Just know I’m really happy as a producer. I think this is why we got into cinema. Whatever happens, even if it’s a small audience, the film will find its people.’”
Dulquer Championed Chandra’s Story
Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra marks the beginning of a five-part cinematic universe. Despite having the option to begin with more traditionally “commercial” characters, Dulquer Salmaan was adamant about launching the franchise with Chandra’s story.
“Initially, it was meant to be a small standalone film just about Chandra,” Kalyani shared. “Once Dulquer came onboard, he saw a larger universe in it. Even then, when others suggested beginning with a more bankable character, he said, ‘No, this is Chandra’s story. Let’s begin with her. This is the gateway into everything else.’”
She added that Dulquer’s unwavering commitment helped preserve the soul of the project, even as its scale expanded.
A Folkloric Superhero Tale
Directed by Dominic Arun, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra stars Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra, a powerful supernatural being inspired by the folklore figure Neeli, a yakshi (vampire). The film blends myth, fantasy, and action in a groundbreaking superhero narrative led by a female protagonist.
The film also features Naslen, Sandy, Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Nishanth Sagar, Raghunath Paleri, Vijayaraghavan, Nithya Shri, and Sarath Sabha. Cameos by Tovino Thomas and Dulquer Salmaan add star power, while Mammootty lends his voice to the enigmatic character Moothon.
With Chandra kicking off what promises to be a rich cinematic universe, both the creators and audiences have embraced the film’s bold beginning—led by a character whose story, as Dulquer insisted, deserved to be told first.
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