Kingdom

Kingdom had all the elements of a grand spectacle, but somehow it failed to hold my attention. The story promised something big, yet it didn't deliver anything truly engaging. Despite the hype, I found it hard to connect with the plot or characters, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Decent visuals and effort, but overall, it didn't live up to expectations. I'd rate it 6/10.

I expected too much this time from Vijay. Actually, Vijay's is totally steal the show. I appreciate hin. But, somewhere storyline lacks.

Kingdom Movie Review: An intense action drama grounded in emotion and craft.

Story: During the British era in the 1920s, a group of people living along the Srikakulam coast fall victim to brutal killings by the colonial forces. A handful manage to escape to an island near Sri Lanka. Seventy years later, Suri, a police constable haunted by the long-lost memory of his brother Shiva, agrees to take up a covert spy mission in the hope of finding him. His journey leads him to the treacherous shores of Jaffna, now under the control of smuggling cartels. But destiny has other plans, seemingly written long before his time.

Review: Gowtam Tinnanuri, known for his emotionally engaging storytelling in Jersey, brings a similar sensibility to Kingdom. Though mounted on a broader canvas with action and fictional history woven in, the film never loses sight of its emotional core. Kingdom taps into a classic saviour myth, where a displaced people hold on to ancestral belief that one day, someone bearing the signs of their ancient wisdom will lead them home.

Vijay Deverakonda dials down the swagger and delivers a performance grounded in restraint, emotional depth and simmering rage. As Suri, he convincingly portrays a man carrying the weight of grief and unanswered questions. His scenes with Satyadev are some of the most affecting moments in the film. Satyadev, as Shiva, brings his natural acting flair. Bhagyashri Borse makes a sincere attempt as Madhu, though her character arc could have benefited from stronger motivations. Venkitesh VP, as Murugan, the antagonist, is a show-stealer. He brings charisma, brooding intensity and calm menace, serving as a strong narrative counterweight.

The supporting cast, including Manish Chaudhari as the steely handler Jayaprakash, Ayyapa Sharma as the intimidating Divi Bhairagi, Rohini as Suguna, Babu Raj as Odiyappan, and Ajith Koshy, Bhoomi Shetty, Ravi Krishna, Navya Swami, and Mahesh Achanta, all leave an impression.

The film excels in its visual and aural language. Cinematographers Girish Gangadharan and Jomon T John craft a rich visual palette, capturing the moody landscapes of coastal Sri Lanka and the earthy grit of its conflict zones. Naveen Nooli's editing keeps the narrative coherent and pacy. Anirudh Ravichander's background score rises to the occasion, amplifying key emotional beats, though traces of familiarity with his past compositions from Devara and Vettaiyan remain.

The action in Kingdom is not over the top. Instead, it is functional and well-choreographed, mostly serving the emotional stakes of the story. The film's strength lies in how the physical confrontations and conflicts are grounded in personal choices, with a maturity in the staging-whether it is Suri or Shiva making a pivotal decision. Tinnanuri's control over tone ensures that the story never veers into melodrama or spectacle for its own sake.

Kingdom is not about flashy heroism or exaggerated showdowns. It is an action drama that finds strength in its emotional weight. It marks a return to form for Vijay Deverakonda, who finds the right balance between intensity and vulnerability. It's a well-crafted action drama with emotional integrity and visual flair. Nitpicking aside, Kingdom delivers an impactful cinematic experience.

Verdict : Below Average.

This movie begins on a promising note, as if another director from Andhra Pradesh were about to conjure the magic of Baahubali through the well-worn trope of reincarnation. But halfway through, the promise caves in. The movie slumps so badly in the last fifteen minutes that a narrator's voice-over is introduced to keep the movie from falling apart at the seams. Unfortunately, the Telugu industry's fascination with sequels is partly to blame: the second half feels less like a story than a prologue to a sequel that will never see the light of day after the cold reception of this movie. Another chink in the armour is its depiction of female characters. A noticeable pattern in successful Telugu movies is that women are written as powerful presences. However, this movie is fixated on masculinity, articulated through male violence -- which itself lacks grace and panache. To crown all, the movie lacks a decent musical score. Without one, it should give up its dream to become a saleable commodity in the Telugu industry.

The basic plot and the core characters do have potential, and the first half manages to hold mild interest. But from the get-go, the storytelling feels a bit patchy, and by the time the second half arrives, the film begins to lose steam completely. Many scenes feel flat, emotions don't land as intended, and the narrative never really builds momentum. The climax is just about okay-neither satisfying nor disappointing, just safely passable.

Vijay Devarakonda is a talented actor who has delivered few brilliant performances in the past and a few that fell short but this stands out to be his weakest performance to date.

Satya Dev also brings a grounded intensity to his role.

Bhagyashree looks fine, but her acting doesn't rise above average-it might be time she explores more glamorous roles that play to her strengths.

The rest of the cast are serviceable and do their job without any major highs or lows.

On the brighter side, the technical departments shine. The production values are impressive-locations are picturesque, sets and props are tastefully designed, and the costumes and makeup are neatly done. The cinematography is rich and adds visual appeal, while the background score enhances a few key moments, though it doesn't stay memorable. Two of the fight sequences stand out with slick choreography and decent buildup-they offer some of the film's rare bursts of energy.

The direction doesn't falter entirely, but it doesn't elevate the film either. With a sharper script and more emotional depth, this could have been a far more engaging watch. As it stands, it's a film that plays it safe and ends up being just about tolerable. Not a must-watch by any means, but if the trailers caught your eye or you're a loyal Vijay Devarakonda fan, it might just pass the time.

Positives: Excellent camera work, Vijay Deverakonda's presence, some good Anirudh music, initial Hyderabad constable scenes, high production values, authentic Sri Lankan/South Indian locations, and an attempt to blend an old template with a new visual style.

Negatives: Overly layered, confusing screenplay with illogical plot developments; unclear character motivations; lack of detail and clarity; clichéd and ineffective heroine track; frustrating and silly proceedings in both halves; routine plot tropes (tribal/saviour/chosen one); ineffective sentiment; nothing new musically from Anirudh; too many familiar elements; unrealistic makeovers for a period drama.