Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra

I just finished watching Lokah, and honestly, it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. It is rare to come across a movie that keeps you hooked from the very first frame till the end credits, but this one absolutely did that. The film was not only entertaining, but it also managed to give a sense of scale and excitement that I have hardly seen in Malayalam cinema before.

The cinematography is one of the biggest highlights. Every frame feels rich, detailed, and thoughtfully crafted. It makes you want to pause and just take in the visuals. The music is another strong point, it builds tension when required, gives goosebumps in the right places, and adds so much to the overall energy of the film. Together, the visuals and sound carry the audience on a thrilling ride.

The cameos deserve a special mention. They were surprising, powerful, and had the whole theatre buzzing. It was one of those moments that makes you cheer as a fan, and it was handled perfectly without feeling forced.

The villain is also extremely well-written and acted. A strong villain is what makes a hero shine brighter, and Lokah gets that balance spot on. The presence, dialogue, and performance all left a lasting impression.

More than anything, what stood out to me was how ambitious this film felt. It is not just another movie, it feels like a milestone. The scale, the creativity, and the way it has been put together really push the Malayalam film industry to another level. It shows what is possible when vision and execution come together so well.

Overall, Lokah is a must-watch. It is thrilling, grand, and incredibly entertaining. For me, this is "levels."

Lokah is truly a quality product from Malayalam cinema that boldly steps into the superhero genre-a territory rarely explored in the industry. From the making and cinematography to sound design and production value, every technical department shines with international-level finesse.

What sets Lokah apart is how intelligently it weaves superhero elements with our myths, traditions, and the modern world. The tagline "they live among us" perfectly sets the tone for a franchise that has vast potential to explore mythological legends in future chapters.

Kalyani Priyadarshan deserves special mention for taking on a powerful role and executing it with confidence and finesse. The trio of Neslen, Chandu, and Arun bring in much-needed comic relief to balance the otherwise serious tone of the film. Sandy, in a surprising turn, delivers a strong performance as the antagonist, leaving a lasting impact. The rest of the cast also contributes effectively, and the cameos are well-placed, creating anticipation for what's next.

Director Dominic Arun and his team have taken on a challenging vision and brought it to life with remarkable conviction. Hats off to Nimish Ravi, Jakes Bejoy, Baglan, Chaman Chacko, and the entire technical crew for their exceptional work.

However, the franchise structure and chapter-based storytelling do result in some incomplete character arcs and unresolved motives. Hopefully, these will be addressed in the upcoming installments.

All in all, Lokah is a commendable theatrical experience that sets a solid foundation for a promising superhero franchise.

Rating - 3.75/5

A fantasy action adventure thriller showing the battle within the darker sides of the world and their thirst for power.

The story takes us through the lives of 3 urban junkies stalking a mysterious girl who moved nextdoor and the strange events that unfolds in their life when they closely follow her forms the base of the story.

Dominic Arun & Santhy Balachandran has created a new adventurous doorway to Malayalam Cinema through this movie. Hats off to Dominic Arun who showed the patience and grit to wait so long for bringing a phenomenal cinema to Malayalam. Good screenplay laying backdrop for the story to settle in the first half but slips midway and gains momentum towards the latter half with insane action sequences. Some cameo appearances passed through the screen showing no clue of their presence which might hopefully fill the dots in the upcoming sagas.

Mind-blowing performance by Kalyani Priyadarshan,the way she has carried Chandra is dashing, the way she holds her eyes, the attitude, absolutely brilliant performance. Kudos to the Costumers Melwy, Archana and the Makeup team for bringing the ferocious Chandra onto the Big screen. Impressive performances from Naslen, Arun Kurian & special shoutout to Chandu Salim kumar who just lived the character brilliantly with the timely dialogues and facial gestures reminding of his father's epic performances. Startling performance by Sandy with his impressive dialogue delivery modulation & attitude. Good performance from Vijayaraghavan, Sarath Sabha, Sam Mohan & Nishant Sagar.

Outstanding frames by Nimish Ravi creating a visual fantasy world by using the precise lens and lighting effortlessly finetuned by the young editor Chaman Chakko. Incredible background scores by Jakes that stands throughout the movie supported with good sound design by Dawn Vincent/Rajakrishnan. Good settings by Vinesh Banglan & Jithu Sebastian that sustained the mood of the urbanscape and the dark world. Hats off to Yannick Ben & team for the exceptional action sequences. Big hugs to DQ & Wayfarer Films for backing this vision and pulling it off in a technically superior quality.

A must watch experience in cinema hall to witness a new world just reminding us that it's just a peak above the ocean.

Lokah is a successful confluence of fervent storytelling and brilliant technical filmmaking. The audience along with the characters get thrust into a surreal fray where fact meets fiction and reality converges with myth. The narrative is set around the titular character of Chandra who most certainly isn't what meets the eye and conceals an arcane past. Who or What is she ? Who's she with or against ? How and when does ground reality merge with tales of lore. How do the other characters gel into this cacophony? All these queries and a bit more form the basic crux.

The film presents the world-within to the audience by recounting legends familiar via folk lores and juxtaposing them with characters from the modern time thereby encapsulating both wonder and nostalgia. Filmmaking prowess of the crew is in full display with alluring visuals and enthralling background score, supported by strong writing and entertaining action set pieces. The cast also does commendable jobs with their roles. The film throughout keeps everyone wanting more from this tale and the third act and climax leaves the audience into hoping for further chapters.

The final fight of the penultimate action piece involving the main character should have been done better with more robust editing and better camera angling considering the ones before were better executed. The closure to a sub plot felt rushed. The humour in this film though doesn't feel forced is plenty, considering the serious undertone the story otherwise aims to put forth .

Also the film for some reason is presented in the aspect ratio of 1:90:1 which thereby pillarboxes the film in most screens outside of Flat and Digital IMAX ones. Considering this film doesn't have an IMAX rendering ,and that flat screens are so few in the region, this presentation felt unaccounted for. Albeit; this film definitely warrants a Cinema Theater experience.

Lokah Chapter One: Chandra feels like a strong step towards showing how the Malayalam film industry can make its mark in the PAN-Indian space-without losing its own unique style of storytelling. While Mollywood has given us gems before, this film feels different. It isn't just another good movie; it's the foundation of a cinematic universe.

The film stands out as a brilliant fusion of Indian rural folklore with international myths, giving us a refreshing take on the superhero genre. The characters are written with depth, each having their own arc and purpose, setting a solid template for how superhero films can truly work for the Indian audience.

One of the highlights is the way it handles star cameos. They aren't throwaway appearances but meaningful roles that add to the narrative. The movie also avoids the common trap of dragging its ending or forcing cliffhangers. Instead, it delivers a satisfying conclusion while teasing its future through cleverly placed post-credit scenes.

Overall, Lokah Chapter One: Chandra is an engaging, entertaining superhero film packed with surprises, heart, and vision. A must-watch for anyone who loves well-crafted cinema.