Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
Dominic Arun’s superhero film Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, featuring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen, has been gaining praise for its storytelling and performances — but a single dialogue line triggered significant backlash from the Kannada community.
In the film, actor Sandy plays the antagonist, Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, a character marked by extreme misogyny. During one scene, the character refuses to marry a woman from Bengaluru, implying that “Bengaluru girls” are “characterless” — a line that many viewers found offensive and stereotyping.
As soon as the film was released, numerous Kannadigas took to social media to express their anger and disappointment, tagging the filmmakers and calling out the insensitivity of the dialogue. The issue quickly gained traction, sparking conversations around regional representation and respect in Indian cinema.
On Tuesday evening, Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films responded to the growing controversy with an official apology posted on their social media platforms. The statement acknowledged that a dialogue from Lokah had “unintentionally hurt the sentiments of people from Karnataka” and confirmed that the team had decided to remove the line from the film.
The statement read:
“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. We sincerely apologise and have taken steps to remove the said dialogue from the film.”
The apology and prompt action have been widely appreciated as a responsible response in a time when cultural and regional sensitivities are being more actively acknowledged in Indian cinema.
As the industry evolves, this incident underscores the growing need for inclusive, respectful storytelling — and the readiness of audiences to hold filmmakers accountable.
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