Film Review: ‘Kingdom’ Is Stylish But Falls Short on Emotion

Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, Kingdom stars Vijay Deverakonda as Suri, a small-time cop sent on a secret mission to Sri Lanka to locate his estranged brother, Siva (Satya Dev), now a notorious criminal. The film boasts grandeur, intense performances, and an impressive visual scale—but falls short emotionally.

Vijay Deverakonda delivers one of his better performances, with a gripping makeover and commanding screen presence. Satya Dev is equally compelling in his emotional scenes. Bhagyashree Borse has minimal screen time, while Venkatesh makes a powerful debut as a young villain.

The film’s strengths lie in its first half, where world-building is handled well, and in Anirudh’s powerful background score. However, the second half loses momentum due to weak emotional arcs and a lack of impactful action. Key emotional themes—like the brothers’ bond and the hero’s deeper motivations—remain underdeveloped.

Cinematography is top-notch, especially in showcasing Sri Lanka. However, the script misses the depth that could have elevated the narrative. Despite its flaws, Kingdom remains a watchable action drama, performing better than Vijay’s previous outings. It’s a film that shines in style and performances but struggles with storytelling.