By Manisha Sahu, September 15, 2025
The Malayalam film industry, often hailed for its inventive storytelling and grounded narratives, has entered a new chapter with the smashing success of Dominic Arun’s Lokah: Chapter 1—Chandra. Starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and produced by superstar Dulquer Salmaan, the film has crossed ₹200 crore globally, making it one of the highest-grossing Malayalam movies of 2025. Its triumph has also sparked conversations about a potential “superhero era” in Indian cinema.
But veteran filmmaker Jeethu Joseph, best known for the Drishyam series, is urging caution. While acknowledging the landmark achievement of Lokah, he warned fellow filmmakers against jumping on the superhero bandwagon without foresight.
‘The Risk Is Everyone Will Start Making Superhero Films’
Speaking at a promotional event for his upcoming thriller Mirage, Jeethu Joseph reflected on industry trends and how they often spiral into repetitive cycles.
“An industry should have movies from different genres. What usually happens is that when a film in one genre becomes a superhit, everyone jumps in to make the same,” Joseph said. “With Lokah’s success, now the risk is that everyone will start doing superhero movies. That’s not the right thing to do.”
Joseph emphasized that cinema thrives on variety. The health of the Malayalam film industry, and Indian cinema at large, depends on offering audiences diverse experiences—from thrillers and dramas to comedies, romances, and children’s films.
On Female-Led Cinema
Lokah: Chapter 1 has also been celebrated as a female-led superhero film, with Kalyani Priyadarshan delivering a powerful central performance. However, Joseph cautioned against categorizing films solely on the basis of gender.
“There should be no such classification in cinema. If an actor—man or woman—does a character well and the audience connects, it will succeed. This has been proved before, now, and will continue in the future. That’s what happened in Lokah, too,” he explained.
His remarks reflect a broader push in Indian cinema to move away from labels like “female-centric” or “male-centric,” and instead focus on the universality of good storytelling.
Lokah’s Cultural Impact
Directed by Dominic Arun, Lokah: Chapter 1—Chandra is more than just a box office success. The film is the first installment in the ambitious Wayfarer Cinematic Universe (WCU), a franchise being developed under Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films banner. The WCU aims to create interconnected superhero narratives rooted in Indian culture, folklore, and contemporary issues, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Hollywood.
The film’s ₹200 crore-plus earnings have set a new benchmark for Malayalam cinema, ranking it as the third-highest grosser of the year. Its success has already fueled discussions about sequels, spin-offs, and expanded universe possibilities.
However, Joseph’s comments serve as a reminder that while experimentation is welcome, overreliance on one formula could harm creativity.
Jeethu Joseph on His Own Journey
Known internationally for his 2013 masterpiece Drishyam—later remade into Hindi and other languages—Jeethu Joseph has largely been identified with the thriller genre. While his suspense-driven films have resonated with audiences, Joseph admitted that he sometimes feels pigeonholed.
“I have been making back-to-back thrillers since Drishyam because that’s what is expected of me. But I love to try all kinds of films,” he said.
He revealed that one of his dreams is to make a children’s film, a project he has been developing for years. “Maybe such movies will happen in two or three years,” he added. Joseph also expressed interest in directing a multi-hero film, expanding his creative portfolio beyond thrillers.
Upcoming Projects
Joseph’s next release is Mirage, starring Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali, which hits theatres on September 19. The film is described as a tense thriller exploring human relationships under extraordinary pressure.
Beyond Mirage, the director has a packed slate. He is working on Valathu Vashathe Kallan, as well as Ram: Part 1 with superstar Mohanlal. Most anticipated of all is Drishyam 3, the concluding chapter of the globally acclaimed thriller series.
These projects demonstrate Joseph’s commitment to both satisfying audience expectations and pushing his own creative boundaries.
A Word of Caution for Indian Cinema
Joseph’s remarks about Lokah echo a recurring concern in the global film industry: the dangers of trend-chasing. Hollywood, for example, has experienced superhero fatigue in recent years, with critics pointing to declining box office numbers for certain franchises. Joseph’s warning to Malayalam cinema is timely, urging filmmakers to learn from international experiences and prioritize originality over imitation.
“Cinema cannot survive on one genre alone,” Joseph stressed. “We must challenge ourselves as storytellers. That’s how the industry will grow.”
Conclusion
The runaway success of Lokah: Chapter 1—Chandra has undeniably opened new doors for Indian cinema, proving that homegrown superhero stories can thrive on the global stage. Yet, Jeethu Joseph’s warning stands as a crucial reminder: true cinematic progress lies in balance, diversity, and innovation.
As the Malayalam industry eyes bigger budgets and international markets, it must also protect the very creativity and variety that has long distinguished it from other film industries. Whether filmmakers heed Joseph’s call or dive headlong into a wave of superhero films remains to be seen.
For now, fans eagerly await Joseph’s Mirage while keeping an eye on how Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Cinematic Universe unfolds. Between caution and ambition, Malayalam cinema stands at a fascinating crossroads.
