Lokah Chapter 1 Makes History, Becomes First Malayalam Film To Cross Rs 300 Crore Mark At Box Office

Lokah box office collection: The Malayalam film industry has just pulled off something spectacular. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, the superhero hit directed by Dominic Arun, has crossed the Rs 300 crore mark

at the global box office — the first-ever Malayalam film to do so.

Starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen in lead roles, and produced by Dulquer Salmaan, Lokah achieved the milestone on its 45th day in theatres, proving that the regional industry can deliver numbers that once seemed impossible.

Released on August 28 during the festive Onam season, Lokah opened to glowing reviews and strong word of mouth. What began as a promising regional release soon turned into a nationwide craze, pulling audiences from across India and overseas.

By September 22, the makers announced that Lokah had already become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time with Rs 275 crore in global earnings. That record dethroned Prithviraj Sukumaran’s L2: Empuraan, which had earlier collected Rs 265.5 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.

Now, Lokah has gone one step further — smashing past Rs 300 crore and setting a new benchmark for Malayalam cinema.

Unstoppable run in theatres

In Kerala alone, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra has collected over Rs 119 crore and become the most-watched Malayalam film of the 21st century, according to its makers. The movie has crossed 50,000 shows across the state and drawn more than 11.8 million viewers worldwide. It has also sold over 5 million tickets through online booking apps — another first for Malayalam cinema.

What makes Lokah special

Critics have credited the film’s success to its mix of strong writing and visual appeal. Several celebs such as Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Akshay Kumar and others publicly praised the movie and showed their support. Alia Bhatt took to her Instagram Stories and wrote, “Such a fresh blend of mythic folklore & mystery! So happy to see the love it’s getting. This is a step in cinema that I will always be eager to show my love & support for!” Samantha Ruth Prabhu praised the film, and actress Kalyani. “Watched Lokah and wowww!!! what an experience. The visuals, sound and action. Every frame felt alive and the world built completely pulled me in. But what really stayed with me was seeing our first female superhero on screen. @kalyanipriyadarshan Chandra gave me goosebumps. Huge respect to the entire team. You have created something truly special. This one is going to stay with me for a long time,” she wrote.

With its record-breaking run, Lokah seems to be a turning point for Malayalam cinema on the national stage.