When Lokah: Chapter 1 – ChandraKerala hit screens on August 28, 2025, it didn’t just open—it exploded, pulling in roughly ₹300 crore worldwide in just over a month.
Directed by Dominic Arun, the fantasy‑superhero action comedy was produced by Dulquer Salmaan under the banner of Wayfarer Films. At the heart of the story is Kalyani Priyadarshan, whose portrayal of the eponymous heroine has rewritten the gender narrative of Malayalam box‑office history.
Box Office Milestones
The opening day delivered ₹2.71 crore in Kerala and ₹6.66 crore globally, according to the film’s Wikipedia entry. Within the first four days, the worldwide total swelled to ₹65 crore, and by the end of the first week the film crossed the coveted ₹100 crore mark.
By day 25, as reported by The Week on September 21, 2025, the film had already eclipsed ₹100 crore in Kerala alone, becoming only the second Malayalam movie to do so after Thudarum. The same source noted a parallel ₹100 crore haul from overseas territories, while the rest‑of‑India segment contributed more than ₹50 crore.
Fast‑forward to day 50, and the Times of India confirmed a staggering ₹156 crore domestic collection, cementing the film’s status as the highest‑grossing Malayalam release of all time.
Domestic vs. Overseas Earnings Breakdown
- Kerala: ₹118.5 crore
- Andhra Pradesh/Telangana: ₹15.55 crore
- Tamil Nadu: ₹22.75 crore
- Karnataka: ₹14.8 crore
- Rest of India: ₹8.5 crore
- All‑India Total: ₹152.04 crore
- Overseas: ₹117.9 crore (including the UAE, US, and Europe)
- Worldwide Gross: Approximately ₹300 crore (some outlets report ₹302.5 crore)
These numbers come from a mix of sources—Bolly Movie Reviewz, Sacnilk.com, and the film’s own press releases—so minor variations are expected. What’s undeniable is the ten‑fold return on the modest ₹30 crore production budget.
Industry Reactions and Expert Analysis
"The numbers speak for themselves," said Dulquer Salmaan in a post‑screening interview. "We set out to make a pan‑Indian fantasy that could resonate beyond the usual Malayalam audience, and the response has been overwhelming."
Film analyst Rohan Menon of the consultancy firm BoxOffice Insights added, "What’s remarkable is the sustained performance after the first two weeks. Most Malayalam blockbusters now front‑load heavily, but Lokah kept pulling in decent day‑wise grosses—₹0.74 crore on day 30, ₹1.26 crore on day 31, and so on—showing genuine word‑of‑mouth momentum."
Critics also noted the cultural shift. The Week highlighted that earlier Malayalam cinema measured success by the number of days a film ran (50‑day, 100‑day milestones). Today, the metric has moved to “front‑loaded” collections, yet Lokah’s ability to stay in theatres beyond 25 days, despite six new releases, signals a hybrid model of both longevity and high revenue.
What This Means for Malayalam Cinema
Historically, Malayalam blockbusters have been male‑driven—think Odiyan or Marrakkar. Kalyani’s triumph proves that a female‑led narrative can attract the same multiplex crowds and even outperform the traditional heroes on a global stage.
Box‑office analyst Shreya Nair remarked, "Kalyani has become a bankable star. Distributors are now negotiating higher advances for films where she tops the cast list, and we may see a wave of female‑centric projects in the next two years."
The success also nudges Malayalam producers to think bigger about overseas distribution. The film’s ₹117.9 crore overseas haul outstrips many Hindi‑medium releases, indicating that the diaspora appetite for high‑concept regional cinema is growing.
Future Outlook for the Lokah Franchise
Given the robust numbers, Wayfarer Films confirmed that a sequel is already in development. Dominic Arun hinted at expanding the universe, stating, "We’ve mapped out a trilogy that will explore even larger mythological battles, and the audience’s response makes us confident about bigger budgets and broader release windows."
Industry insiders predict that the sequel could easily breach the ₹400 crore mark if it follows a similar marketing pattern and retains the star power of Kalyani and the production values that resonated with both domestic and overseas audiences.
Meanwhile, the film continues to dominate daily box‑office charts, even as newer releases like Hridayapoorvam compete for screen space. As of the last week of September 2025, Lokah still commands an average occupancy of 70 % in major multiplexes across Kerala.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Release date: 28 August 2025
- Director: Dominic Arun
- Producer: Dulquer Salmaan (Wayfarer Films)
- Lead actress: Kalyani Priyadarshan
- Production budget: ~₹30 crore
- Worldwide gross: ~₹300 crore (≈US$ 36 million)
- Highest Malayalam‑ever gross
- Second Malayalam film to cross ₹100 crore in Kerala
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the success of Lokah impact female‑led films in Malayalam cinema?
The film proves that a female protagonist can draw blockbuster‑level earnings. Distributors are now willing to offer higher advances for projects starring women, and production houses are reportedly green‑lighting more scripts that place women at the centre of high‑concept stories.
What were the major domestic markets that contributed to the ₹300 crore total?
Kerala led the pack with about ₹118.5 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu (₹22.75 crore) and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (₹15.55 crore). The Rest‑of‑India territories added another ₹8.5 crore, pushing the all‑India figure to roughly ₹152 crore before overseas earnings.
Why did overseas markets respond so strongly to a regional Indian film?
The film’s fantasy‑superhero premise resonated with the diaspora, and strategic releases in the UAE, US, and key European cities tapped into audiences looking for high‑production‑value Indian cinema beyond Bollywood. Subtitles and aggressive digital marketing further boosted its appeal.
What does the box‑office performance suggest about the future of Malayalam film budgets?
A ten‑fold return on a ₹30 crore investment signals that investors are now more comfortable allocating larger budgets for ambitious projects. We can expect a gradual rise in production spend, especially for films targeting pan‑Indian and overseas audiences.
When is the sequel to Lokah expected to release?
Wayfarer Films confirmed that pre‑production is already underway, with a tentative release window set for the summer of 2026, pending finalisation of the script and shooting schedule.
