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Kalyani Priyadarshan confessed to intense pre-release nerves for 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra', a film deviating from typical Malayalam cinema. The team, including co-star Naslen, remained secluded on release day, fearing audience and critical judgment. Relief washed over them with positive early reviews, and producer Dulquer Salmaan's unwavering support bolstered their confidence, ultimately leading to the film's blockbuster success.
Kalyani Priyadarshan recently looked back at her experience working on 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra'.Speaking at a round table discussion held by The Hollywood Reporter, Kalyani said the film felt very different from regular Malayalam movies.
Because of this, the team was unsure how the audience would react. This made everyone nervous as the release day came closer.
Kalyani says the team didn’t step out of their rooms
Kalyani shared that the tension was very real on release day. She said, “We were very nervous up until the day of release. On the day of the release, me and Naslen didn’t step out. We were in our rooms, hoping that people don’t say anything bad about us.” The fear was not just about the film, but also about how people would judge their performances.
Relief after first reviews
Things slowly changed once early reviews started coming in. Kalyani recalled the moment of relief and said, “Around 3:00, when we knew good reviews were coming in, we called each other and said, ‘I think we can step out now.’” Actor Vicky Kaushal, who was part of the discussion, praised Naslen and said, “Even Naslen was so good.” Kalyani agreed and called him a brilliant actor.
The interval scene that changed everything
Kalyani also revealed an interesting detail about the film.
She said almost everything followed the script, except the interval block. That part was changed during the shoot and editing. The team felt some scenes were not working and trusted their instincts to reshape that moment, which later became a big talking point.
Dulquer Salmaan’s honest call
Earlier, Kalyani spoke to Post Nut Clarity about a phone call from producer Dulquer Salmaan before the release. She said he told her, “Don’t even look at the numbers. Just know that I am really happy as a producer.” He also said he did not mind losing money if the film found its audience. Kalyani added, “Even if it’s a small audience, the film will find it.” That trust from DQ helped the team stay calm and believe in Lokah’s journey.Now, surpassing all these fears and doubts, 'Lokah' has turned out to be an all time blockbuster.
English (US) ·