Lokah: Production Designer Reveals Why Kalyani Priyadarshan's Film Became a Blockbuster

Kalyani Priyadarshan’s film Lokah has taken theaters by storm, earning praise both in India and abroad. Produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, the movie stars Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead role, whose performance has received widespread acclaim. Now, the film’s production designer, Banglan, has revealed the key reasons behind its success.

Banglan credited Dulquer Salmaan’s trust and support in the production team for the film’s polished presentation. He emphasized that a strong story and well-executed production design are just as crucial as good-looking sets.

“The quality of a film should reflect in every frame. In many industries, over 80% of the budget goes to actors’ salaries, but Lokah prioritized production. Budget was never a constraint, and this investment shows on screen,” Banglan explained.

Directed by Dominic Arun, Lokah Chapter 1 also stars Nasleen K. Gafoor opposite Kalyani. With a reported budget of ₹30 crore, the film has already grossed ₹137.75 crore in India in 25 days and ₹115 crore overseas, taking its total collection to ₹271 crore. This makes Lokah the highest-grossing film in Malayalam cinema to date.