Actress Malavika Mohanan has recently shared her perspective on the persistent scarcity of female-led big-budget films within the Indian film industry. Following her recent performance in 'The Raja Saab' alongside Prabhas, Mohanan addressed the inherent bias that often prevents substantial financial backing for movies headlined by women.
Producer Hesitation and Box-Office Myths
In a candid interview with News18, Malavika Mohanan revealed that many producers operate under the assumption that films led by female actors lack the same box-office appeal as those featuring male leads. This belief, she explained, directly influences their willingness to allocate significant budgets to such projects.
"What a lot of male producers and actors have said in the past is that if there's a female-led film, it won't have that sort of pull, which is why they can't invest more than 'x' amount in it," Mohanan stated. "That's why very few people have bet on a big-budget film led by a female star. Only a handful of such films have been made."
The Success Story of 'Lokah'
To illustrate her point, Mohanan pointed to the Malayalam film 'Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra,' which was produced on a massive scale by industry standards and featured Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead role. She emphasized how the producers' faith in both the content and the actress paid off remarkably.
"Lokah was a big-budget film compared to Malayalam film industry standards. It was headlined by Kalyani [Priyadarshan], a relatively young woman actor," she noted. "The film happened because its producers bet on it — on its content. They had faith in Kalyani that she would be able to carry it off. It went on to make so much money at the box office."
Breaking Down the 'Lokah' Phenomenon
'Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra' is a Malayalam superhero film directed by Dominic Arun and produced under Dulquer Salmaan's home production banner. The movie stars Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead, with supporting performances from actors such as:
- Naslen
- Sandy
- Chandu Salim Kumar
- Arun Kurian
Despite lacking major star vehicles, except for a few cameos, the film achieved impressive box-office success. It garnered:
- Domestic collections of approximately Rs 157.02 crore
- Worldwide earnings reaching Rs 303.86 crore
Additionally, 'Lokah' received positive feedback from both audiences and critics, challenging the notion that female-led films cannot achieve commercial viability.
A Call for Change in Industry Mindset
Mohanan's comments underscore a broader issue within Indian cinema, where high-budget projects are predominantly led by male protagonists. She lamented the lack of daring among producers to place women in such roles, despite evidence of potential success.
"It's just that not enough producers dare to place a woman in this kind of high-budget film. Such films are usually headlined by a male protagonist," she concluded, urging the industry to reconsider its approach and invest more confidently in female-led narratives.
