Kingdom Movie Review: A Detailed Look at Vijay Deverakonda’s Latest
The movie “Kingdom” was released in theaters with a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. For many, including the reviewer, this was one of the highly anticipated films of 2025. The excitement for “Kingdom” stemmed from director Gautham’s previous work, a good feel-good movie like “Jersey,” combined with Anirudh Ravichander’s music, leading to expectations of a refreshing and quality product.
Initial Impressions and Disappointment
After watching “Kingdom,” the reviewer felt that Vijay Deverakonda and the villain truly shone. However, the film as a whole was strictly a one-time watch due to its second half, ultimately leading to disappointment. The title “Kingdom” felt less fitting, with “Part One: Rise of Soorya” seeming more appropriate for the narrative.
Basic Plot Overview
The core storyline revolves around Soorya, alias Vijay Deverakonda, a newly appointed police officer. The police send him on a mission, believing him to be a capable individual. The central mystery of the story lies in discovering where he was sent, why he was sent, and the reasons behind the hero’s journey.
Performances: Vijay Deverakonda, Satyadev & The Villain
In terms of performances, Vijay Deverakonda, Satyadev, and the villain particularly excelled and left a strong impression. The heroine’s role, however, was noted as minimal, to the point where a heroine wasn’t even considered necessary for it.
First Half: A Mix of Highs and Lows
The first 40 minutes of “Kingdom” were described as super. Following this, there was a period of about 20 minutes where the narrative seemed to drag, feeling like the initial purpose was fulfilled. However, an excellent interval scene brought the first half back on track, making the entire segment feel good overall.
Second Half: Disappointment and Recycled Tropes
The second half of “Kingdom” largely disappointed. Apart from one notable massacre scene, the narrative repeatedly reverted to a familiar “savior” script, delivered in the director’s style. While the script flowed consistently, it incorporated a “savior story” similar to films like “Kaleja” and “Kick 2,” where the hero arrives to rescue people, transforming the plot into a revenge story. The reincarnation plot element also remained underexplored. Besides the violence near a dining scene, no other scenes in the entire second half were particularly remarkable, and the narration felt flat and unthrilling.
Music by Anirudh Ravichander: Missed Opportunities?
Anirudh Ravichander’s music direction fell short in many areas where elevation was needed, often settling for plain music. While a BGM with a “Yavahela” phrase in the first half created significant hype for the film, it was surprisingly underutilized. This impactful BGM was only featured in two instances: during the title sequence, the interval, and the ending. Furthermore, the limited heroine’s role led to the removal of a love song. Many scenes in the first half could have been elevated with music, but that opportunity was missed. In the second half, there was simply no scope for such musical elevation.
Heroine’s Role and Family Viewing
As mentioned, the heroine’s role was very minimal, almost titular, and considered unnecessary for the plot. Regarding family viewing, the film contains killing scenes; if these do not pose a problem for viewers, it can be watched with family. There are no vulgar scenes present.
Key Highlights
The positive aspects of “Kingdom” include the quick establishment of the hero’s character. The method of depicting him being sent as a spy in a short timeframe was also deemed highly convincing. Specific highlights from the film are the massacre scene in the second half, the interval, the pre-interval, and the initial 40 minutes of the movie. Additionally, the grand production values and cinematography were also noted as strong points.
Major Drawbacks
The story itself was identified as the biggest minus point. It was unclear why a creative director, after conceiving such a promising spy premise, repeatedly resorted to a “savior” narrative. The lack of highlight in revealing who was informing the police was another drawback. Emotional connectivity throughout the film was very low and limited.
Final Verdict & Rating
In conclusion, “Kingdom” offers a satisfying first half with several good scenes. However, the second half proved to be disappointing. The movie can be summarized as a very good first half followed by a disappointing second half. Based on this review, “Kingdom” receives a rating of 2.75 out of 5.
