Last year, Telugu director Prasanth Varma created waves with HanuMan, a socio-fantasy superhero blockbuster. Inspired by such indigenous storytelling rooted in folklore and mythology, Dulquer Salmaan has now taken a bold step by launching a Malayalam Superhero Cinematic Universe as a producer. The first chapter of this ambitious venture, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, directed by Dominic Arun, hit theatres today. With Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead, the big question is – did the film live up to the hype? Let’s find out.

Story:

Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan), a mysterious woman with supernatural powers who survives on blood, shifts from Sweden to Bangalore and takes up a night-shift job at a café. Across the street lives Sunny (Naslen), an unemployed youngster, along with his friends Venu and Naijil. Meanwhile, police inspector Nachiyappa Gowda (Sandy) is secretly working with an organ trafficking mafia. What happens when Chandra and Nachiyappa’s paths cross? How does Sunny’s infatuation with Chandra evolve? And why does Chandra only step out at night? The answers form the core of this story.

Performances:

• Kalyani Priyadarshan shines in her career-best performance. Playing a female superhero in a male-dominated industry is no easy feat, but she carries it with grace and conviction.
• Naslen is the show-stealer. His effortless comedy timing and natural charm elevate the film.
• Chandu Salimkumar as Venu is hilarious and pairs perfectly with Naslen for laugh-out-loud moments.
• Sandy impresses as the corrupt cop who later turns rogue vampire – a role that adds strong weight to the proceedings.
• Tovino Thomas (extended cameo), Dulquer Salmaan, Mammootty, and Soubin Shahir make their presence felt with impactful cameos, setting up future chapters in the franchise.

Technical Highlights:

• Background Score: Jakes Bejoy delivers an energetic score that elevates multiple sequences.
• Cinematography: Nimish Ravi captures Bangalore’s nightlife with a stunning visual palette, adding richness to the film.
• Production Design: Despite budget constraints, the art direction and production design succeed in giving the film grandeur.
• Wayfarer Films (Dulquer’s banner) ensures decent production values, making the film look bigger than its budget.

Positives:

1. Organic humour that feels natural, not forced
2. Strong performances, especially Kalyani and Naslen
3. Engaging background score
4. Attention to detail in visuals and design
5. Smart use of cameos

Negatives:

1. Weak emotional connect with the protagonist
2. Heroine lacks a clear purpose in this chapter
3. Some convenient storytelling choices
4. Underutilised organ mafia subplot
5. Tovino’s cameo could have been better written

Analysis:

Dominic Arun approaches Lokah with an interesting thought – “What if our folklore legends are still living among us?” Instead of forcing mythology as history, he weaves it into an engaging, fantasy-driven narrative. The humour is organic, particularly in the second half, where Naslen and Chandu Salimkumar’s sequences bring genuine laughs.

Another plus is the refreshing use of cameos. Unlike many films where cameos are used as mere adrenaline boosters, here they serve the story’s purpose. The pre-interval sequence with Chandra and Neeli is executed brilliantly using a back-and-forth screenplay technique, leaving a strong impact.

However, the film falters in not establishing an emotional depth with the protagonist. A superhero truly connects with the audience only when they emerge as a saviour figure, but Chandra spends most of her journey fending for herself. The organ mafia subplot could have added that missing depth but wasn’t explored enough. Similarly, while Tovino Thomas’ cameo was exciting, the humour-heavy writing around his character did not land effectively.

On the technical front, Arun smartly minimises VFX and instead uses real locations, giving the film a raw, grounded yet visually rich feel. The choice to portray Bangalore in a unique way also deserves appreciation.

Verdict:

Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra is an entertaining and promising start to Dulquer Salmaan’s superhero universe. While it falls short in emotional depth and character purpose, it succeeds in humour, technical finesse, and performances. With stronger writing in future instalments, this cinematic universe has the potential to grow big.

Bottomline: A fairly entertaining start with scope for more impactful chapters ahead.