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Next Big Thing | Santhy Balachandran's Superhero Arc Is Now
The multihyphenate is redefining what it means to be a cinema polymath as she opens up about reclaiming folklore in the wake of Lokah’s success
Santhy Balachandran is on top of the world.
She’s having her breakout year — eight years after her 2017 debut in filmmaker Dominic Arun’s Tharangam, she worked with him on his 2025 super-hit Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. Only this time, she isn’t acting. Credited with additional screenplay and dramaturgy, Balachandran has emerged as one of the most talked-about names from the Malayalam industry this year — not just in Kerala, but nationally.
Shaping Stories
“Actually, the journey has felt more like a spiral — with back and forths, and ups and downs — rather than a neat circle,” she reflects. But she’s keenly aware that there’s still ground to cover. “I’m especially grateful that Lokah has been received with such love. The team behind the film functioned like a family, and it has been gratifying to see everyone’s efforts over the past five years bear fruit in a way none of us anticipated,” says Balachandran, who also starred in the Malayalam comedy web-series The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang this year.
Her Lokah credits have introduced many Indians to the concept of a dramaturgist, someone who works as an advisor of sorts — and a role she hopes will become more common on film sets. “Dramaturgy is as much about what ends up on screen as what gets left out. It offers an interesting position for critical thinkers who enjoy problem-solving in a collaborative setting,” she explains. The position allows dramaturgists to support a film from scripting to screen while maintaining clarity and consistency. It’s an exciting role for those who thrive on diversity, as each project would demand different kinds of input.
Santhy Balachandran’s favourite role
“It’s tough to pick a favourite, but I really enjoyed working with the National Award-winning writer-director Shalini Ushadevi on Ennennum (2023) — a sci-fi relationship drama that explored what eternal love means in a world where immortality is an option. Shalini’s process is very immersive, and I enjoy working with directors who create space and time for discovery.”
Tradition Transformed
It’s difficult to avoid Western tropes when crafting superhero films as they dominate public consciousness. So, when Arun and Balachandran first began shaping Lokah, finding local anchors was crucial. Arun’s original idea was a fun vampire film.
Then he cracked it: making the protagonist Kalliyankaattu Neeli, an iconic character from Kerala folklore, essayed by Kalyani Priyadarshan. “Neeli is often portrayed in popular culture as a bloodthirsty, malevolent force who preys on men,” Balachandran says. Reimagining her as a superhero meant she needed agency and a moral code independent of patriarchal taming. The team got creative with her origin story and reworked the equation she shares with Kathanar — the Christian priest who, according to legend, exorcised her. “Our aim was to create an entertaining superhero film that reflects contemporary sensibilities while still being rooted in local lore.”
It’s too early to discuss specifics about her next project with Arun and whether it’s time for the next chapter in the Lokah universe or otherwise. But they plan to continue collaborating. “I enjoy working with Dominic as I find his vision and work ethic inspiring. Working with someone whose understanding of filmmaking is much deeper than mine has been a huge learning opportunity for me,” she says, adding that audiences will definitely meet more powerful and intriguing female characters as Lokah’s world expands.
More to Come
Despite the film’s unprecedented success — it is the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time — Balachandran doesn’t see herself directing anytime soon. “A good director requires immense clarity and excellent people management skills to sculpt a film according to their vision. I’m constantly awed by the sheer number of choices to be made in service of each frame that makes it to the screen. I think for now, I would prefer to stick to acting and writing,” she says.
Having acted across Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi titles, she’s keen to explore action and horror as an actor. She’d earlier made a mark in Lijo Jose Pellissery’s thriller Jallikattu (2019), India’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. “I enjoy discovering what my body can do, and I would love the challenge of stretching my physical abilities to play an action-oriented character,” she says. Horror fascinates her for different reasons. “I’m not a fearful person by nature, and portraying fear convincingly would require me to truly push the limits of my imagination.”
She’s also enjoyed working across languages, industries and formats. Beyond Malayalam, Gulmohar (2023) and Sweet Kaaram Coffee (2023) gave her opportunities to observe incredible technicians and share screen space with veterans such as Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, Amol Palekar, Madhoo and Lakshmi. She’s waiting for the right projects to explore Telugu and Kannada cinema; and she “would especially love to do a Bengali film as it was one of the first languages I learned as a child.”
Going forward, she’s particularly interested in doing more acting assignments in Hindi, particularly long-format projects. There’s more of Lokah to come of course, and more independent projects she’s collaborating on in a writing and producing capacity. “I have a long way to go to establish myself as an artist, so I hope the trajectory is pointing upwards. The overarching feeling is one of gratitude — for all the experiences that have led me here,” she concludes.
What’s next for Balachandran?
1. Director Balaji Tharaneetharan’s next Tamil project, starring Vijay Sethupathi
2. Ananthan Kaadu, a Tamil-Malayalam bilingual scripted by Murali Gopy (Lucifer, L2: Empuraan), starring Arya
3. Masthishka Maranam — filmmaker Krishand’s much awaited sci-fi satire
4. Other independent projects, including Don Palathara’s Ekadesham and Kamal K.M.’s Evideyanu Nee
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