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The highly talked-about ‘Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra’ has quickly turned heads across the industry. Since its release on August 28, 2025, the female-led South Indian spectacle has sparked waves of discussion. The superhero film is currently the third-highest-grossing Malayalam movie of the year. The premiere hasn’t even stayed confined to Kerala either. It’s already out in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada, which reflects just how determined the makers are to pitch this story to a wider audience. Let’s dive into how its story, cast, visuals, and spotlight come together on screen. About Chandra and the Rise of a Superhero Cinematic Universe Bankrolled by Dulquer Salmaan through his own studio, Wayfarer Films, the movie comes from director Dominic Arun. Designed as the opening entry in the Wayfarer Cinematic Universe, it introduces Mollywood’s first structured attempt at a superhero franchise. Kalyani Priyadarshan takes on the central role of Chandra, laying the foundation for what is intended to be a multi-chapter saga. The lineup feels thoughtfully mixed; there’s Naslen, Arun Kurian, Sandy, Chandu Salimkumar, Raghunath Paleri, Nishanth Sagar, Sarath Sabha, Nithya Shri, and Vijayaraghavan holding the ground. Then viewers have got those fleeting but eye-catching appearances from Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, and Sunny Wayne. And, of course, Mammootty’s voice in the narration adds that unmistakable gravitas. Read more: Wednesday Season 2 Part 2: Jenna Ortega Fronts Netflix's Star-Studded Mayhem Defining Superhero Milestone in Mollywood The film distinguishes itself from other large-scale fantasy ventures not with sheer size but with its command over visual language. The pre-interval block is where the film flexes its muscles. Yannick Ben’s stunt direction lands with a kind of sharpness that feels deliberate, every move thought through, nothing tossed in just to dazzle. The camera, guided by Nimish Ravi, keeps pace with that rhythm. At times it stretches wide, letting audiences take in the sweep of the moment, and then suddenly it’s right up close. It catches the smaller beats that stop the action from floating off into spectacle. Meanwhile, Jakes Bejoy’s score threads the whole thing together. He swings between hard-driving, heart-racing bursts and quieter passages that almost sit in the background but keep the tension alive. It feels at home in the superhero world, sure, but it doesn’t just imitate the usual formulas; it carves out a tone that feels distinctly its own. Optimal Sync of Visual Spectacles with Screenplay At its heart, the story follows a young woman who stumbles upon extraordinary powers while still caught in the messiness of her own personal battles. As a dark force rises, she is pushed toward embracing both her power and her fate. Read more: Top 10 Korean Dramas Releasing in September 2025 Dominic Arun does more than just direct here; he also lays down the spine of the story, sharing writing duties with Santhy Balachandran. What they’ve built is not just spectacle but a layered world, folding in immortals, folklore, and present-day anxieties. That mix gives the fantasy a sense of weight, something rooted rather than drifting. At times of surfacing cameos of major stars, they feel stretched, yet they remain tied to the story without completely distracting from Chandra’s arc. Their presence is also designed to feed into later installments, which makes early judgement difficult. What stands out is the writing of supporting characters, handled with restraint and dignity. The filmmaking and editing never feel careless. Lighting, cuts, and pacing follow the mood of the scene rather than any formula, so the rhythm feels organic. There’s richness in the textures, but it never tips into indulgence. Visual polish stays in service of the story, not the other way around. The balance between spectacle and storytelling holds steady. Read more: September 2025 South Indian Movies: 12 Biggest Releases

Malayalam star Asif Ali takes the lead in ‘Tiki Taka,’ the upcoming action thriller that’s gaining momentum in production circles. The film is gearing up for a theatrical release during Christmas 2025, hinting at a wide multilingual rollout. Buzz around the project is steadily building as anticipation grows. Let’s find out the movie’s progression while appreciating Asif’s dedication to bringing it to life. Tiki Taka Cast and Crew Helmed by Rohith VS, this thriller marks his third collaboration with Asif after ‘Adventures of Omanakuttan’ (2017) and ‘Iblis’ (2018). The screenplay credit goes to Sharis Mohammed. This project is touted as one of Asif Ali’s most ambitious big-budget ventures. The lineup of talent boasts Wamiqa Gabbi, Lukman Avaran, Naslen Gafoor, Santhosh Prathap, Sanchana Natarajan, and Harisree Ashokan. Read more: 8 New K-Dramas to Watch in June 2025 Siju Mathew and Navis Xaviour steer the production, uniting Juvis Production and Adventures Company. The core crew features Sony Seban’s cinematography, Dawn Vincent’s score, and Chaman Chakko’s edits. Behind the Making of John Denver: The Heart of the Story Asif Ali reflected on his connection with John Denver, the central character in ‘Tiki Taka’, highlighting a deep admiration for the role. He described Denver as a fighter, defined by resilience, determination, and an unyielding spirit. These traits resonated with him the moment the character was introduced. The actor shared that his portrayal demanded emotional investment and significant physical preparation. A complete physical transformation was required, along with intense fight training. The process, however, was far from smooth. He revealed that a serious mishap during the preparation phase added to the challenges. Read more: Paresh Rawal Quits Hera Pheri 3, Leaving Franchise Fans Shocked What stood out was how his personal experience on the film closely reflected the struggles faced by the character. According to him, the journey unexpectedly became a parallel to his own, marked by endurance and inner strength. Back on Track After Unexpected Hiatus The process took a severe turn in 2023. During combat training, Asif encountered a serious accident that halted everything. The injury left him bedridden, then confined to a wheelchair for weeks. What made the ordeal even harder was the realisation that a year’s worth of physical preparation was lost. Unlike the resilience of John Denver, he broke down in tears on the hospital bed. Now, after nearly 18 months, the cameras are rolling again. Despite healing from meniscus and ligament injuries, Asif has returned to the set. His commitment remains unwavering, driven by the same force that first drew him to the role. Read more: Bhool Chuk Maaf Movie Update: New Theatrical and OTT Release Dates Wrapping Up Asif Ali leads ‘Tiki Taka,’ slated for launch during Christmas 2025. Rohith VS’s direction and Wamiqa Gabbi’s joining the cast elevate the movie’s calibre. Making John Denver, the lead character, go through an intense physical transformation was tiresome. Asif’s year-long effort was even interrupted by a serious accident. The good news is, filming has now resumed after his recovery. The project aims to deliver a bold commercial action experience, standing out amid Malayalam cinema’s current golden wave. Read more: Top 10 Netflix Originals Streaming in June 2025

After carrying on with the boring rate-race through the week, spending time with heart-racing feelings gets in line to enjoy the weekend. When it comes to heart-pounding experiences, watching South Indian thriller movies is the appetite of the mind. In fact, Movie lovers in white-collar need to be fresh at the office after the weekend. Thanks to the South Indian thriller Movies, they fuel the Bollywood industry for good. Let’s explore some of the best thriller films in the south Indian region. Top 10 Best South Indian Thriller Movies Drishyam 2 | 2021 | Malayalam | IMDb: 8.6/10 This is a sequel to the 2013 film Drishyam where Georgekutty was struggling to make his name clear from the suspicion for missing Varun Pravakar, the son of the Police Inspector General. This time the Georgekutty family deals with the post-trauma of the murder of Varun. Antony Perumbavoor produced both films directed and written by Jeethu Joseph. Ansiba Hassan, Meena, Mohanlal, and Esther Anil star in the film. Its Telugu version is also being filmed. Read Puneeth Rajkumar: A Popular Benevolent Short-Lived Actor in the Kannada Film Industry Kaithi | 2019 | Tamil | IMDb: 8.5/10 Inspired by Hollywood film Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Kaithi tells a story of a prisoner, who has just been released, getting involved in some deadly conflicts on his way to meet his daughter. Karthi and Narain played the lead role in the movie directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film has Telugu and Hind versions as well. There were no playback songs in this movie except background music. Kaithi was awarded in South Indian International Movie Awards as the best film- Tamil. Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya | 2019 | Telugu | IMDb: 8.4/10 Swaroop RSJ directed this humor genre film with his own created story. The comedy film follows a detective facing dangerous phenomena just after taking over the case of a corpse found near a rail line. Naveen Polishetty contributed to the screenplay along with RSJ. He even played the lead role with co-artist Shruti Sharma in the film. It was the first film direction of Swaroop and he got Zee Cine Awards Telugu for the work. Read Apan Thikana: A Great Approach by RJ Kebria to Reunite the Lost Family Members Evaru | 2019 | Telugu | IMDb: 8.2/10 A corrupted police officer gets himself engaged with the close case of a woman who murdered her rapist. Evaru was filmed based on this story under the screenplay and direction of Venkat Ramji. This Cinema mainly is the Telugu version of the popular Spanish film ‘Invisible Guest’ (2016). Naveen Chandra, Adivi Sesh, Murali Sharma, and Regina Cassandra starred in the film. This PVP Cinema production has remarkable suspense elements that make it a fair adaptation of the original. Kavaludaari | 2019 | Kannada | IMDb: 8/10 Crossroads is another title of this neo-noir film written and directed by Hemanth Rao. A traffic police officer takes seriously the human bones found near a construction project and goes an extra limit to solve a 40-year old mystery. Suman Ranganathan, Rishi, Anant Nag, Roshni Prakash, Sulile Kumar, and Achyuth Kumar star in this PRK Productions film. Kavaludaari won the best film in Kannada Cinema in Bengaluru International Film Festival 2020. The film has versions in Tamil and Telugu. Read Greatest War Movies of All-times: Be the Witness of the Historical Warfares lucifer | 2019 | Malayalam | IMDb: 7.5/10 This blockbuster Cinema was the first directorial work of the South Indian actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. After the death of a political Godfather, an unknown but mysterious person emerges out of five candidates to be the most eligible successor. The film, screenplays by Murali Gopy, features Mohanlal as the main character. Prithviraj himself also stars in the Cinema. This film is planned to make a trilogy whereas this first installment becomes the highest-grossing Malayalam movie till now. Ratsasan | 2018 | Tamil | IMDb: 8.4/10 This psychological thriller movie, directed and written by Ram Kumar, is also known as ‘Demon’. The story of the film advances with a passionate filmmaker becoming a cop and ending up running after a vicious serial killer. Amala Paul, Vishnu Vishal, Saravanan, Kaali Venkat, Ramdoss, and Vinodhini Vaidyanathan star in the movie. Ratsasan has Telugu and Hindi remakes as well. This Cinema became the best thriller in the Oniros Film Awards. Read Best Sci-Fi Movies Ever: The Catalysts of Unleashing the Boundless Imagination KGF Chapter I | 2018 | Kannada | IMDb: 8.3/10 This action film by Prashanth Neel was dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages. The film is all about turning an underprivileged poor soul into a Mumbai gangster and his using the power for revolution. The film stars Srinidhi Shetty, Yash, Ananth Nag, and Achyuth Kumar. This commercially successful movie was awarded as the best film in National Film Awards, SIIMA Awards, and Filmfare Awards South. KGF Chapter II is expected to be released on April 22, 2022. Vikram Vedha | 2017 | Tamil | IMDb: 8.3/10 This neo-noir movie presents an unorthodox perception of good and evil. One of the two main characters is Vikram; the cop, and the listener. And the other one is Vedha; the gangster and the storyteller. Madhavan played the Vikram and Vijay Sethupathi stars as Vedha. The movie based on popular Indian folklore Vikram-Beetal was directed and written by Pushkar–Gayathri. The film won an Edison Award, two Techofes Awards, four Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards, and four Filmfare Awards South. Read Greatest Thriller Movies of All Times: Suspense that can mess with your mind Theeran Adhigaram Ondru | 2017 | Tamil | IMDb: 8.3/10 Another title of this movie, based on Operation Bawaria, is Braveman. Tamil Nadu Police suppressed the organized dacoity, and murder from 1995 to 2006 by the notorious gang of lorry drivers of the Bawaria community. The film stars Karthi, Abhimanyu Singh, and Rakul Preet Singh under the direction of H. Vinoth. This movie was also released in the dubbed Telugu version. The film won two Edison awards, a Techofes award, an Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award, and a Filmfare Awards South. Takeaways Besides fulfilling the traditional demands of music lover Indians, these South Indian thriller movies come up with some pulse-raising suspense. With the attachment of movie technology, South Indian filmmakers have already started to unleash their creativity in full stream. The local audience is getting mesmerized to experience the special effects with better cinematography in the domestic film industry. Not to mention the amazing film stories in South India, the region is rich in great tales. Read Greatest Animated Films Ever: The Animation movies that will never lose charm