Pre-production began on 12 September 2024, with principal photography commencing under the working title Production No: 7, and was completed by 30 January 2025 lasting for 94 days. Title Lokah Chapter One: Chandra was unveiled on 8 June 2025. Nimish Ravi, Chaman Chakko, and Jakes Bejoy formed the technical crew as the cinematographer, editor and music director respectively.
In an introductory scene, Chandra Ananya retrieves a mysterious package in a building in a war-torn city and narrowly escapes an encounter with an agent of Ishtar. In the present, she summoned from Sweden to Bangalore, where she crosses paths with Sunny Kurian, an unemployed graduate, and his friends. Chandra keeps to herself, working night shifts, but intervenes when her co-worker is attacked, revealing supernatural strength.
As an organ trafficking ring led by crime boss Gajendran operates with police support, Inspector Nachiyappa begins investigating Chandra. After she is kidnapped and attacked, Chandra transforms into a yakshi, a supernatural being, and kills her assailants, revealing her true identity: Kalliyankattu Neeli, a mythical vampire recruited by the ancient priest Kadamattathu Kathanar to serve Moothon, a secretive protector of balance. Sunny, who follows the assailants to save Chandra, witnesses the murder and faints.
As Nachiyappa begins turning into a yaksha himself, Chandra and her allies go into hiding. After a government strike led by a special Garuda Force, Chandra defeats Nachiyappa in a climactic battle and goes underground, promising to return if needed.
In a mid-credits scene, a mysterious ninja-like Odiyan named Charlie eliminates the trafficking ring. A post-credits conversation hints at deeper supernatural forces as Chathan, a goblin, is questioned about an ancient cave expedition tied to his origins.
Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra is the seventh production venture of Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films.[9][10] 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.[9] Dulquer Salmaan aims to build an indigenous cinematic universe rooted in local culture, folklore, and mythology.[11][12]Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen joined as the main cast. Kalyani had practiced martial arts for the film.[13]
The film is written and directed by Dominic Arun, known for Tharangam (2017).[14] 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.[14]Santhy Balachandran has contributed to the additional screenplay and dramaturgy.[14][15] The technical crew includes Nimish Ravi as the cinematographer,[15]Chaman Chakko as the editor,[15]Jakes Bejoy for music,[15] Banglan as the production designer,[15] and Yannick Ben handling action choreography.[15] Melwy J. handled the costume design, collaborating with Archana Akhil Rao for specific sequences, including Kalyani Priyadarshan's looks.[14] Jom Varghese and Bibin Perumballi served as executive producers.[10][9]
The film's pre-production began on 12 September 2024,[16] 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.[16][17] The shooting for the film was completed by 30 January 2025.[18] Shooting lasted for 94 days.[19] The film's title Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra was unveiled on 8 June 2025,[20] with the cast including Chandu Salimkumar, Arun Kurian, Vijayaraghavan, Raghunath Paleri, Sarath Sabha, Nithya Shri, and Nishanth Sagar.[21]
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".[22]
Some dialogues by the character of Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda received outrage for negatively portraying the residents of Bangalore. The dialogue referred Bengaluru as the "the hub of parties and drugs" and equating women in the city to prostitutes. Later the production house Wayfarer Films issued an open apology for hurting the sentiments of the people.[23][24][25]
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra received generally positive reviews from critics.
Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 4/5 stars, 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".[37] Vivek Santhosh of The New Indian Express gave the film 3.5/5 stars 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".[38] Manjusha Radhakrishnan of Gulf News rated 4/5 and wrote, "Superhero saga done right blending Indian folklore with Hollywood swagger."[39]
Roopa Radhakrishnan of The Times of India gave the film 3.5/5 stars and noted that while Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra has its flaws, such as a slow start, overstretched feeling of cameos, and some jokes that don't land, its positives outweigh the negatives. The review praises the film for its commendable and ambitious world-building, strong cast performances, striking cinematography, and "is more about consistent world-building rather than instant payoffs."[40]
Swathi P. Ajith of Onmanorama praised Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra for its "bold" visual design and "immersive" world-building, noting its unique blend of Kerala folklore and the modern-day superhero genre. While the review commended Kalyani Priyadarshan's physical performance, "her portrayal falters slightly" in her emotional range. The film was described as a "visual treat" with its bold colour scheme and a technically well-rendered design. However, it was also noted that the momentum dropped in the second half of the film. She wrote: "Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra may not rewrite the superhero rulebook, but it earns full marks for effort."[41]
Athira M of The Hindu noted that Lokah Chapter: 1 Chandra handles the superhero genre with expertise, praising its "catchy" cinematic quality, visual effects, production design, and background score. The review highlighted Kalyani Priyadarshan's performance as "the first female superhero of Malayalam cinema", stating she "steals the show" with her confidence and poise, while also commending the "well-structured flashback" and supporting cast. The review concluded that the film lays a solid foundation for a bigger cinematic universe and wrote: "The film is not without flaws, but they are minor ones that can be ignored."[42]
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