The makers of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra have issued a public apology following backlash over a controversial dialogue in the film that has been criticised for degrading women from Bengaluru and portraying the city in a negative light.

The controversy erupted after a character in the Malayalam film—Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, played by choreographer Sandy—delivers a line saying he doesn’t want to marry a Bengaluru woman because they are “characterless”. The comment quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many accusing the filmmakers of stereotyping and disrespecting women from the city.

Adding fuel to the fire, the film also reportedly depicts Bengaluru as a hub of parties and drug abuse—another point of contention that has drawn criticism from viewers and civic groups alike.

Makers issue apology, promise edits

Responding to the backlash, the production house, Wayfarer Films—headed by actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan—issued an official statement on Tuesday, expressing regret and assuring audiences that corrective measures are being taken.

“It has come to our attention that a dialogue delivered by one of the characters in our film Lokah: Chapter One has unintentionally hurt the sentiments of people from Karnataka,” read the statement.

“At Wayfarer Films, we place people above everything else. We deeply regret this oversight and assure you that no offence was intended. The dialogue in question will be removed/edited at the earliest. We sincerely apologise for the hurt caused and humbly request you to accept our apology,” the statement continued.

The controversy has also caught the attention of authorities. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh addressed the growing concerns, confirming that the matter would be reviewed by the Central Crime Branch’s social media monitoring cell.

He assured the public that appropriate action would be taken if any legal or regulatory violations were found in the film’s content.