Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra failed to break this one record of controversial Mohanlal thriller

Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra broke almost all records in Malayalam cinema, but there is one record that Kalyani Priyadarshan's film could not break, and it is owned by a Mohanlal thriller, L2 Empuraan.

Lokah, Kalyani Priyadarshan with Mohanlal

The Malayalam blockbuster film Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra, starring young actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, broke almost all records that were possible in Malayalam cinema as it became the all-time top grosser from the Kerala film industry. But did you know that there was one record that Lokah could not break, and it is owned by a Mohanlal thriller film, L2 Empuraan which courted much controversy.

Lokah fails to beat opening day record of Mohanlal’s Empuraan

L2 Empuraan, starring Mohanlal, was one of the most hyped films in Malayalam before its release earlier this year. Helmed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, Empuraan made Rs 18.6 crore when it opened in theatres on March 27, 2025, as per trade tracker Sacnilk. Empuraan, however, ran into controversies after the right-wing sections took objection to certain scenes in the Malayalam film.

Lokah, on the other hand, is at the fifth spot in the opening day collections of the year 2025. Kalyani Priyadarshan’s superhero film made a relatively lower figure of Rs 2.7 crore when it released on August 28, 2025, ahead of the Onam festival.

The second and third spots are also held by Mohanlal's other hits Thudarum (Rs 5.24 crore), and Hridyapoorvam (Rs 3.25 crore). Even Mammootty's Bazooka is in the fourth spot of opening day collections with Rs 3.2 crore, though it failed to make good of it in the coming days, according to Sacnilk data.

If you include non-Malayalam films, then Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 also makes it to the list with an impressive Rs 5.25 crore collected on day 1.

Compared to all these star-led vehicles, Lokah had the least hype prior to its release. But it is the testament that good content triumphs over promotions that Lokah went on to become the all-time highest-grossing Malayalam, and entered the Rs 300 crore club. The total box office collection of Lokah stands at 303.54 crore as per Sacnilk.

Also read: Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Explores & Redefines Malayalam Cinema's Uncharted Territory

Lokah OTT release

Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra will drop on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium on October 31, 2025, after completing a more than 60-day run at the box office. Dulquer Salmaan has backed this film, and also appears in a cameo along with Tovino Thomas. Naslen, Sandy Master, Chandu Salimkumar and Arun Kurian appear in other roles.

Also read: 3 big OTT releases to watch this week in Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil (October 27-November 2, 2025)

FAQs

Q. Is Lokah released in OTT?

A. No, Lokah has not been released on OTT. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra will stream on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium on October 31, 2025.

Q. Where to watch Empuraan?

A. You can watch Mohanlal's Empuraan also on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).

Q. Is Lokah a hit?

A. Yes, Lokah is a blockbuster hit. The Kalyani Priyadarshan film became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever, and also entered the Rs 300 crore club.

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