Malayalam movie ‘Lokah’ faces Karnataka’s ire: Dulquer Salman’s Wayfarer Films issues apology, to remove “offensive dialogue”

The makers of the newly-released Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, have issued an apology to people of Karnataka, who had accused the film of portraying Bengaluru as “a hub of parties and drugs”. They have also assured that a dialogue which had been flagged “for demeaning girls of Bengaluru” will be edited out.

In an official statement, the production house Wayfarer Films expressed regret at the “oversight” and said that the dialogue which had “unintentionally hurt the sentiments of people from Karnataka” would be removed.

The controversy blew up on social media after some users demanded the removal of certain allegedly offensive dialogues and scenes from the film. The film had earlier courted controversy for allegedly promoting ‘anti-Hindu propaganda’.

In a post on X, National Award-winning Kannada director Mansore had stated: “In Kannada film Bheema, Malayalam films Officer on Duty, Avesham, and now Lokah, Bengaluru is being portrayed as the capital of drugs and crime. Once upon a time, it was represented in movies as a beautiful town… It has come to such a state due to uncontrolled migration.”

A still from Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

On September 2, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that the social media monitoring cell of the CCB would look into the issue, and take necessary action “if there is any violation”.

Kannada activist Rupesh Rajanna had also slammed the film for “demeaning Bengaluru women” and demanded Raj B. Shetty, the distributor of the movie in Karnataka, to remove the word from the film. He also demanded an apology from the team.

Production house repsonds

In an official statement released on social media, the production house led by actor Dulquer Salman said, “It has come to our attention that a dialogue delivered by the one of the characters in our film Lokah: Chapter 1 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 in question will be removed/edited at the earliest. We sincerely apologise for the hurt caused and humbly request you to accept our apology.”