Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (2025)

It is rare to see Indian cinema place a woman at the centre of a superhero film. It is even rarer to see vampire-like elements explored in a Malayalam film. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra attempts both. For the most part, it succeeds. Kalyani Priyadarshan uses the space well and delivers a confident performance, making the film engaging to watch. Mangoidiots rates it a Ripe.

The story is set in a crime-infested locality in Bengaluru, where even the local police officer is corrupt. A young woman named Chandra arrives in this neighbourhood. Across the street lives Sunny, a young man sharing an apartment with his friends. He falls in love with Chandra, without knowing anything about her past. Chandra keeps her superpowers hidden, goes about her routine, and works at a local restaurant. When criminal elements push her too far, she is forced to reveal her true self. What follows is a chain of action, destruction, and escalating danger.

The casting works well. Sandy as Inspector Nachiyappa is suitably menacing. Naslen brings innocence to Sunny, and his friends, played by Chandu Salim Kumar and Arun Kurian, add energy without becoming distractions. Cinematographer Nimish Ravi opts for a dark palette and a largely nocturnal setting, with frequent blood-soaked visuals that clearly lean into a vampire aesthetic. As the film progresses, this approach begins to feel overused, giving certain stretches an artificial tone that the story did not really demand.

The cameo appearance of Dulquer Salmaan in the climax was a pleasant surprise. His entry is effective and leaves you curious about where the Lokah universe is headed next.

The background score is excessively loud and often overwhelms the scenes. Chandra’s backstory is interesting and well thought through, but the present-day events and the mystery around those helping her feel weak and unconvincing. These logic gaps hold the film back. Had they been addressed, Lokah could have easily moved closer to world-class superhero cinema. Hopefully, the sequel tightens these loose ends.