Review: Kingdom: Genuine But Wandering

 

Movie: Kingdom
Rating: 2.75/5

Cast: Vijay Deverakonda, Bhagyashri Borse, Satyadev, Venkitesh, Manish Chaudhary and others

Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri

Produced By: Sithara Entertainments, Srikara Studios, Fortune Four Cinemas

Release Date: 31-07-2025

Story:

Set in the early 1990s, Soori (Vijay Deverakonda) is a police constable looking for his missing brother, Shiva (Satya Dev). He discovers that Shiva is in Sri Lanka, involved in smuggling, and leading a group. Soori is then assigned as an undercover agent to find his brother and expose the cartel’s activities. As he blends in with the gang, Soori finds his brother and becomes one of them. The rest of the story focuses on whether Shiva realizes who his brother really is, what Soori's mission is, and if they will work together or oppose each other.

Performances:

Vijay Deverakonda portrays Soori excellently. He keeps his performance grounded and maintains a subtle tone effectively. He also displays good agility in action scenes. Satyadev is his usual natural self, and his performance adds some depth to the film. However, the way the director concluded his character feels a bit disappointing. Venkitesh plays Murugan convincingly, with well-managed expressions and a strong presence. Still, his character is underused, as it follows a very typical role with no real impact. Bhagyashri Borse, Manish Chaudhary, and others perform adequately.

What worked for the film:

The film features several effective moments, including the opening British era segment and the gold smuggling scene, followed by the interaction between Vijay Deverakonda and the villagers. The bridge fight before the intermission and the climax, which showcases a well-crafted action sequence paired with thrilling background music that adds excitement and hints at a possible sequel. Additionally, some touching moments between Vijay and Satyadev are well done.

What did not work for the film:

The film's story and setup seem too familiar, and while the first episode is intriguing, the rest lacks surprises and emotional depth in the second half. Gowtam Tinnanuri, who is known for his character-focused films, appears to have adopted a more stylized method here, but this affects the emotional core negatively.

The emotional journey, particularly between the brothers, is intended to be the main focus, but it feels subdued and doesn't reach its full potential. When the film needed a strong emotional moment in the latter half, the writing fell short and failed to convey the hero's pain or struggle.

For instance, when Shiva sees his brother Soori in jail, it occurs abruptly, lacking any significant buildup or emotional intensity. Likewise, the national threat linked to Soori’s personal mission to locate his brother feels weak, as the reasons behind it are quite straightforward.

Even the antagonist storyline set in Sri Lanka—involving the villain gang, mafia, and cartel—seems shallow and completely predictable. The main villain, Murugan, portrayed by Venkitesh, is a typical villain character and fails to leave any impact in terms of the writing. The side characters, or Shiva’s fellow villagers, lack significance in the story, which prevents the audience from feeling any emotional connection to their struggles or lives.

Kingdom Review and Verdict:

Gowtam Tinnanuri's Kingdom is a decent action drama. The storytelling stays focused without wandering off-topic, but in terms of emotional impact and the setup for the hero's quest, the execution could have been better. The heartfelt acting from Vijay Deverakonda and Satyadev, combined with impressive visuals and Anirudh's music, makes the film watchable.