Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra has arrived, and Mollywood has officially raised the stakes. This isn’t quite a full-fledged female superhero film yet—it’s more of a grand introduction into a fantasy world and its key players, laying the foundation for what could be Mollywood’s first true superhero franchise.
As a standalone, the film thrives on ambition and craft. It sprinkles in mythology and folklore, teases with a title scroll packed with intriguing imagery, and drops cameos of potential heroes—just enough to build hype for the universe ahead.
Where Lokah truly shines is in its technical brilliance. Jakes Bejoy’s rousing score is the heartbeat of the film. Nimish Ravi’s visuals lend it an epic grammar, Santhy Balachandran’s writing carries depth, and Dominic Arun’s vision ties it all together. This is a film driven by its technicians—the real superheroes behind the screen.
On the performance front, Sandy steals the show as the antagonist—menacing, misogynistic, and thoroughly convincing. The child artist in the heroine’s flashback delivers the film’s emotional core; her few minutes on screen, especially the interval block, are worth the ticket alone. Naslen, as always, brings in perfectly timed comic relief, balancing tension with laughs.
The weak link, unfortunately, is Kalyani Priyadarshan. Even before release, she felt like a miscast, and the film only confirms it. For a role that demanded subtlety, nuance, and strength, she comes across flat, with a wooden presence that robs the character of its spark. Another drawback- the supposed “superhero” is left with little to do in the narrative—and that unsatisfied craving for a true female-led spectacle lingers long after the credits roll.
Editing, too, falters. While the pacing works in parts, the second half stretches thin. By the time the climax arrives, you’re left wondering what the film offered as a complete story rather than just a setup.
Verdict:
Lokah may not have delivered the female superhero punch it promised, but it does deliver ambition, promise, and curiosity. The foundation is strong; now the franchise just needs the right execution to soar.
⭐ Rating: 3/5 – A stylish setup, but the real game begins with the sequels.
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