At a time when Tollywood star Vijay Deverakonda is looking for a big hit, “Kingdom” directed by Gautham Tinnanuri released worldwide on July 31st. After Gautham’s critically acclaimed “Jersey”, the expectations were high. So did “Kingdom” meet those expectations? Did it bring back Vijay Deverakonda to his glory? Let’s find out.
Plot
The film is about Surya (Vijay Deverakonda) a police constable. The main story is about Surya’s journey to Sri Lanka for a special operation where he gets stuck and builds a criminal empire. The story explores how his brother Shiva (Satyadev) becomes a mafia don, the relationship between the two brothers and the challenges they face and overcome. To understand their journey you have to watch the movie.
Analysis
First half of “Kingdom” is decent. The introduction of characters and the story is good. The prison sequences are intense. The bond between the brothers is strong. But the second half starts well but loses pace. Sometimes the story moves slowly and feels a bit dull. But the action sequences and Vijay Deverakonda’s performance keeps the movie going. The movie regains pace from the pre-climax and ends the second half with a good climax that sets up for the future.
Actor Performances
Vijay Deverakonda is the showstopper. He appears in three different getups as Surya and gives his career best performance. He is outstanding in the prison scenes and action sequences. After a long time he is seen in a rugged and powerful avatar and he thoroughly entertains his fans. Satyadev is good in a key role and Bhagyashree Borse is decent as the heroine and the chemistry between the leads is also good.
Technical Aspects
Director Gautham Tinnanuri leaves his mark again like he did in Jersey. The story is not new but he weaves action, heroism and drama into a good film. Anirudh Ravichandran’s music is the soul of the film and his BGM is outstanding. Jomon T. John and Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography is top notch. The jail scenes, Sri Lankan jungle and Jaffna jail scenes are captured well. Naveen Nooli’s editing is good and the production values are very high.
Verdict
Overall “Kingdom” is a good comeback for Vijay Deverakonda. This is a big relief for the actor who has been in need of a hit for a long time. Though the story is old, Vijay, Anirudh and Gautham’s combination gives the film a lot of strength. “Kingdom” is a good entertainer that has action, emotion and mass. Let’s see how it performs at the box office.
Rating: 3/5