‘Lokah Chapter 1:Chandra’ is a Malayalam movie. Malayalam movies are closely related to the rich folklore of Kerala. Directors have been making movies based on Kerala’s folklore for a long time. It can be said that Malayalam movies have a deep connection with Kerala’s folklore. However, it would be wrong to call them only folklore. Inspired by folklore, movies of different genres such as horror, fantasy, and stories based on social context have also been made for a long time. As a result, Indian folklore and Kerala’s culture have found their place in the world’s court through cinema.
‘Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra’ is a film starring Chandrakalyani Priyadarshan and Naslan, which was released in theaters on 28 August 2025. The film was directed by Dominic Arun. Produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s production company, Wafer Films, the film stars Chandra as a fantasy superhero character. The story of the film is based on a Kerala folk tale. “Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra” is said to have earned more than 300 crores at the box office, making it the biggest hit film in the history of Malayalam cinema.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Ai Movie Review
The audience has said about this film that every scene in this film is eye-opening from the very beginning, from the story to the execution, making you think with your brain. Jax’s performance in this film was like setting the screen on fire. Kalyani has acted brilliantly, and Naslan can also be called innovative. This film is basically a fantasy or adventure film. The screenplay is praiseworthy.
Kerala folklore combined with the story:- Lokah creates a world of amazing ideas. The story of this film is similar to the story of Kaliyankattu Neeli, one of the most recognized characters in Kerala folklore. Kerala folklore was compiled by the 19th century writer Kottarathil Sankunni. One of the main characters in this collection is Neeli, who is a powerful Yakshi, or evil spirit. This Neeli enters a forest called Kaliyankattu and lures lonely and often upper-caste men and eats them. This character of this story has become quite popular over the past few decades and has been portrayed on several screens. This story has deeply influenced the Malayali psyche.
Lokah director Dominic and actor-writer Santhi Balachandran transform the character of Neely into a nomadic superhero Chandra, who has been protecting the weak for centuries and becomes empowered to punish the powerful. The story revolves around a superhero girl who takes a new turn in her life when she discovers that she is no ordinary girl.
The director has described Lokah as a modern take on a folk tale. It is a Malayalam thriller story that combines suspense, mystery and fantasy elements. In short, this movie has captivated the audience.