Chandra became Malayalam cinema’s highest grosser with ₹303 crore, but failed to beat Mohanlal’s L2 Empuraan opening-day record. (Photo: IG/Wayfarer Films)
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, has emerged as the biggest blockbuster of 2025 from Malayalam cinema yet there’s one major record the film could not break, and it belongs to Mohanlal’s controversial thriller L2 Empuraan.
Despite becoming the all-time highest-grossing Malayalam film with ₹303.54 crore worldwide (as per trade tracker Sacnilk), Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra failed to surpass Mohanlal’s Empuraan in opening-day box office collections.
L2 Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, opened to earth-shattering numbers earlier this year. According to Sacnilk, the Mohanlal starrer collected ₹18.6 crore on Day 1 (March 27, 2025) the highest opening for a Malayalam film ever.
The film also courted controversy following objections from certain right-wing groups over some scenes, which only amplified conversations around its release.
In comparison, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra registered a much lower opening of ₹2.7 crore when it released on August 28, 2025, ahead of the Onam weekend. The film ranked fifth among Malayalam opening-day collections this year.
Top opening-day Malayalam films of 2025 (trade data):
L2 Empuraan – ₹18.6 crore
Thudarum (Mohanlal) – ₹5.24 crore
Hridyapoorvam (Mohanlal) – ₹3.25 crore
Bazooka (Mammootty) – ₹3.2 crore
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) – ₹2.7 crore
(If non-Malayalam films released in Kerala are considered, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 also enters the list with ₹5.25 crore.)
Despite the lukewarm opening, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra proved that strong word-of-mouth trumps hype. The superhero drama soared past every major film in the weeks that followed, eventually entering the ₹300-crore club a first for Malayalam cinema.
After completing over 60 days in theatres, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is now heading to OTT.
Streaming from: October 31, 2025
Platform: JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium
Languages: Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi
The film is produced by Dulquer Salmaan, who also appears in a cameo along with Tovino Thomas. The cast includes Naslen, Sandy Master, Chandu Salimkumar, and Arun Kurian.
Kalyani Priyadarshan plays Chandra aka Neeli an immortal being with extraordinary powers trying to hide in Bengaluru. Things spiral out of control when her secret identity is discovered and a sharp-witted Inspector (Sandy Master) starts digging into her mysterious past.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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