National Award-winning production designer Vinesh Banglan has quietly emerged as one of the most imaginative visionaries in Indian cinema in an era where actors and directors often dominate the spotlight. Moreover, his latest project, “Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra,” produced by Dulquer Salman, has redefined the boundaries of South Indian movies. However, beyond his visual brilliance lies an interesting Dubai connection that transformed the film and the journey of the creator.
Crafting Cinematic Worlds with Global Vision
Vinesh Banglan is actually from Malappuram, Kerala. However, his artistic journey began with sketching. Moreover, his extraordinary eye for detail led him into the production design, which is a profession he accepted as a passion, not an ambition. Plus, his defining breakthrough came with Kantara, which attracted an audience in the spiritual folklore of Karnataka.
Now, he has transitioned from mythic forests to futuristic skylines with Lookah. Moreover, he recreated an entire Bengaluru-inspired dystopian metropolis inside Kochi to blend a superhero sage with the mythic roots of Kerala. Plus, he told Gulf News, “Such projects come once in a lifetime. As an artist, you can only experiment with this scale in a big metro city. We brought that dream alive.”
Vinesh Banglan: Rebuilding Cities, Reimagining Cinema
The Genius of Dubai-based designer lies in his ability to turn real spaces into living worlds. Instead of making big sets, he adapts existing locations into a landscape that feels authentic and imaginative.
He shared in an interview with Cinema Express, “It was not about creating an entirely new set, but about adapting an existing location to show what we wanted on screen.” Do you know the result? It is a cyberpunk Bengaluru recreated within the limits of Kerala, with futuristic yet rooted, neon-lit yet emotionally grounded.
On the other hand, the production designer also took a subtle dig at big-budget films that prioritize stars over substance. He said, “In other industries, 80 percent of the budget often goes to the actors’ salaries. We ensure every penny is visible on screen”.
By channelizing the budget into design and storytelling, Banglan delivers a film that critics and audiences like. Plus, Lookah proves that cinematic brilliance does not need extravagant spending. Instead, they only want boundless creativity.
The Dubai Chapter — Fueling Creativity Beyond Borders
The connection of the production designer with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) runs deep as the Head of Productions at Dubai-based Huckster Production. In addition, the emirate is more than a location for him. Instead, it is a creative ecosystem that inspires global collaboration. He said to the Gulf News, “Dubai has always represented possibilities. It is where vision meets infrastructure.
Many of his projects, like Lokah and Kurup, have found early conceptual roots in Dubai. Moreover, the growing film infrastructure of the city is rooted in the culture of Kerala, which has turned it into a new hub for Kerala cinema. Moreover, his leadership of Huckster Productions is helping position Dubai as a creative powerhouse for international filmmaking.
A Legacy of Innovation and Integrity
He is humble despite his success. However, his focus is on creating an authentic cinema experience, instead of financial gain or fame. He admits, “We never expected that Lokah would be such a blockbuster. All we wanted to make was a great film”.
The work of this production designer speaks for itself due to national awards for Kammara Sambhavam and widespread acclaim for Kantara and Lokah. Moreover, his meticulous approach, cultural grounding, and integrity have earned him the respect of filmmakers across India and the Middle East. Due to his effort, Kantara: Chapter 1 and Lookah: Chapter 1 dominated South Indian box offices.
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