Actors: Vijay Deverakonda, Bhagyasri Bhorse, Satyadev, Venkitesh, Babu Raj, Ayyappa P. Sharma, Rohini, Raj Kumar Sharma and others
Music: Anirudh
Cinematography: Jomon John, Girish Gangadharan
Producers: Naga Vamsi, Sai Soujanya
Writer-Director: Gautham Tinnanuri
Early in his career, Vijay Devarakonda rose to stardom with a couple of hit films, but success slowed down later. Now, he’s back with a new film, Kingdom, directed by Gautham Tinnanuri, who delivered a blockbuster like Jersey. So, did Kingdom live up to the expectations? Did Vijay make a strong comeback? Let’s find out.
Story:
Set in 1991, Suri (Vijay Deverakonda) works as a police constable in Ankapur (Telangana). He has been waiting for nearly 18 years to find his older brother Siva (Satyadev), who ran away after killing their father. One day, a senior police officer tells Suri about his brother Siva working as a smuggling gang's lead in Sri Lanka and asks him to go to Jaffna as an undercover agent to bring Siva back. So, Suri sets off on a dangerous mission. But what happens next? Does he find his brother? Does he succeed in getting him home? What are the risks he took and how he dealt with the tough situations is the rest of the movie.
Analysis:
It’s been a long time since Vijay Deverakonda had a clear box office success, and even fans forgot when he scored one. However, his latest film Kingdom excited them because it was directed by Gautham Tinnanuri, who crafted films like Malli Raava and Jersey. The film’s trailers raised high hopes, promising something fresh. However, inside the theatres, Kingdom left many with mixed feelings. Gautham's style is visible in some parts, but the film appears to be influenced by recent mass films that made it big. While the beginning seems promising, the overall experience ends up being underwhelming. It's neither entirely bad nor fully satisfying!
The film is set in a rough, isolated world, a Sri Lankan island, Divi, where people are living in misery and hoping for a savior. The hero enters this place, hiding his identity, and slowly becomes their leader. In recent times, films like Yuganiki Okkadu, Chatrapati, and KGF dealt with the same plot. Gautham tried to add emotional depth to this otherwise known story through the bond between two brothers, which works well until they finally meet. But once that reunion happens, the emotion fails to drive the story further, and the narrative loses its steam. Though the climax is packed with action, the lack of an emotional core and an artificial feel surrounding the protagonist's elevation to that of a saviour impacted the film badly. However, the cinema doesn't fully disappoint as there are some sequences worth mentioning.
The first half itself is a plus for the film. Suri (Vijay) becomes a spy to find his brother Shiva in Sri Lanka. These scenes are gripping, especially the setup involving smuggling gangs, the Telugu tribe, and army conflict. The way Suri slowly becomes involved with his brother’s gang and then rises as a leader is interesting and fast-paced. By the interval, Kingdom builds strong momentum and feels like it’s headed to a powerful conflict and drama. Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t live up to the promise. Suri’s mission in Sri Lanka feels incomplete as he was shown as a saviour only towards the end, and that too without any conclusion. By announcing his arrival and a hint at a sequel, the makers tried to hold attention, but by then, the damage had already happened. Either the hero should achieve his goal, or he should achieve something bigger than that. None of them happens. The pre-climax massacre and the villain’s logic are confusing. Even though the final fight is visually strong, it raises more questions than answers. Overall, Kingdom has good moments and strong visuals, but it doesn’t completely satisfy. It’s watchable, especially once, but it's best to keep expectations low.
Performances:
Kingdom is one of the strongest performances in Vijay Deverakonda’s career. He puts full effort into the role of Suri, bringing intensity from start to finish. Not only does he look different, but he also changes his body language to match the character. His emotions as a younger brother longing for his elder sibling come across well. Satyadev also delivers a solid performance as Vijay’s elder brother. His talent as an actor is clearly visible once again. On the other hand, Bhagyashree Borse’s role as the heroine is minimal. It looks like many of her scenes and songs were chopped out during editing, so her presence in the film feels tiniest. Although she looks good in the few scenes she appears in, her character doesn't leave much of an impact. Malayalam actor Venkitesh stands out as the villain, using just his expressions to create menace. The likes of Babu Raj, Ayyappa P. Sharma, and Raj Kumar Kasireddy all do well in their supporting parts. The Bollywood actor who plays the officer guiding Vijay into becoming a spy also does a decent job.
Technicians:
One of the biggest highlights of Kingdom is Anirudh’s music. His background score plays a key role in adding energy and emotion to many scenes. He tries to elevate every moment with his music, and his songs suit the film well. However, the film lacks a chartbuster song that truly stands out, which feels like a missed opportunity. The cinematography by Jomon John and Girish Gangadharan is a major attraction in Kingdom. The visuals are rich and eye-catching, with every frame looking polished and well-planned. The production values are top-tier, as Sitara Entertainments spent heavily, giving the film the look of a grandeur project. Director Gautham Tinnanuri’s effort is visible throughout the film. He handles the story well in the beginning and shows his style in many scenes. But as the film advances, it feels like he was influenced by movies like KGF. That shift affects the film’s emotional depth and clarity. Though his vision appears to be ambitious, the execution didn’t fully match the expectations.
Finally: Kingdom, for a limited kick
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