18 Sep 2025: In a significant new benchmark for female-led cinema in India, Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and produced by Dulquer Salmaan, has overtaken Alia Bhatt’s Raazi to become the fourth highest-grossing female-led film in Indian box-office history. The achievement underscores changing audience tastes, the rise of regional cinema, and the commercial viability of women in central roles.
What the Numbers Show
According to trade trackers such as Sacnilk, Lokah had collected about ₹126.90 crore in box office revenue after 21 days.
By that time, the film had already crossed the ₹100 crore mark globally within its first week, a milestone no other South Indian female-led film had achieved so fast.
Raazi, released in 2018, had a lifetime gross of approximately ₹123.74 crore in India. By surpassing that, Lokah has claimed the 4th spot among all female-led Indian films.
What Makes Lokah Stand Out
- Genre & Scope: Lokah is not just a woman-led film — it’s among the first major female superhero / fantasy films in Malayalam and arguably Indian cinema more broadly. It combines folklore with high visual effects, world-building, and a pan-Indian sensibility.
- Modest Budget, Big Returns: The film was made on a relatively moderate budget (~₹30 crore). A return of over ₹200 crore globally puts it in blockbuster territory, especially for a female protagonist and a regional film.
- Speed of Success: It became the 3rd fastest Malayalam film to enter the ₹100 crore worldwide club (in seven days), and reached the ₹200 crore global mark within just 13 days.
- Cultural Resonance: Audiences responded strongly to Lokah’s fresh narrative, aesthetic, and superhero elements — particularly notable in a market where superhero stories in regional cinema are still relatively new.
What This Means For Female-Led Films in India
This milestone isn’t just about beating a box office number; it reflects wider shifts:
- Regional Films Gaining Ground: Malayalam cinema (and more broadly, regional Indian cinemas) are increasingly producing films that not only perform well in their home state but also find audiences across India and overseas. Lokah is a case in point.
- Women as Bankable Leads: The success of Lokah adds momentum to the notion that female stars can draw large audiences in large-scale, high-concept films — beyond just female-centric dramas. It strengthens the case for more such films.
- Box Office Strategy Matters: Fast opening, consistent positive word of mouth, and appeal across languages and markets have been crucial. Lokah’s pan-India and overseas appeal helped push totals up.
Clarifications & Caveats
- While Lokah has beaten Raazi in the Indian box office and claimed the #4 spot among female-led films, it is not clear if this is global gross, net collections, or including overseas — most reports refer to domestic collections (for Indian box office) or a mix of domestic + overseas.
- Rankings of “highest-grossing female led” films depend heavily on what counts as “female-led” (lead character, shared leads, etc.), the markets included (just India or global), and adjusting for inflation or ticket-price changes. So comparisons are always approximate.
- Raazi itself was a massive success and remains one of the benchmarks for female-led films; but Lokah’s achievement shows the bar is rising.
The Road Ahead
With Lokah now in this elite group, attention will turn to:
- How long it can sustain its run and whether it can climb further up that leaderboard.
- The performance in non-Malayalam markets (Hindi, dubbed versions, overseas) and how that shapes future investment in female superhero/genre films from regional cinemas.
- Whether future sequels (since Lokah is reportedly part of a multi-chapter franchise) will retain or expand this audience.
- How producers and studios increasingly regard female leads in high-budget, high-aspiration films — if they will trust such projects with more resources, visibility, and pan-Indian or global release strategies.
Summary
Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra has crossed ₹126.90 crore, overtaking Raazi to become the 4th highest-grossing Indian female-led film, marking a turning point for regional wome