Lokah’s Much-Hyped Film Draws Split Opinions On OTT

Some films age like fine wine, others… turn into a meme. Lokah, the once “brilliant” socio-political drama that critics couldn’t stop talking about, has hit OTT, and suddenly, everyone has something to say. What looked powerful and raw in theatres now feels a bit out of touch with the wider online crowd. The same film that got standing ovations a few months back is now being roasted for showing a Bengaluru that barely exists outside fantasy.

When Lokah was released in theatres, people praised its sharp writing and intense performances. But now? Social media has turned it into a comedy club. One user wrote, “In Lokah, no one is stuck in Bengaluru traffic, clearly, this is fiction!” and that single comment lit up timelines with memes. Others followed, joking about the film’s “alternate universe” where the city’s police don’t take bribes and everyone behaves too perfectly to be real. What was meant to be serious now feels unintentionally funny to many.

Then came the outrage. Some viewers accused the film of showing Bengaluru and its people, especially Hindus, in a bad light. One angry post read, “Not even 30 minutes in and they’ve already painted locals and Hindus badly. Why not make such films about their own towns?” That kicked off a bigger debate, whether Lokah is bold cinema or just unnecessarily provocative. The internet, as usual, split right down the middle.

Still, not everything’s negative. Many are defending the film for its stunning visuals, strong performances by Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen, and Jakes Bejoy’s haunting background score. It’s a mixed bag, really. What once felt like a festival favourite now faces the raw, unfiltered honesty of OTT viewers, the kind that comes with memes, sarcasm, and no mercy. Lokah might be taking the punches, but at least it’s got everyone talking again, and that’s no small win in today’s noisy digital world.