Lokah co-writer on Naslen saying yes to Kalyani Priyadarshan-starrer: ‘He probably had people telling him not to do a film where…’

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra: It is important to acknowledge that a young star chose to commit to this film, where he is not the main focus, says Santhy Balachandran in an exclusive chat with OTTplay.

Naslen in Kalyani Priyadarshan-led film

After debuting as a cheeky plus-two student with Thanneer Mathan Dinangal in 2019, Naslen tasted instant fame and soon transitioned into lead roles in films such as Premalu and Alappuzha Gymkhana that turned out to be hits. His latest film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra has already crossed Rs 200 crore at the box office with no signs of slowing down. But Lokah tells the tale of Chandra and hence Kalyani Priyadarshan is the face of the superhero film, a first for Malayalam. So it is important to acknowledge that a young star chose to commit to this film, where he is not the main focus, says Lokah co-writer Santhy Balachandran in an exclusive chat with OTTplay.

Santhy on Naslen in Lokah

In the 2025 Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Naslen plays Sunny, a laid-back youth who seeks to know more about the mysterious woman living in the neighbouring apartment.

“Naslen signed the film before Premalu released. But then he was initially supposed to play Venu (the character later played by Chandu Salimkumar), and then he became Sunny later. He probably had people advising him not to do a film where he is not the main focus because when you are an upcoming male actor, generally the idea is that you have to do mass roles, cement your popularity. But the fact that he chose to do this is in itself a sign of change in attitudes among people who work in cinema,” says Santhy, who co-wrote the film with director Dominic Arun

Terming it a ‘a generational shift’, Santhy said, “He just wanted to be a part of this world because he saw the potential in doing something that he would be proud of years down the line. He was not looking at it in terms of a short term perspective. That’s really great,” she opined.

Lokah has already become the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film, while the top three of Empuraan, Manjummel Boys and Thudarum are all male-led movies.

Chandu Salimkumar and Arun Kurian in Lokah

Chandu Salimkumar and Arun Kurian appear as Sunny’s friends Venu and Naijil, who bring in the much needed humor as they remain blissfully unaware of Chandra’s superpowers.

Talking about how the real-life camaraderie between the three lads also reflected on screen, Santhy says, “They just brought some great energy to the sets. The vibe between them, the chemistry was so important because those are the characters through whom the audiences travel and to make it believable that there could be superhuman beings amidst us we needed human characters the audiences could connect with.”

“At one point, the audiences begin to travel ahead of these characters and that is also where the humor comes from because the viewers have already figured out and are waiting for them to catch up. Even in the second half, Arun Kurian’s character Naijil is one of the last to find out,” explained Santhy, who is also credited as a dramaturg in Lokah, contributing to various aspects of world building.

Also read: Lokah: Santhy Balachandran on why she was particular Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Neeli should not be transformed ‘by a male patriarchal religious figure’ | Exclusive

FAQs

Q. What is the real name of Naslen?

A. The real name of Naslen is Naslen K. Gafoor.

Q. Will Naslen's new movie be available on OTT?

A. Naslen's new movie Lokah will be available on OTT after its theatrical run. The film is expected to land on Netflix, though neither the platform nor the makers has confirmed it.

Q. What is the Lokah movie about?

A. The Lokah movie is about a mysterious woman named Chandra, who moves to an apartment in Bengaluru. It is later revealed that she has superhuman powers.

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