Are 'Lokah' and 'Indriyam' connected? Screenwriter K.P. Vyasan says, 'A director called me and said my story is gone'

There are countless theories circulating on social media surrounding the Kalyani Priyadarshan starrer 'Lokah,' and one among them was the connection between Nishanth Sagar's character in the 2000 film 'Indriyam' and Dominic Arun's directorial. Now the writer-director KP Vyasan, who has worked in 'Indriyam,' clears the air on such speculations.As the Malayalam horror classic Indriyam completes 25 years, its screenwriter and director, K.P. Vyasan (then credited as K.P. Vyas), has penned a heartfelt note on social media recalling its journey. “September 16, 1999—Room No. 101 at the old Elite Hotel… we were discussing Ram Gopal Varma’s 'Deyyam.' That night, sleepless in Room 106, I wrote the one-line story,” Vyasan remembers. What started as a late-night conversation turned into a milestone in Malayalam cinema.The film, directed by George Kithu, according to Vyasan, introduced audiences to a new sound-driven horror experience. “It was Sebastian, the hotel manager, who truly created the writer in me,” Vyasan writes, crediting him for giving shape to Indriyam.Released on May 5, 2000, 'Indriyam' went on to run for 70 days at Ernakulam’s Shenoys Theatre. Starring Vani Viswanath in the central role, it became a blockbuster and was later dubbed into multiple languages. “A horror film with only a heroine as the central character managed to create the kind of opening usually reserved for superstar films,” Vyasan notes.Actor Nishanth Sagar’s recent phone call reminded him how 'Indriyam' continues to spark discussions even today. He wrote, "Just recently, Nishanth Sagar, who played one of the key roles in 'Indriyam,' called me and said, “Chetta, what all stories are people making up now… they’re connecting Indriyam to new theories!”Vyasan further wrote, "But one day, like a bolt of lightning, a director called me and said, 'Your story is gone… This is exactly the story of 'Lokah,' starring Naslen and Kalyani.” I was shocked. My mind told me it couldn’t be so, but once 'Lokah' was released, I decided not to pursue that story further and instead fully dedicate myself to the Dileep film starting this December. A few months ago, I had narrated the story to associate director Sujith Suresh, who told me, “Chetta, this story has no connection to Lokah. Please go ahead and work on it.” (Sujith Suresh was actually the associate director of Lokah!)Vyasan also addressed why he never made a sequel. “Never make a horror film without adapting to the times. The best recent example of this is Lokah,” he said. Vyasan holds the Kalyani Priyadarshan starrer in high regard: “As I said earlier, Lokah is the best example of how a yakshi story should be told in today’s era. The movie is collecting big numbers at the box office, and it's purely the talent of the creators."He signed off recalling a critic’s review of 'Indriyam' in 2000— “a darkness that hypnotizes the viewer.” Vyasan wrote, "Ironically, that very critic later entered cinema but has yet to achieve a success that comes close to 'Indriyam's impact."For Vyasan, the fact that 'Indriyam' is remembered and even compared to Lokah after 25 years is “in itself a huge honor.”