Kingdom: Vijay Deverakonda and Gowtam Tinnanuri Anchor Visually Rich Action Saga, Though Narrative Falters
Hyderabad, India - The long-awaited Telugu film, “Kingdom,” directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and featuring Vijay Deverakonda, is now in theatres. The film is artistically rich and action-packed, held together by its primary actors and solid technical work. Deverakonda's performance, though intense, and the film's emotional elements courtesy of Tinnanuri, feel lacking in narrative drive in the second half of the film.
The film portrays Soori (Vijay Deverakonda) as a constable with a secretive assignment in Sri Lanka to locate his long-lost sibling, Siva (Satyadev Kancharana), who is now a part of a smuggling syndicate. The film's ambitious scope, which includes historical tribal warfare and contemporary espionage, seeks to explore familial ties, loyalty, vengeance, and zeal for the nation. Tinnanuri, who gained acclaim for his authentically woven familial tales in “Jersey,” strives for the same resonance here, depicting the intricate sibling relationship.
Deverakonda's Soori is one of his most restrained and measured performances, laced with intensity. Satyadev matches this as Siva with equal parts depth and complexity. The immersive and visually rich cinematography of Girish Gangadharan and Jomon T. John is enhanced by Anirudh Ravichander’s propulsive background scores.
Yet the movie’s attempted political exploration and complex intricacies seem to lose steam in the second half. Critics have cited issues with pacing as well as a lack of emotional depth and logic in what is otherwise a visually stunning screenplay. While the first act is engaging and captivating, the plot progression and the way the action sequences are handled are described as lackluster by a good number of reviewers.
In spite of the narrative flaws, “Kingdom” receives praise for the sheer creativity of the visuals, Deverakonda’s performance, as well as Tinnanuri’s direction which tries to blend the commercial and emotional layers. The film serves as the first part of a planned two-part story, leaving ample room for a continuation.
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