By Kavita Mistry 
Lokah Chapter 1 borrows elements from the classic vampire template popularized in the Twilight series and The Vampire Diaries—sunlight as the obvious weakness, thirst for blood, glazed eyes and fangs, and immortality—yet sets the action and events in the claustrophobic city lanes of India, making it an effective desi superhero saga with a welcome twist for Indian audiences. The lead is an indomitable female character calling the shots and leading the way, slaying lecherous men, organ traffickers, and corrupt police officers. The “vampire” trope is replaced with “yakshi” folklore. The scene at the intermission point is the highlight, with the inception of the demon interspersed with Chandra revealing the source of her superhuman strength.
The film is a cinematic delight not just because of its strong storytelling, uncovering its motive and the mystery surrounding the protagonist layer by layer, but also because of how the filmmakers and writers were able to largely achieve their vision on a very limited budget. At 30 crores, it manages to draw and hold one’s attention for its entire length, something Brahmastra and Kalki weren’t able to do despite their humungous budgets. Filmmakers need to take note: special effects alone do not make a difference unless there is conviction in storytelling and strong characters, especially that of the villain:
Nachiyappa Gowda as the primary antagonist is flat-out scary, and his character’s evolution from a corrupt cop to a ruthless, megalomaniac “convert” is a screenwriting triumph. He makes particularly effective use of his eyes, and his scenes of confrontation with Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Chandra are everything you need to have great fun at the movies.
Strongly recommended. This deserves a visit in cinemas to experience the power of a rather well-written film. Yet another Malayalam movie that the rest of Indian film industries needs to look up to and draw inspiration from.