New Delhi | September 4, 2025

Malayalam cinema has scored another big win at the global box office. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, has stormed past the ₹100 crore mark in just seven days, becoming the highest-grossing female-led South Indian film to date.

A Strong Opening Week

Released last week, the superhero actioner has maintained exceptional momentum throughout its opening week. Domestically, the film has earned ₹46 crore net (₹53.50 crore gross). Despite the typical post-weekend slowdown, Lokah Chapter 1 surprised trade analysts by showing remarkable stability. After a minor 28% drop on its first Monday, collections rose by 6% on Tuesday before registering only a 12% dip on Wednesday. Such consistency has fueled the film’s dream run.

Overseas Success Story

If the domestic numbers are impressive, the overseas performance is nothing short of stellar. The film has grossed $6 million (around ₹52 crore) internationally, with strong footfalls in the Middle East and the US leading the charge. This brings the film’s worldwide total to ₹105.50 crore after just seven days, a figure rarely achieved by Malayalam cinema within its first week.

Breaking Records & Beating Giants

With this milestone, Lokah Chapter 1 has overtaken the lifetime collections of several big Malayalam titles. It has surpassed Neru (₹86 crore), Bheeshma Parvam (₹89 crore), and Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (₹90 crore), cementing its place among the industry’s biggest earners.

More significantly, it has outperformed two of South India’s most celebrated female-led films — Keerthy Suresh’s Mahanati (₹85 crore) and Anushka Shetty’s Arundhati (₹69 crore). In doing so, it has become the highest-grossing female-led South Indian film ever, setting a new benchmark for women-led blockbusters in regional cinema.

A Landmark for Malayalam Cinema

Directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under Wayfarer Films, Lokah Chapter 1 is not just another big release — it marks the beginning of the ambitious Wayfarer Cinematic Universe (WCU). With Kalyani Priyadarshan playing the lead role, the film blends action, mythology, and contemporary storytelling, earning praise from both critics and audiences.

The film also features Naslen, Sandy, Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Nishanth Sagar, Raghunath Paleri, Vijayaraghavan, Nithya Shri, and Sarath Sabha in pivotal roles. Universal critical acclaim, combined with strong word of mouth, has played a huge role in sustaining its box office momentum.

What’s Next for Lokah?

Given its phenomenal first-week performance, trade experts predict that Lokah Chapter 1 will continue to draw audiences well into its second week, possibly crossing more milestones. As the first installment of a larger cinematic universe, expectations are sky-high for its sequels and spin-offs.

For Kalyani Priyadarshan, this success marks a defining moment in her career, establishing her as one of the strongest female leads in South Indian cinema. For Dulquer Salmaan, it cements his position not only as an actor but also as a producer with a vision to expand Malayalam cinema onto the global stage.