Super Hit Movie.. ‘Characterless’ Controversy!
Malayalam cinema is celebrating a blockbuster success with “Loka Chapter: 1 Chandra”, directed by Dominic Arun and starring Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead role. The film has taken the box office by storm but has also landed in a major controversy.
Box Office Sensation
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Within just the first week, the film grossed around Rs.100 crore worldwide.
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Trade circles strongly believe the film will cross the Rs.200 crore mark in the long run.
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Made on a budget of only Rs.30 crore, this superhero-themed, lady-oriented movie is now among the highest-grossing women-centric films in South India.
Cast and Crew
Apart from Kalyani Priyadarshan, the film features Naslen, Sandy, Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Nishanth Sagar, Raghunath Paleri, Vijayraghavan, Nithyashree, and Sharath Sabha in key roles.
The Controversy
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A dialogue in the film where a character says “Bengaluru girls are characterless” has sparked outrage.
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The remark has angered the Kannada community, who are demanding that the line be removed immediately.
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Protesters insist that the director and film unit must issue a public apology.
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Several Kannada voices claim that Bengaluru has been wrongly portrayed as a “corrupting place” in multiple films and warn they will not let this pass.
Pan-India Appeal
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The film has achieved a rare feat for women-centric South Indian cinema by surpassing ₹100 crore collections.
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With collections on par with big Bollywood films, “Loka” is being branded a Pan-India Hit.
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The Telugu version was released under the title “Kotha Loka”, which had an average opening but picked up strongly in subsequent days.
Career Breakthrough for Kalyani Priyadarshan
Despite years in the industry, Kalyani had not received the recognition she deserved. With this film, she finally scores a career-defining blockbuster and widespread appreciation for her performance.
Franchise Plans Ahead
Director Dominic Arun reportedly has big plans to develop the “Loka” franchise further, with more installments already in the pipeline.
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