Malayalam cinema doesn't chase pan-Inda, yet wins the nation: Dominic Arun

Eight months after the release of Lokah, director Dominic Arun is still soaking in the appreciation coming his way. For fans, there’s good news — the director is currently working on the second instalment of the Lokah series.

Having earned accolades across the country, Dominic believes cinema today has evolved into a truly all-encompassing medium. “From actors to technicians, cinema is now seen beyond language barriers. Nobody is surprised to see a Malayalam actor in Tamil or a Kannada actor in Malayalam,” he says, in a freewheeling chat with us. Excerpts:

'I drew inspiration for Lokah from folklore and the mythical figure of Yakshini'

Growing up in Kerala, I was fascinated by our folklore and its mythical figures. The concept of Yakshini especially intrigued me, and I reimagined her in a modern, fictional setting. The idea of Yakshi isn’t limited to coastal folklore — it also exists in regions up north and in West Bengal.

When we began, the working title was Wild Tales, but it didn’t quite capture the essence of the story. Lyricist Vinayak Shashi Kumar, who was visiting the sets, suggested Lokah. It’s a Sanskrit word meaning ‘world’, and it perfectly summed up the narrative. When our producer Dulquer Salmaan heard it, he instantly loved it, and the name stuck.

'We’ve begun writing Lokah: Chapter 2'

I’ve already narrated the broad idea to Dulquer, and what excites him most is the potential to introduce new characters and build multiple chapters. We’re looking at expanding the Lokah universe with several stories and possibilities. With Chapter One, we’ve laid the foundation for something much larger.




'It’s not the scale, but the soul of a film that matters'

I believe a filmmaker’s approach must always remain grounded. Stories rooted in culture and specific regions often travel the farthest. I’ll always remember what Lijo Jose Pellissery told me — ‘the more rooted you are, the more international your film can become.’ Angamaly Diaries is deeply rooted, yet look at the reception it received.

Emotional authenticity matters the most. It’s never about scale, but about how deeply your story resonates with people. Keep it rooted and honest. This is also why South cinema has found widespread popularity today. Audiences are seeking real, relatable content, and that’s what we’re offering.

'In Malayalam cinema, we work within our limitations'

I do see the challenges of working within a relatively small industry, where a ₹30 crore budget is considered significant. However, with Lokah, we were working with an emerging, not-yet-bankable star and within financial constraints. It meant relying heavily on passion and belief in our material.

Even when Tovino Thomas came on board, he didn’t charge a fee and said we could sort it out later once the film reached audiences. That’s the beauty of our industry — commitment outweighs conventional commercial safety nets. We value the final output far more than large remunerations. For us, it’s always work over everything else.

'We don’t chase ‘pan-India’, yet audiences across the country watch our films'

Malayalam cinema has always delivered quality content. We may have lost our way briefly, but we’re back on track. Especially post-pandemic, the ecosystem has evolved. Wider theatrical releases, improved distribution, subtitles, and OTT platforms have helped regional cinema travel far beyond linguistic boundaries.

Language is no longer a barrier. Yet, we don’t make films with a pan-India mindset. We prefer telling stories in our own language, rooted in regions we understand. I’ve seen some pan-India films where the scale has increased, but the soul is missing. We are part of a larger resurgence — one that reflects the emotional depth of the ’80s and ’90s, now with renewed energy and global reach.

The Bengaluru connectionBengaluru holds a special place in Dominic’s journey. Having worked as an engineer and lived in Electronic City, he considers the city his second home. “I had friends who would spend hours at our apartment doing absolutely nothing — and that found its way into Lokah. The city, even without being explicitly named, adds an interesting layer to the film,” he says.

Did you know?Dominic reveals he was in talks with Raj B Shetty for a role in Lokah, but it didn’t work out due to date issues. “I loved Garuda Gamana Vrushabha Vahana. Lucia is another favourite,” he adds.

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