Pre-production started on 12 September 2024, with principal photography beginning under a working title Production No: 7, and was completed by 30 January 2025 lasting for 94 days. Title Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra was unveiled on June 2025. Nimish Ravi, Chaman Chakko, and Jakes Bejoy formed the technical crew as cinematographer, editing and music respectively.
The film was released in theatres on 28 August 2025 to generally positive reviews from critics.
Plot
Chandra, a mysterious goth woman from Sweden, is summoned to Bangalore by Prakash, an agent of Moothon, a shadowy figure who commands superpowered beings across the world. Upon her arrival, Chandra rents an apartment where she crosses paths with Sunny, a jobless youth, and his friends Venu, a former MBBS student, and Naijil. Although Sunny is smitten with her, Chandra avoids social contact and works night shifts at a café.
At the same time, an organ trafficking ring operates in the state with the backing of Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, a conservative policeman who openly condemns alcohol, drugs, and the independence of women. When Murugesan, a member of the ring, attempts an acid attack at Chandra’s workplace, she secretly uses her powers to save both a co-worker and Sunny, who briefly glimpses her supernatural abilities. Murugesan reports this to Nachiyappa, who later encounters Chandra again during a raid on Sunny’s apartment.
The following day, Chandra unexpectedly shows Sunny a warmer side before retreating into her usual cold demeanor. Seeking revenge, Murugesan and his gang kidnap Chandra, with Sunny following. When they attempt to kill her, she regains consciousness and reveals herself as a vampire by biting the attackers. Sunny witnesses this transformation as Chandra disposes of the bodies and confides in him her true identity: Kalliyankattu Neeli.
Centuries earlier in Kerala, Neeli belonged to a forest tribe banned from entering the king’s temple. After children from the tribe stole a sacred charm, the king ordered a massacre of the entire community. While hiding in a cave, Neeli was bitten by bats from a shrine and transformed into a vampire. Helplessly, she watched her family executed before slaughtering the king’s men with her newfound powers. She wandered the world under different identities until Kadamattathu Kathanar seemingly exorcised her, only to secretly recruit her for a lineage of guardians protecting the world by gathering superpowered beings. His family continued to aid her across generations.
Back in Bangalore, Nachiyappa discovers one of Chandra’s lenses at a crime scene and breaks into her apartment. In the ensuing fight, she bites him, but he escapes after shooting Sunny. Chandra hides Sunny with the help of Venu and Naijil, revealing her vampire nature to them. Meanwhile, Nachiyappa begins turning into a vampire himself, eventually killing his own mother.
Nachiyappa’s forces track Chandra to an abandoned clinic, but she and her companions are rescued by Chathan, a superpowered goblin. He brings them to a secret hideout managed by a descendant of Kathanar. Soon after, the Home Minister establishes a special forces team, the Garuda Force, tasked with capturing Chandra and Sunny. In a government assault on the hideout, Chandra faces Nachiyappa in a final battle, killing him permanently by stabbing his heart. She bids farewell to Sunny and his friends, promising to return if another anomaly arises.
In the mid-credits scene, an unidentified man eliminates the remnants of the trafficking ring, eventually revealing himself as Charlie, a superpowered ninja.
In the post-credits scene, an unidentified man (Vijay Menon) questions Chathan about an archaeological expedition into one of India’s deepest caves, by a team of archaeologists, scientists and a monk, from which only the monk returned, having refused to go past a point of the cave. The only image captured on a recovered camera from the cave, resembled Chathan himself. When asked if the being was truly him, Chathan responds that it could instead be one of his 389 siblings.
Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra is the seventh production venture of Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films.[5][6] It is intended as the beginning of a full-fledged Malayalam superhero cinematic universe titled Lokah, a project being mounted on a large scale with a possibility of multiple chapters.[5][7] Dulquer Salmaan aims to build an indigenous cinematic universe rooted in local culture, folklore, and mythology.[8][9]Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen joined as the main cast. Kalyani practiced martial arts for the film.[10]
The film is written and directed by Dominic Arun, known for Tharangam (2017).[11] Dominic Arun revealed that the idea for the film was discussed as early as 2020 and developed organically, emphasizing that creating a female superhero was not a deliberate attempt to break the mold.[11]Santhy Balachandran has contributed to the additional screenplay.[11][12] The technical crew includes Nimish Ravi as the cinematographer,[12]Chaman Chakko as the editor,[12]Jakes Bejoy for music,[12] Banglan as the production designer,[12] and Yannick Ben handling action choreography.[12] Melwy J. handled the costume design, collaborating with Archana Akhil Rao for specific sequences, including Kalyani Priyadarshan's looks.[11] Jom Varghese and Bibin Perumballi are serving as executive producers.[6][5]
The film's pre-production began on 12 September 2024,[13] and the Principal photography commencing with a muhurat pooja ceremony on the same day under a working title Production No: 7, marking Kalyani's first film with Naslen and her second feature with Dulquer Salmaan's production banner.[13][14] The shooting for the film was completed by 30 January 2025.[15] Shooting lasted for 94 days.[16] Film's title Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra was unveiled on June 2025 and the cast also includes Chandu Salimkumar, Arun Kurian, Vijayaraghavan, Raghunath Paleri, Sarath Sabha, Nithya Shri, and Nishanth Sagar.[17]
Music
The film's promo song, titled "Thani Lokah Murakkaari", sung by Jyoti Nooran of the Nooran Sisters in her Malayalam debut. The track, composed by Jakes Bejoy with rap portions by Reble, carries lyrics penned by writer-filmmaker Muhsin Parari, credited under his pseudonym "Mu.Ri".[18]
Release
The film released in theaters on 28 August 2025.[19][20]This movie from the original Malayalam language, it was released in the Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada languages.
Reception
Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra received generally positive reviews from critics.
Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express rated 4/5, noting that "What makes the Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen-starrer far better than other massive-budget fantasy spectacles is that its magnificence extends beyond visual brilliance to include impeccable writing".[21] Cinema Express gave the film a 3.5/5 rating stating that " A bold, imperfect but unforgettable step into Malayalam cinema’s first mythic universe, where Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Chandra embodies folklore, fire, and neon spectacle in a world still finding its full shape".[22]
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