Lokah Chapter One: Chandra

with additional screenplay from Santhy Balachandran, is a very impressive film and a great attempt in the superhero genre blended with the mystic Indian folkore. I don't think Indian cinema has had many female superheros and it's great to see that being executed well through an origin story. The blending of the mystical folkore and the superhero element is done really well and I'm so invested in the future of the Lokah universe backed by Dulquer Salmaan. It is the first installment of a new film universe, so it isn't a complete story and leaves you with so many unanswered questions which I am excited to discover but I also wish it was a complete story. The teases and the establishments for the other characters in the universe look really promising. Technically the film is flawless. The cinematography by Nimish Ravi is splendid. The frames look very rich and the scenes filmed at night look beautiful and also the camera work in the forest backdrop looks visually stunning. The graphic novelisation during the opening credits and the other transitions is beautiful. The action choreography by Yanik Ben is slick and packs the punch. Jake Bejoy's music does the work of capturing the mythical tone as well as the modern tone really well. Dawn Vincent's sound design, Chaman Chakko's editing and Bangalan's production design are really good as well. The first half is all about world building and setting up the characters and it lets you into the universe they've created in a smooth way. The sequences leading up to the interval block are so well designed leaving you with a great high complimented by the Bejoy's music. The second half starts off well and races through. But the climax could've been helped with higher stakes as it left me a little unsatisfied though the action in it was really appreciable. The stakes don't feel that threatening and many of the doubts are unsolved. Kalyani Priyadarshan fits the role of Chandra, a superhero who isn't bothered by emotions, so well. She's really great in all the action sequences where she showcases great agility and strength. She is very believable as a someone who can beat people to pulp and has great screen presence. Very different from all the roles she's done till now. Naslen brings in the comic relief in the movie and is really humorous and funny as Sunny, a boy next door. There are a few surprise cameos in the film and they work very well, making you scream and excited. The mid credit scene got me really hyped and was choreographed very stylishly. Even Chandu brings in good laughs through his role and Sandy as the antagonist is good as well.