Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025) [Movie Review] — A brave step into Malayalam superhero cinema

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra stakes a confident claim as Malayalam cinema’s first major female-led superhero outing. Dominic Arun and co-writer Santhy Balachandran favor slow, deliberate world-building over instant spectacle, and the payoff—when it arrives—is emotionally satisfying and visually striking.

Plot — Myth meets the everyday:

A mysterious woman named Chandra collides with three listless young men and a hard-nosed cop, upending the fragile normalcy around them. Told through folklore-tinged beats, the story slowly reveals Chandra’s origins and moral core while exploring how myth and modern life collide.

Direction & screenplay — Ambition with restraint:

Dominic Arun’s direction pairs quiet moments with occasional grandiosity, weaving immortal lore into a contemporary setting. The screenplay leans into symbolic names and familiar motifs, which keeps the film rooted, though the pacing requires patience—early comic stretches and a leisurely first act mean the film earns rather than demands your attention.

Performances — Heart anchors the spectacle:

Kalyani Priyadarshan surprises by imbuing Chandra with vulnerability and gravitas, making a larger-than-life role feel human. Naslen and the trio of young men provide natural, unaffected chemistry—dialogue delivery often feels lived-in rather than staged. Sandy Master, as the relentless cop, is a standout, and veterans like Vijayaraghavan add weight during crucial storytelling moments.

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Cameos & ensemble — Glimpses of star power:

Tovino Thomas, Dulquer Salmaan, and Mammootty turn up in notable cameos that are integrated into the plot rather than pure stunt casting. A few appearances feel slightly extended, but they’re handled thoughtfully and hint at broader plans for the Lokah universe.

Technical craft — Visually rich, sonically alive:

Nimish Ravi’s cinematography gives the film its most memorable moments—haunting, composed frames that lift ordinary scenes into fable. Jakes Bejoy’s score alternates between ethereal and propulsive, fitting a film that straddles folklore and superhero tropes.

Weaknesses — Occasional flatness in the shades of grey:

Some supporting characters remain sketchy, their moral ambiguity underexplored. A handful of Malayalam lines lack conversational ease, and certain comic beats in the first half don’t land as intended. Still, these flaws rarely derail the film’s overall momentum.

Why it matters — A foundation for more:

Lokah prioritizes consistent world-building over immediate thrills. It’s less about blockbuster payoff and more about planting seeds for a regional superhero saga—ambitious in scope and sincere in tone.

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Final verdict — Worth your time:

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

For viewers willing to trade instant spectacle for careful mythmaking and strong performances, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is a gratifying start. It won’t redefine the genre overnight, but it establishes a promising, female-led mythos for Malayalam cinema to build on.