Anurag Kashyap on why Bollywood can’t do a film like Lokah: They don’t have the courage to…

Anurag Kashyap lists the positives of the Malayalam superhit Lokah Chapter 1, which was made at a budget of only Rs 40 crore only

Anuraj Kashyap on Lokah

One film that has got the whole nation sit up and take note is Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra. The Malayalam Onam release has taken the box office across the nation by storm and is currently sitting pretty as the highest grossing film of the industry ever. Directed by Dominic Arun and backed by actor Dulquer Salmaan, the film has Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra, in a modern-day retelling of the popular Kalliyankattu Neeli folklore. It is also the highest grossing film led by female star in the south, and was made at a budget of Rs 40 crore only.

Anurag Kashyap: The problem lies in...

With conversations in film circles around Lokah and the fact that the cast and crew were able to deliver a world-class experience on a budget of only Rs 40 crore, the big question is if Bollywood would or could achieve a similar feat. Filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap, who’s been open about his love for cinema and disdain of Bollywood, doesn’t think it is a possibility. In a recent conversation with LatestLY, during the promotions of his film Nishaanchi, said, “How will they do it? I think they don’t have the courage to make a film in that kind of a cost, with a female lead at the centre.”

Anurag adds that Bollywood has ventured into that space sparingly, naming films like Gangubhai, Jigraa, etc. and most often with Alia Bhatt in the lead. The advantage that Lokah has is that it creates a believable world, for which one needs a deep understanding of mythology, he reasons. “They (the Malayalam film industry), think in their language and speak it too. Here (Bollywood), people think in English and translate that to Hindi and that’s where the problem lies. And for this, the industry needs to be more self-aware,” he says.

Also read: Lokah Chapter 1 – Chandra Review: Kalyani Priyadarshan-Naslen's film cleverly revives Malayalam's iconic fable

Lokah Chapter 1, which also stars Naslen Gafoor, Chandu Salimkumar, Arun Kurian and Sandy Master, with cameos by Tovino Thomas and Dulquer, follows Kalyani’s Chandra, who runs into a formidable foe, Inspector Nachiyappa (Sandy). One of 5 films planned by Dominic, Chapter 2 will have Tovino in the lead, while Kalyani is expected to be a part of the other instalments as well.

FAQs

Q. Who is the superhero played by Kalyani Priyadarshan?

A. Kalyani Priyadarshan plays a superhero character named Chandra in Lokah.

Q. Who is Dulquer Salmaan playing Lokah Chapter 1?

A. South star Dulquer Salmaan is Odiyan in this fantasy thriller.

Q. Who is Tovino Thomas playing Lokah Chapter 1?

A. Tovino Thomas is playing Chathan in Lokah Chapter 1.

Q: When will Lokah release online?

A: Makers of Lokah have not dropped any update on Lokah's OTT release.

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