Lokah: Chapter 1: Chandra has become the talk of Malayalam cinema after storming its way into the record books as the highest-grossing Malayalam film worldwide. On its 24th day of release, the fantasy epic, headlined by Kalyani Priyadarshan, overtook the lifetime earnings of Mohanlal-Prithiviraj Sukumaran's L2: Empuraan, cementing its place at the top of the global box office charts for the industry.

Even as Lokah enjoys this historic run, rumours about an early digital release began spreading online. On Sunday, actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan, whose Wayfarer Films is backing the franchise, set the record straight on social media: “Lokah isn’t coming to OTT anytime soon. Ignore the fake news and stay tuned for official announcements! #Lokah #WhatstheHurry”.

Quoting Dulquer’s tweet, lead actor Kalyani echoed the sentiment on X (formerly Twitter) and urged audiences to embrace the theatrical experience: “With the visuals, sound and Jakes’ incredible musical score… I think this would be an experience that’s best felt inside a theatre atmosphere”.

The Dominic Arun directorial, rooted in Kerala’s folklore and mythology, has been widely praised for its visual scale and immersive world-building. Starring Kalyani alongside Naslen and Sandy, with cameo appearances from Dulquer and Tovino Thomas, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is the first instalment in a planned franchise with five parts. The next instalment will shift focus to Chathan, the character portrayed by Tovino.

Trade analysts predict Lokah will continue its strong theatrical run at least until the Pooja holidays, with its global box office total expected to rise even further in the coming weeks.