Dominic Arun’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in the lead, is proving to be the runaway winner of this Onam season, racing far ahead of its competitors both at the Kerala box office and in worldwide advance bookings. Ever since its release, the film has been showered with glowing reviews from critics and audiences alike, and that wave of positivity has translated into an extraordinary surge in ticket sales on BookMyShow and other platforms. Shows across prime centres in Kerala and beyond are reporting near sell-outs, with fans sharing their excitement widely on social media.
According to industry tracker What The Fuss, Lokah has grossed Rs 18.80 crore in Kerala within five days, with over 11.6 lakh admissions and an average occupancy of 69.42 per cent. In comparison, Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad’s Hridayapoorvam has collected Rs 11.25 crore during the same period, with 6.8 lakh admissions and an average occupancy of 43.52 per cent. The gap has widened day by day, underscoring how Lokah has emerged as the clear box office leader this festive season.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, which serves as the opening chapter of a planned fantasy franchise, has not only dominated locally but is also seeing momentum in its dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions. Early reports indicate strong traction in neighbouring states, strengthening its chances of breaking into the pan-Indian space, a rarity for Malayalam cinema. The gulf is even wider when global earnings are considered. Lokah has crossed Rs 60 crore worldwide in its 4-day opening weekend, while Hridayapoorvam has grossed around Rs 34 crore globally over four days.
Produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his Wayfarer Films banner, Lokah has also become a talking point within the industry for its scale and ambition. Dulquer has been widely credited for placing his faith in Arun, a filmmaker just one film old, and for backing the vision with a big-screen treatment that has drawn comparisons to international superhero cinema. His involvement further brought major distributors on board: AGS Cinemas in Tamil Nadu, Lighter Buddha Films in Karnataka, Pen Marudhar in North India, and Sithara Entertainments for Telugu markets.
Meanwhile, Hridayapoorvam, which marked the much-anticipated reunion of Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad, has carved out its own success story. Positioned as a heartwarming family drama, the film is drawing steady footfalls from family audiences, even as Lokah dominates multiplex circuits and younger demographics. Despite the stiff competition, the Mohanlal-starrer remains an attractive festive draw, ensuring the film’s safe run at the box office.
With Lokah continuing its record-breaking march and audience buzz showing no signs of slowing down, the film looks poised to set new benchmarks for Malayalam cinema’s box office presence worldwide.
