’I don’t know how...’ Dulquer’s message to Santhy on the eve of Lokah release | INTERVIEW

With the glow of crores, ‘Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra’ continues its victorious run across countries. At the heart of this ‘superwoman’ film — one that Malayalam cinema can truly be proud of — is the strength and pen of Santhy Balachandran. The screenplay for Lokah was co-written by Santhy and director Dominic Arun.

Santhy made her Malayalam film debut in 2017 with Tharangam, directed by Dominic Arun and starring Tovino Thomas. Since then, she has been seen in several acclaimed films and series, including Jallikattu, Paapam Cheyyathavar Kalleriyatte, Randuper, Gulmohar, Ennennum, Sweet Kaaram Coffee, and The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang. A screenwriter, assistant director, dubbing artist, and theatre actor, Santhy is now basking in the glow of Lokah’s unexpected success.

Lokah is the fourth Malayalam film to enter the 200-crore club. How do you view this achievement?

I’m incredibly thankful to the audience. This success was completely unexpected. All I had hoped for was that people would like the film and that the producer wouldn't suffer a loss. Our only goal was to make a good film, just as Dominic envisioned. Everyone worked sincerely — we really gave it our all. Today, the audience is celebrating Lokah, watching it multiple times. That alone brings me happiness.

I was genuinely shocked when I saw Chandra featured on an Amul advertisement hoarding. That moment will remain unforgettable.

Whose reaction moved you the most?

After the first show, while interacting with the media, Kalyani suddenly stepped in front of the camera and spoke about my role and contribution to the film. I’ll never forget that.

Equally unforgettable was Dulquer's speech during our promotions in Hyderabad. He appreciated us for crafting a fresh story from a woman’s perspective. It’s rare and commendable when colleagues offer genuine praise and place trust in your abilities. His words touched me deeply.

Dulquer is also a fantastic producer who had complete faith in us. On the eve of release, I messaged him saying,

“I’m feeling anxiety and tension I didn’t even feel during my own film releases. I just pray you get to sleep peacefully tonight.”

He replied with something beautiful:

“Unusually, I’m not anxious about this film today because I know everyone has worked sincerely. I don’t know how the audience will respond or what will happen next, but Lokah is a film we all made honestly.”

That response gave me so much relief. My brother also told me that the hard work of everyone involved is evident while watching the film. These words will stay close to my heart.

Lokah is seen as a reimagining of the Kalliyankattu Neeli legend. How did that idea come about?

It was Dominic’s idea to connect a vampire narrative with our folklore and reimagine Neeli. Traditionally, Neeli is depicted as an evil spirit subdued by Kathanar. But I felt there was space to reinterpret her story — not as someone who is tamed, but as someone whose strength is acknowledged and respected.

I objected to the idea of Kathanar "transforming" Neeli into a superhero. I felt it should be Kathanar who comes seeking Neeli’s help, not to conquer her.

We reimagined Neeli as someone who inherits her moral compass from her mother. When I explained my perspective, it led to discussions — but Dominic accepted my argument. Those scenes ended up resonating emotionally with the audience. Dominic gave me the freedom to explore such narrative layers.

Though we come from different backgrounds — Dominic knows the land, its culture, and its people deeply, while I’ve grown up and studied across various places — there was mutual respect. I’ve studied psychology, anthropology, and we had different worldviews, but also a deep understanding of each other’s strengths. Even when we disagreed, it was never difficult to accept each other’s views when they made sense.

It’s said that the song ‘Kiliye Kiliye’ was your idea. Did you contribute to other such moments in the film?

Yes, that song beautifully suited the story’s arc. Lines like "uyarangaliloode palanadukal thedi" (“seeking many lands through the heights”) felt like they truly belonged to Chandra’s character.

Every scene felt special to us. Dominic suggested that Sandy Master’s character, Nachiyappa, should be a police officer. He’s a strong, fit man with good habits — but his mindset is flawed, a reflection of the society that raised him.

Our social environment does shape our personalities, doesn’t it? Dominic gave me the space to develop such nuanced elements.

We also paid close attention to scenes where Sunny recognises who Chandra is, and their conversations. Dominic wrote those dialogues with natural humour — just like everyday speech. That’s when the audience begins to see Chandra’s slight smile, her human side. Co-writing the screenplay gave me immense creative satisfaction. This is a film audiences can truly enjoy on many levels.

The casting has also received widespread praise. Did you have a role in that process?

Vivek Anirudh was the casting director. Auditions and proper evaluations led to the final casting. It was Vivek who brought in Sandy Master, Durga, and others.

From the beginning, we only saw Kalyani as Chandra. There were discussions around pairing her with Naslen — the age difference was a concern. But in the film, Kalyani’s character lives across centuries. We presented those characters in a way the audience could believe.

And really — what’s the issue if the woman is older than the man?

This is the first film in the Lokah superhero cinematic universe. Is it time to reveal anything about the next instalments?

Can’t say anything yet. But the reveal that Mammootty plays Moothon was huge, wasn’t it? That was dropped on his birthday. And for those who watched carefully — yes, that was his voice, even if it was just one word.

Actress, screenwriter, assistant director, theatre artist... you juggle multiple creative roles. How do you manage it all?

It’s not easy. But when I feel that creative energy, I become greedy. I want to do it all. I truly love both writing and acting.

Your latest series released the day after Lokah’s premiere. Tell us about that.

Yes! Sambhavavivaranam Naalarasangam: The Chronicles of 4.5 Gang, directed by Krishand, released on Sony LIV just a day after Lokah. I play the character Kingini in it. Being part of Krishand’s cinematic world is truly exciting.

I’m also working on upcoming projects like Krishand’s film Masthishkamaranaṁ, Ananthan Kaadu (written by Murali Gopy), and a film by Pada director Kamal K. M.