The Malayalam film Lokah – Chapter 1: Chandra has created history by becoming South India’s highest-grossing female-led film, crossing the ₹100 crore mark within just a week of its release. Directed by Dominic Arun and starring Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead, the superhero-fantasy drama achieved this milestone without relying on an established superstar. Instead, it captivated audiences with strong storytelling, high production values, and a fresh approach to female-driven cinema.
Until now, films like Keerthy Suresh’s Mahanati and Anushka Shetty’s Rudhramadevi held the benchmark for women-centric blockbusters, grossing around ₹80–85 crore. Lokah has surpassed them all in record time, proving that a compelling narrative and quality filmmaking can outshine star power. Within six days, the film grossed close to ₹93 crore worldwide, and by the seventh day, it comfortably entered the ₹100 crore club.
The movie has seen particularly strong collections in Kerala, where it grossed nearly ₹27 crore in its first six days and is expected to hit ₹50 crore soon, thanks to the Onam holiday season. Beyond its home state, the film has found audiences across South India, and a Hindi release is now planned, which could push its total further toward the ₹200 crore mark.
Lokah’s success also signals a shift in South Indian cinema. It shows that female-led projects no longer need the presence of Nayanthara, Samantha, or Anushka Shetty to be commercially viable. Kalyani Priyadarshan, without being positioned as a star on that scale, has managed to deliver a record-breaking performance, redefining how the industry views women-centric films.
Another significant factor is the movie’s franchise potential. Lokah is planned as a five-part cinematic universe, with all storylines already developed. If the first installment’s box office reception is anything to go by, the upcoming sequels could firmly establish this as one of South India’s most ambitious and successful film series.