Dulquer Salmaan’s latest superhero film Lokah: Chapter 1- Chandra is winning hearts, but one dialogue has stirred controversy. In the Malayalam and Telugu versions released on August 28, a line spoken by the villain has angered viewers from Karnataka.
Sandy, who plays the misogynistic antagonist Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, says a line that labels women from Bengaluru using a derogatory slang. The comment, made during a conversation with his mother about marriage, sparked backlash online.
Kannadigas quickly took to social media, calling out the filmmakers for promoting negative stereotypes. Many criticized the dialogue as sexist, offensive, and unnecessary. Some also raised concerns about scenes in the film that depict drug use and partying, involving lead actor Naslen’s character, Sunny. The hashtag related to the boycott of the film began trending on X (formerly Twitter), prompting the production team to respond.
On Tuesday evening, Dulquer’s production house, Wayfarer Films, released an official apology. “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,” the statement read. “We deeply regret this oversight and assure you that no offence was intended.” They also confirmed the dialogue would be removed or edited immediately in all future versions.
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The makers will release Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra in Hindi on September 4, despite the controversy. Kalyani Priyadarshan leads the film as the titular superhero, earning praise for the stunning visuals and high-octane action. This incident highlights how quickly regional sensitivities can impact a film’s reception and how fast production houses must act in today’s digital age.
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