A Folklore That Defines The Term 'Scale'
So i finally catched up LOKAH:Chapter One:Chandra on the big screen and if you ask me to define my experience of watching the film, It was just splendid! I mean honestly always was the first person who knows that malayalam cinema will deliver for sure irrespective of genre, cast, scale... everything but what lokah does is,it doesn't just deliver but somewhere defines and stand tall in the zone of superhero and fantasy.
Going in detail, right from the promotional content it's was clear that we're going to witness something extremely ambitious but what lokah doesn't just be ambitious but visionary and commendable with each and every aspect. Although from the promotional content it may lay a very minor layout for the ground but trust me what film actually dives into is seriously a masterclass in storytelling. A portrayal of a vampire tale with a folklore soul just collision of these two things itself is brave but the way film convince us is most crucial and it succeed here perfectly. The first half build the world, characters so brilliantly that your completely into the world. The film completely hooks you through the jaw dropping moments of course but the laughter moments it had through the movie are extremely terrific I mean people were truly laughing out loud and again in this world or premise this may lead to a disturbance but honestly it was never forced it was just flowing in the pace. Then comes the interval, although so many things are being established from the first second but here is the moment where the film actually reveals its identity, the heart of lokah with such a incredibly placed set piece, where you get to know the rise of everything simultaneously a block in present I mean literally goosebumps for the presentation. That powerfully the scene hits, which ends up the first half in a extremely solid way. The second half further goes in detail, establishing very crucial conflicts with a care and tension that again holds you here very tight. Although a minor pacing dip may or lose of momentum feel here due to film taking time here to elaborate things more specifically through laying out hints for the world or future parts. But let me tell you here the biggest surprises come up, the cameos! Im not going to reveal anything but there were just pure blast. I mean first off all the way there are introduced... Literally your jaw drops and you just float in that amusement. Also these appearances not only being a surface level guest's but contribute to the story, most importantly set their grounds for their characters for future. The climax is where the film gains it's power immensely, the way the action and writing, the moments packed up here completely end the movie in a perfect way. Wait... But the best thing comes up next, The Post Credit Scene!!!! Here where the theatre erupted in the most wild way, of course a surprise and a glimpse of next installment but the high it gives is so fine that it will still carry with you even after leaving the screen. A Ultimate banger way to conclude yet leave us anticipate for next.
Coming to the performances, Kalyani priyadarshan as CHANDRA was perfect. Although the character has a subtle nature mostly but she was commanding in her role. As a not only a lead of the film, but as a heart of whole she balances that weight, the soul of 'Chandra'. Naslen as Sunny was completely perfect choice, the humor generated around him perfectly lands due to his performance. But also the quiet innocence and weight his character holds also hits. A Special mention to Sandy Master as 'Nachiyappa' completely surprising yet perfectly threatening. He grabbed a very crucial role of antagonist of the story but his performance completely justifies the writing for him and also the capability he holds as an actor. And of course nothing to say about special appearances, they were the best part as whole and also the biggest asset of theatre experience.
Coming to the technicalities... What to say? Technically a standout in Indian cinema itself recently stating somewhere there isn't a huge barrier between ambition and scale. Music by Jakes Bejoy should be discussed not only first but at top may be. The score he brings out was not only mere music but the spine of the film itself. Especially in few episodes like interval, climax he just leaves us in a trance. The man completely lifts the film through his beats in the best way possible. Cinematography by Nimish Ravi is a visual masterclass each and every frame, the man got this extremely terrific style of using light, colors which we got to see in his previous ventures to but in this scale he makes every frame look perfect. The editing should be discussed,there were good amount of transition s throughout and the way there were executed was damn smooth. The action choreography was brilliantly handled more importantly executed, each and every set piece was focused, grounded yet hits hard. And everything falls short when we speak about visual effects or the production values, the film was made at a budget of 30 cr? Seriously in a time where actors are charging hundreds of crores, production houses are spending hundreds of crores just to deliver a mediocre product, what lokah achieve not only just in terms of scale but for being brave, clear and visionary for the genre, for the stories they took, for the belief people have on them.
And coming to the director Dominic Arun, not only a newcomer but as a writer also with santhy balachandran crafts a superhero tale with a soul of folklore that's in the heart and roots of people over generations within itself a win. They weren't just ambitious but careful, responsible most importantly so much talent was needed to aim this high . Kudos to Dulquer Salman as the producer for not only bringing up something like this but believing and understanding the potential of what the universe further carries.
At last this Malayalam superhero film isn't just a great fantasy film but also pillar for further stories to come in the universe and a homage to folklore we know or that one's may which gone unknown. A Must Watch Experience only on big screen which has right heart,intentions, storytelling and of course surprises. Still the shouts and hoots of post credit scene echoing.
Going in detail, right from the promotional content it's was clear that we're going to witness something extremely ambitious but what lokah doesn't just be ambitious but visionary and commendable with each and every aspect. Although from the promotional content it may lay a very minor layout for the ground but trust me what film actually dives into is seriously a masterclass in storytelling. A portrayal of a vampire tale with a folklore soul just collision of these two things itself is brave but the way film convince us is most crucial and it succeed here perfectly. The first half build the world, characters so brilliantly that your completely into the world. The film completely hooks you through the jaw dropping moments of course but the laughter moments it had through the movie are extremely terrific I mean people were truly laughing out loud and again in this world or premise this may lead to a disturbance but honestly it was never forced it was just flowing in the pace. Then comes the interval, although so many things are being established from the first second but here is the moment where the film actually reveals its identity, the heart of lokah with such a incredibly placed set piece, where you get to know the rise of everything simultaneously a block in present I mean literally goosebumps for the presentation. That powerfully the scene hits, which ends up the first half in a extremely solid way. The second half further goes in detail, establishing very crucial conflicts with a care and tension that again holds you here very tight. Although a minor pacing dip may or lose of momentum feel here due to film taking time here to elaborate things more specifically through laying out hints for the world or future parts. But let me tell you here the biggest surprises come up, the cameos! Im not going to reveal anything but there were just pure blast. I mean first off all the way there are introduced... Literally your jaw drops and you just float in that amusement. Also these appearances not only being a surface level guest's but contribute to the story, most importantly set their grounds for their characters for future. The climax is where the film gains it's power immensely, the way the action and writing, the moments packed up here completely end the movie in a perfect way. Wait... But the best thing comes up next, The Post Credit Scene!!!! Here where the theatre erupted in the most wild way, of course a surprise and a glimpse of next installment but the high it gives is so fine that it will still carry with you even after leaving the screen. A Ultimate banger way to conclude yet leave us anticipate for next.
Coming to the performances, Kalyani priyadarshan as CHANDRA was perfect. Although the character has a subtle nature mostly but she was commanding in her role. As a not only a lead of the film, but as a heart of whole she balances that weight, the soul of 'Chandra'. Naslen as Sunny was completely perfect choice, the humor generated around him perfectly lands due to his performance. But also the quiet innocence and weight his character holds also hits. A Special mention to Sandy Master as 'Nachiyappa' completely surprising yet perfectly threatening. He grabbed a very crucial role of antagonist of the story but his performance completely justifies the writing for him and also the capability he holds as an actor. And of course nothing to say about special appearances, they were the best part as whole and also the biggest asset of theatre experience.
Coming to the technicalities... What to say? Technically a standout in Indian cinema itself recently stating somewhere there isn't a huge barrier between ambition and scale. Music by Jakes Bejoy should be discussed not only first but at top may be. The score he brings out was not only mere music but the spine of the film itself. Especially in few episodes like interval, climax he just leaves us in a trance. The man completely lifts the film through his beats in the best way possible. Cinematography by Nimish Ravi is a visual masterclass each and every frame, the man got this extremely terrific style of using light, colors which we got to see in his previous ventures to but in this scale he makes every frame look perfect. The editing should be discussed,there were good amount of transition s throughout and the way there were executed was damn smooth. The action choreography was brilliantly handled more importantly executed, each and every set piece was focused, grounded yet hits hard. And everything falls short when we speak about visual effects or the production values, the film was made at a budget of 30 cr? Seriously in a time where actors are charging hundreds of crores, production houses are spending hundreds of crores just to deliver a mediocre product, what lokah achieve not only just in terms of scale but for being brave, clear and visionary for the genre, for the stories they took, for the belief people have on them.
And coming to the director Dominic Arun, not only a newcomer but as a writer also with santhy balachandran crafts a superhero tale with a soul of folklore that's in the heart and roots of people over generations within itself a win. They weren't just ambitious but careful, responsible most importantly so much talent was needed to aim this high . Kudos to Dulquer Salman as the producer for not only bringing up something like this but believing and understanding the potential of what the universe further carries.
At last this Malayalam superhero film isn't just a great fantasy film but also pillar for further stories to come in the universe and a homage to folklore we know or that one's may which gone unknown. A Must Watch Experience only on big screen which has right heart,intentions, storytelling and of course surprises. Still the shouts and hoots of post credit scene echoing.
- saikumarnagapuri
- 30 ago 2025