Lokah: Chapter 1: Chandra has once again stormed its way into Malayalam cinema’s record books, reportedly crossing the ₹100 crore mark in Kerala on its 24th day of release. The Kalyani Priyadarshan-led fantasy epic grossed approximately ₹2.80 crore in the state on Saturday, pushing its Kerala tally to ₹100.70 crore.
With this feat, Lokah has become only the second Malayalam film to enter the coveted ₹100 crore Kerala club, after Mohanlal’s Thudarum, which achieved the milestone earlier this year. Earlier on Saturday, Lokah also overtook the lifetime global collections of Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan, emerging as the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever.
While Thudarum closed with an impressive ₹118.9 crore in Kerala, reportedly backed by 77.4 lakh footfalls and over ₹50 crore in theatrical share, its run was cut short by a digital release in the fifth week. By contrast, Lokah currently has no confirmed OTT date.
On Sunday, actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan, whose Wayfarer Films is backing the franchise, put speculation to rest by writing on social media: “Lokah isn’t coming to OTT anytime soon. Ignore the fake news and stay tuned for official announcements! #Lokah #WhatstheHurry”.
Trade analysts suggest Lokah will stay in cinemas at least until the Pooja holidays, granting it an additional week in theatres. This extended run could help it narrow the gap with Thudarum’s final Kerala tally, or even surpass it.
Directed by Dominic Arun, Lokah: Chapter 1: Chandra is rooted in Kerala folklore and mythology, with Kalyani headlining the cast alongside Naslen and Sandy. Tovino Thomas and Dulquer himself appear in cameo roles.
The makers have confirmed that the next instalment in the Lokah universe will focus on Chathan, the character portrayed by Tovino.
