Movie Name: Kotha Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Kalyani Priyadarshan, Naslen, Arun Kurian, Sandy, and Others
Director: Dominic Arun
Produced By: Wayfarer Films
Release Date: 29th August 2025
Kotha Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is the Telugu dubbed version of the Malayalam movie Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, which released in theaters on July 28 as an Onam special. It is India’s first superheroine-led cinematic universe and was well received by both reviewers and viewers.
The film, which was directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, features Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra, a formidable warrior with roots in Indian mythology, folklore, and culture. Let us check whether it lived up to the expectations or not in our review.
Story:
A mystery woman with extraordinary abilities named Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) relocates from Sweden to Bangalore and begins working at a cafe, but only at night. Sunny (Naslen), a young man without a job, resides in the apartment across from Chandra’s apartment with his two friends, Venu and Naijil.
A mafia group involved in human organ theft collaborates closely with police inspector Nachiyappa Gowda (Sandy) and his superior officer. The remainder of the movie focuses on how Chandra and Nachiyappa meet, how Sunny and Chandra’s relationship changed over time, and Chandra’s past.
Performances:
Kalyani Priyadarshan performs admirably and looks suitable in the character of Chandra from the world of Lokah. Naslen steals the show. He does a fantastic job portraying Sunny, and he does the humorous parts with ease.
Chandu Salimkumar lends good support in the fun scenes throughout the movie. Sandy fits perfectly in the part of a bad police officer. When he transforms into something more menacing, his act is horrifying.
Analysis:
The opening phrase of “Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra,” directed by Dominic Arun, is, “All legends have an element of truth.” He presented the intriguing question, “What if the legends in our folklore are still living among us?” in an innovative and amusing way.
The initial episodes provide the perfect intrigue for the rest of the film. The fun scenes between Naslen and his gang with Kalyani also work well. The mystery around Kalyani’s character is maintained rightly, and a couple of thrilling scenes have the required adrenaline rush.
The second half is also packed with many proceedings, but it stumbles with a stretched feel at a few places. Also, the organ trafficking part and Kalyani’s track should have been interlinked with more intensity. Most of the time, the lead character runs to save her life, which is a reverse idea to the regular superhero films.
Of course, the director had his reasons to do so, as he was introducing all the characters from a big universe, he did not have the liberty to present some scenes/characters fully.
Positives:
- Interesting Plot/Setup
- Chandra’s Backstory
- Couple of Fights/Thrills
- Fun Parts
Negatives:
- Not So Strong Villains
- A Mishandled Star Cameo
- Some Repetitive/Stretched Moments in the Second Half
Kotha Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Movie Review and Verdict:
Director Dominic Arun makes Kotha Lokah (Lokah Chapter 1) with an interesting setup. The intriguing sequences and a perfect backstory, along with nicely included humor parts, and technical efforts work well for the film. The slow pace and some repetitive/ineffective moments work against it. Still, it is a decent watch.
