The Malayalam film Lokah: Chapter 1- Chandra, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, has been praised for introducing the first female superhero in Malayalam cinema. However, the film has recently sparked outrage due to a controversial dialogue demeaning women from Bengaluru.

Dulquer Salmaan, producer and head of Wayfarer Films, issued a public apology on Tuesday, assuring audiences that the dialogue in question would be removed from the film. The statement read, “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.

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

The controversy stems from a line delivered by actor Sandy, portraying the antagonist Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, where he refuses to marry a woman from Bengaluru, calling them ‘characterless.’

He says, “I am not saying I won’t get married. But I won’t marry a girl from this city because they’re all s***s,” a remark that offended many Karnataka residents. Additionally, some viewers criticized the film for portraying Bengaluru as a hub of parties and drugs.

Following the backlash, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh stated that the matter would be examined by the Central Crime Branch’s social media monitoring cell, and action would be taken if any violations were found.

Despite the controversy, Lokah: Chapter 1 remains the third highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025. Released on August 28, the film has collected Rs 38.95 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.