One-Line Review: Kingdom is a tale of ‘the chosen one’, dealing with a multi-layered narration.
Kingdom Youtube Trailer
Cast: Vijay Devarakonda, Bhagyashri Bhorse, etc.
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri
Doesn’t match the ambition.
~ Great Andhra
Introduction
A small-town constable, Soori, goes undercover as a spy in a high-stakes mission to track down his estranged brother and bring him back home.
Our rating for Kingdom is 7/10.
Summary
During the pre-independence era, a fierce conflict brewed between a tribe from Srikakulam and the British government, as the colonizer’s attempt to seize the tribe’s hidden gold. Forced to flee, the tribe seeks refuge in Sri Lanka. Seventy years later, history echoes in a different form-the same tribe, now marginalized, is exploited by a drug cartel and a local gang for gold smuggling.
Back in India, Soori, a police constable, is on a personal mission to find his estranged elder brother, who vanished after killing their abusive, alcoholic father. A lead surfaces pointing to Sri Lanka, but there’s a catch-Soori must give up his job, identity, and all ties to become a covert spy for the Indian government. His mission is to infiltrate the island and expose a suspected weapons deal involving his brother.
What unfolds is a chain of fateful events that entwines Soori, his brother, and the island’s oppressed people, forever altering the course of their lives.
Review
Kingdom is ambitious. Technically brilliant. Backed by solid performances. But riddled with flaws.
More than Vijay Deverakonda, what draws a cinephile to Kingdom is the name Gowtam Tinnanuri. The man behind Jersey naturally carries the burden of expectations—to match or surpass his earlier masterpiece. Sadly, that’s where Kingdom stumbles.
With extraordinary production values, stunning visuals, and a powerful background score by Anirudh, Kingdom is packed with events. But what it sorely lacks is the emotional core that drives a story forward.
Vijay Deverakonda, as Soori, is exceptional. It’s refreshing to see him in a well-written role after a long time – striking a fine balance between intensity and restraint. His journey from Srikakulam to Sri Lanka is well-justified. But what unfolds thereafter feels disappointingly flat.
Even amidst all the chaos and cinematic spectacle, a persistent question lingers: Why? Why all this noise? Why take the long route when simpler choices could suffice? Unfortunately, the film offers no clear answers. There are clap-worthy moments—yet no claps. Whistle-worthy shots—yet no whistles. The missing link? Emotion.
Had the writing been tighter, the characters better explored, and the plot more organically layered, Kingdom could’ve soared. Instead, it lands somewhere in the middle—neither bad nor great, just… meh.
Bhagyashri Borse is wasted in a forgettable role—her portions (including a song) clearly trimmed. Venkatesh, however, is a revelation as the antagonist – menacing and magnetic. The action choreography is top-notch, but again – why?
Conclusion
Kingdom is a visually stunning film with great performances and music, but it falls short when it comes to emotion and story depth.
