Kingdom Movie Review
Rating: 3.25/5
After a string of films that didn’t land well, Vijay Deverakonda finally steps into a story that fits him. Kingdom isn’t trying to be a mass entertainer with punch lines and build-up shots. It’s focused, grounded, and moves with purpose. The film doesn’t try to impress you with unnecessary highs or lows, but still keeps you glued throughout.
Right from the beginning, the visual quality stands out. The world-building is strong. The tribal setting, the costumes, the landscapes —everything looks well-planned. Except for some of the AI visuals. While they serve the story, they lack life. It’s not wrong to expect more from real artists instead of machines. It would’ve looked much better with human effort. You can feel the difference.
Vijay Deverakonda, for once, doesn’t feel like he’s performing. He simply blends into the character. His look even gives off slight Viking vibes, and his body language is convincing. After a long time, he felt like an actor, not just a star trying to carry a film.
The story doesn’t waste your time. The first half is sharp. It sets up the tribe, their rules, their struggle, and the power dynamics around them. There are a few whistle-worthy scenes here, and they would’ve landed even harder if the staging was more thoughtful. At the same time, there are moments where you wish the emotional side was handled better. For example, the rule that bans tribal women from entering Sri Lanka is mentioned, but never explained. Also, Murugan says the locals would kill the tribe if his father hadn’t stopped them —but we’re never shown why the locals hate them so much, even after 70 years. These scenes had potential to add weight and connection, but they’re brushed aside in dialogue. A little more detail would have made the conflict hit deeper.
Action-wise, the film doesn’t try to fake heroism. It keeps things realistic, which is good. Venkitesh V P, who plays Murugan, delivers a strong performance. He’s angry, loud, and brutal, but never feels over-the-top. His presence makes you take him seriously. That’s why the final confrontation with Soori (Vijay) feels a bit off. The man who spent the whole film beating and killing with rage suddenly gets overpowered too easily. It’s not a huge flaw, but it does pull you out of the tension for a moment.
The second half follows a classic revenge arc. Some might say it’s predictable, but given how the first half sets up the story, this path feels justified. It doesn’t drag or feel forced. It’s just straightforward, and that works. Still, if the writing had given a bit more insight into Murugan’s mindset or the tribe’s emotional trauma, it would’ve added more power to the pay-off.
Music by Anirudh surprisingly takes a backseat. Normally, his score carries a film’s emotion, but here, the story takes the lead. The background music is decent, but it doesn’t stand out the way you expect from an Anirudh film.
There are no extra comedy tracks, no romantic distractions. The film sticks to its plot, and that’s one of its strengths. It respects the audience’s time and intelligence.
Final Verdict:
Kingdom is a solid, focused film. It doesn’t aim for mass approval, but tells its story with conviction. Vijay Deverakonda fits into the world, the visuals are striking, and the film has something to say. While a few emotional moments could have been handled with more depth, and the final conflict falls a little flat, the overall experience is satisfying. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s honest. And for Vijay, this is easily one of his best in recent times.
