Months after its release, actor and producer Dulquer Salmaan has opened up about the significant challenges his fantasy action film 'Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra' faced in securing a digital release. The movie, which features cameo appearances from Salmaan himself and fellow star Tovino Thomas, struggled to find a buyer on any major streaming platform initially.
No Takers for a Star-Studded Cameo
In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Dulquer Salmaan disclosed the surprising resistance from Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. He revealed that the film's budget had doubled during production, yet this did not make it an attractive acquisition. The presence of two popular Malayalam stars was not enough to sway the platforms.
"We went twice over the budget, and nobody wanted to buy the film," Salmaan stated. He elaborated that the platforms' response was focused purely on the duration of the stars' appearances. "Tovino and I were there, but they were like, ‘You are barely there for a few minutes’," he added.
Salmaan criticized the current trend in OTT agreements, which he says often prioritize contractual star screen time over artistic merit. "Their deal will be like, if you are there for many so minutes, we’ll pay you X amount. I’ve been part of such films," he explained, highlighting a commercial shift in the industry that can sideline content quality.
The Reluctant Star and Producer
In a twist of irony, Salmaan admitted in the same interview that he was initially hesitant to appear in the film at all, despite being its producer. His cameo as the character Charlie, also known as Odiyan, eventually became one of the movie's most talked-about moments, praised for its mysterious entry and powerful background score by Jakes Bejoy.
However, that scene almost didn't happen. "I fought with them for it. I said, ‘You guys should be able to make it without me having to do anything.’ Even this cameo, I fought with them," Salmaan revealed. This internal debate underscores his vision for his production house, Wayfarer Films.
Building a Legacy Beyond Stardom
Dulquer Salmaan emphasized a core philosophy behind his production ventures. His primary goal is to establish Wayfarer Films as a standalone entity, not solely reliant on his own fame as an actor. "I kind of want it to be a standalone entity. I am super greedy about movies," he declared.
He finds more excitement in championing powerful narratives than in creating vehicles for himself. "For me, that is more exciting than me producing my own superhero movie," he said. This intention was clear in his backing of 'Lokah', a female-led superhero project. He aimed to let the story stand on its own without using his screen presence as a commercial safety net.
The journey of 'Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra' highlights the evolving and often challenging dynamics between film production and digital distribution in India. It showcases a producer's struggle to balance creative support for unique stories with the hard commercial realities of the modern OTT marketplace.
