‘We had no other option but Kalyani for Chandra’:Co-writer Santhy Balachandran on Lokah

As talk continues around 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra', one name has been noticed alongside director Dominic Arun and actress and co-screenwriter Santhy Balachandran. Together, the pair have opened up a new world through a script that blends fantasy and realism. More than a superhero film, 'Lokah' also offers an emotional journey.

Santhy, who hails from Kottayam, made her Malayalam cinema debut in 2017 with 'Tharangam', directed by Dominic Arun and starring Tovino Thomas. Since then, she has been active as a theatre artiste, screenwriter, co-director and dubbing artiste. Recently, her heartfelt social media post thanking her parents for the success of 'Lokah' went viral.

In the world of happiness

For Santhy, this Onam season has been among the most unforgettable of her life. “This Onam is very special for me,” she said. “People have received 'Lokah' in a way we never expected. Our whole team has been dedicated to the project for the past five years. Beyond hard work, it has been an emotional journey. I’m so happy to have written with Dominic Arun. The love we gave to 'Lokah' has come back to us from the audience.”

The Chronicles of 4.5 Gang

Coincidentally, the day after 'Lokah' released, Santhy was seen in a very different role. She played Kingini in Krishad's series 'Sambhavivaranam Nalarasangham: The Chronicles of 4.5 Gang' on Sony Liv. The character is shown across three stages: school, college and marriage. “I was thrilled to play Kingini,” Santhy said. “Being part of Krishand’s vision is exciting. He has a very unique voice in cinema. The series is also getting good responses.”

Stages give a different 'vibe'

Alongside this, Santhy is also taking the stage. She is also a part of 'Bye Bye Bypass', a play directed by Roshan Mathew, alongside friends Darshana Rajendran, Rajesh Madhavan, Aswathy Manoharan and Nilja K Baby. “We began this just hoping to find time and do our best,” she said. “We didn’t know if we could complete it. But we’ve already staged eight shows. Even when we’re tired, we train. It feels like a family, a community where creative people come together. It’s all done with joy because the teamwork is so good.”

Balancing screen and stage is something Santhy values deeply. “When acting, you spend only a limited time on set. There’s often a waiting period between projects. Especially for me, one project a year has been the rhythm. Writing and theatre keep me creatively alive during that time. That gives me satisfaction.”

Lokah and Chandra

On 'Lokah', she found equal satisfaction. “Writing with Dominic gave me a sense of creative give and take. We have different skill sets and a mutual respect. The whole team, actors and technicians, gave their all. Working in that atmosphere energises you. Our collaboration in writing is the most beautiful thing. The balance of our talents worked together.”

She praised the way Arun shaped characters such as Naslen and her friends. “Dominic has a great sense of humour, and the way he created situations that connect with audiences was exciting. Personally, I enjoyed deconstructing a familiar myth and it has been wonderful to see the audience embrace the reimagined tale.

Casting, too, was instinctive. “We had no other option but Kalyani for Chandra. Everyone was sure she was right. The audience felt the same. She worked very hard, and I’m so happy she’s received recognition for it.”

This Onam with Lokah

For Santhy, Onam this year was also about family. “Even though my hometown is Kottayam, I never really celebrated Onam there as I grew up in many places — Chennai, Hyderabad and the UK,” the actor recalled.

“And this Onam is special, because of all the love pouring in for my work and the exciting endeavours ahead,” she noted.

The journey continues. Santhy has several projects lined up, including Ananthan Kaadu, scripted by Murali Gopy, Masthishka Maranam: Simon’s Memories directed by Krishand, a film with veteran director Kamal, and other appearances in friends’ projects. “I’m enjoying this beautiful journey a lot,” she concluded.