King of Kotha (2023) User Reviews

Those who are rating more than 7, please stop. You are encouraging Director to make more movies like this

[scariamartin · 5/10 · 27 August 2023]

DQ screen presence was awesome however the script was very weak. 2nd half was too lagging. I kept looking the time, why is not getting over. When you do a pan indian release expecially a south indian movie people expect a minimum quality to the script. I wonder if Abhilash showed the script to his dad just to take a opinion.

I couldn't also stop noticing Gokul Suresh was only in police uniform entire 2nd half and his looks remind you of old Suresh Gopi. Music and bgm were top notch. Aishwarya lakshmi was wasted. Soubin was hardly in the movie for 5 minutes, either way that is OK because he can can really annoying with his stereotype acting.

Abhilash you had all the right ingredients just you dint do right. Anyway long way for you to go and do things right next time.

A forgettable affair

[cakartikiyer · 5/10 · 26 August 2023]

When you have Dulqeer Salmaan on screen and an ensemble cast featuring Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prassana and Aishwarya Lekshmi, expectations are high. Alas, it was a case of wrong expectations. The movie had everything going for it on the drawing board - a gangster saga, a hero who's a brilliant actor, a stylish villain but it was all unravelled by a single fatal mistake. The movie is so slow that one can sleep through it and still wouldn't have missed anything.

On the positives - The background score by Jakes Bejoy is as good as it can be.

The movie is strictly for DQ fans.

As a producer, DQ had the tools to create a cult gangster classic, he has fluffed it & he knows it.

Never ever trust the promotion

[paulsonmta · 6/10 · 29 August 2023]

When there is a great promotion happens it means that the movie is not up to the mark. This time also , same happened here. Frankly speaking DQ is not capable of doing Mass role. The actions are ok.. The background score of this movie was very interesting.. Shammi Thilakan deserve a special mention. Aiswarya Lakshmi is just average but at the same time Nyla was very disappointing.

After the interval, second part is very lagging. It's a gangster movie at the same time this film give some importance to love, family and attraction. Intro of the hero was very outstanding..

As my opinion I must say it's just an average movie which can be watched once.

Let's see...

Good gangster movie

[rajaram-48577 · 6/10 · 26 August 2023]

Very glad to see a good Gangster movie was made without big Technicians ,big Artists and cameos. Really the movie took us to few decades before. Visuals are really good. Fight scenes were very realistic. The movie has only one song which was not very catchy , but background score was good.

Good to see Bike chase, car chase,more gunshots, blasts are not available in the movie.

Length of the movie could have been reduced.

Team could have added well known actors to the movie. That would have been superb.

If you are expecting more gunshots,blasts, chase, Hero's dance from the movie, then you won't like it.

But as a gangster drama, it checked all the boxes.

It is a gangster movie without big stars.

Another case of "tremendous hype - average output". [+43%]

[arungeorge13 · 4/10 · 24 August 2023]

First, let's talk about the things I liked in KoK, since they're very few.

• 3 scenes, in all of 3 hours: For a film with an excruciating run-time of 175 minutes, only three little scenes left a mark. Two of them involve Shammi Thilakan, who absolutely towers over the rest in terms of sheer screen presence (as a retired gangster turned family man). The third is a random drinking scene featuring DQ's and Shabeer's characters, and the only one where the dialogues sounded natural and indicative of a "supposedly" deep friendship. The rest of the film is completely flat, and of the two intro scenes for DQ's Raju, the first is slightly better. Chemban Vinod, playing a funny bad guy, is also quite good.

• That kickass background score - Jakes Bejoy single-handedly tries to cover up the gaping holes in the script with a fantastic effort on the score. If there's any reason to catch this on the big screen, it is to recognize this guy and the stuff he brings to the table even for the most mediocre flicks. "People of Kotha" is great ringtone (+ workout) material indeed.

• Cinematography & colour grading - Nimish Ravi paints Kotha in shades of brown and yellow, making for some organic visual texture. The setups and backdrops for some scenes actually look better than the scenes themselves. The colour palette is beautiful, be it in a bookstore, a bar, or at a playground.

Now, let's talk about the things that put me off.

• The writing: Abhilash N Chandran, who previously penned Porinju Mariam Jose, seems way too interested in creating conflicts that even lack a basic structure. Everything and everyone in Kotha is so random. How annoying it is that even when the writing lazily spends hours trying to detail various characters, including the main protagonist and antagonist, you don't feel emotionally connected to their journeys AT ALL! There's no shock of betrayal, no thrill of revenge; plus a surprising lack of elevation moments (except for the ones mentioned in the positives). The screenplay is old wine in an old bottle!

• Performances: Take a bow, seniors! The gangster crime sagas from your generation were obviously a lot better. DQ probably gives it everything he could, but Raju isn't a character anyone emotionally attaches themselves to, and he's too much of a charmer to carry/pull off the grit of a raw, cold-blooded gangster with almost psychotic shades. Shabeer Kallarackal's Kannan Bhai boasts a peculiar (but also familiar) blend of behaviours, and even though the guy's got the look and the gangster mannerisms right, I couldn't envision him as a "final boss". Aishwarya Lekshmi is utterly wasted, while Nyla Usha makes for an interesting-but-underwritten femme fatale.

• Sluggish pacing: Okay, when the story developments are so damn predictable, why director Abhilash Joshiy chose to stretch scenes out the way he did is beyond my understanding. Several scenes in both halves bring the pace to a drastic halt, and it takes a really long while to get to that forseeable finale. The tail-end also leaves much to be desired.

• Fight choreography: Except for the climax set-piece (which apparently was re-shot), the fight sequences in KoK are really meh. Action is an area where guys like Tovino and Antony Varghese have shown promise, but DQ falls way behind on this list. He's got a long way to go before he can even get close to what his father can still manage to do at 70+. For now, I'll put the blame sorely on the choreography, as even the final set-piece looks uninspiringly rehashed from the recent John Wick films.

Conclusion - Again, one could say that the massive hype and promotions for this film made you believe something incredible was in the works (of several second-generation artists and technicians), but unfortunately, they failed to deliver.

Decent One, Not Up to hype..

[Mangalassery_Neelakandan · 7/10 · 25 August 2023]

A decent one, unlike the negative reviews. I went to watch the movie with zero expectations because of the negative reviews. The movie was okay for me but not up to the hype of the movie. The main highlight of the movie is the background music, which tries to elevate the scenes to the maximum but still lacks something. Dq did good and tried to do the best he could as the king of Kotha. The color grading and some of the shots in the movie were great. The intro scene of Dq had suspense and was worth the wait.

But the interval scene or why he leaves Kotha was not convincing enough for me as it lacks a proper strong reason or the reason shown was not done well enough to make us believe that he should leave Kotha. The second intro and all that followed afterward were okay. The film had every element for a mass masala movie, a love track, some comedy, mass scenes everything, but in the almost 3-hour run time of the movie, most is basically a slow story unfolding. Some of the dialogue was clearly heavy, and some were cringe worthy. Altogether this is a one time watchable movie with inspiration from other such mass movies and a heavy John Wick inspiration in the action scene department and one might like it or not according to their preferences.

Yawn !! 😴😖

[winak · 4/10 · 29 September 2023]

It's a pity that Malayalam movies are being overly influenced by Tamil/Telugu films. Amongst movies from the south, Malyalam movies are held in high regards even by Bollywood for their superior stories & acting. Then you get these kind of movies that brings down the overall standard. The malayalee audience is far more cranial so they can discern quality from mass drivel. Now to talk about Dulquer Salmaan. He is a good actor in his own rights, given a good story. This kind of genre is not suited for him at all as he does not have the commanding on screen presence and physique that Mammotty has. Even with the facial beard and all he still has the urban boy soft look and not very convincing as a badass. So whilst experimenting with various roles, he should pick only ones that suits his personality. The story was kind of flat and one dimensional with no sidebar to it so it got boring after awhile. No comedy content to relieve the tension either. Due to the limited role you'll barely notice Shammi Thilakan, which is a shame. The bad guy seemed to have an unlimited stock of henchmen in his closet and that was an irritant to the watcher. The slow motion fights weren't too bad but that alone cannot hold the attention of the audience for long. The movie did not have the content to drag it for nearly 3 hours, maybe 2 hours 15 minutes at most. The ending suggested there could be a sequel, I certainly hope not, considering the first part was declared a flop.

DQ Mass

[RangaRamanuja7 · 7/10 · 24 August 2023]

Kinguuu...! Kinguuu...!

What a screen presence!

First one hour was top class, went down a bit later. Looked like it's picking up in the second half but again it went down. Elevations are too good but felt like it had more potential. Could've been better. The BGM was top notch. Throughout the second half I was thinking that it would've been ultimate if they showed the story of Raju Madrasi also atleast for 15-20 mins. But they kept it for the second part.

Mahanati, Charlie ( One of my all time favourites ), SitaRamam ( One of my all time favourites ), Didn't realise that I've become DQ fan...

Very good

[pampasarkarpa · 10/10 · 27 August 2023]

King Of Kotha's action sequences were a symphony of excitement, captured with masterful precision. The lead's charismatic performance added depth to the hero, making the director's vision come to life. I was on the edge of my seat throughout King Of Kotha. The action was relentless and visually stunning, with the lead actor's charisma adding a layer of reliability. King Of Kotha's action-packed journey left me breathless. The lead's charisma added depth to the hero's role, while the director's prowess in choreography brought an electrifying energy to every scene.very nice movie and I really like.

Not boring as told by people in first show review

[benzeersulthana · 7/10 · 1 October 2023]

I am a diehard fan of DQ. But honestly I am saying that it's not boring and lag movie. But it's most of the scenes are predictable and time is too much. But the making of abhilash sir and bgm of jakes sir,songs by dabzee and asal sir was wonderful. And action of DQ was awesome. Mainly the second part is more better as raju madrassi. Anyway I also like shabeer sir as villain. Anyway one thing I wanted to say is that don't degrade any film. It cames to low level film due to the degrading happened by the first show. Otherwise it will run for more days than this. I don't think it's that much bad. It's anyway best to watch for one time for those who think it's bad by the words of others. If u watch it one time u will understand that.

Terrible movie!

[kiranmk635 · 3/10 · 24 August 2023]

Can't make it worse than this. You can't enjoy nothing except Dulquer and the music(Jakes Bejoy & Shaan Rahman). A misplaced talent is never awesome.

I assume the director is someone who's out of the world, no one from the neighborhood can't create a flop like this with such a good crew. The reason for expanding the movie into 3 hours is still a mystery.

Was lucky enough to witness the same old 90's movie cliche scenes made without absolutely no soul, and thus complete the boredom.

However, the repeated cheap method of misleading the viewers with attractive trailers & a mountain of hype ahead of the release was successful.

A misfired flick that loses to Pan-india trend...!!!

[PANDIAN120621 · 6/10 · 21 October 2023]

The three hour technically impressive gangster flick filled with explosive action stunts & stylish filmmaking,perhaps arguably promoted with ongoing Pan India trend falls flat to compelling narration... Dulquer salman did a phenomenal job,handling the titular role shows his curiosity and passion in setting new benchmark for MOLLYWOOD... The fictional story set in Kotha town (kerala - tamilnadu border) maintains the genre consistently but the pace in screenplay gets a turn to emotional outburst...also with just one common enemy chemban who drastically surrenders and rest of the core plot forms the rivalry between friend's with no solid reasons for the revengeful act is just a potrayal of a local gangster saga... "Thinking about tomorrow kills our peace of mind" "Digging the past of women we love is not a Manly thing" are the few notable dialogues to remember... Thanks to Nimesh thanoor for showcasing skillfull work in production design in recreating authentic 1986- 1996 atmosphere... Overall a one time watchable flick for just Dulquer salman...

Worst movie of ever acted by dulquer salman, don't waste 3 hrs

[andrinjohn · 1/10 · 24 August 2023]

Worst 3 hrs of spend on a movie in a theatre,copy paste of template story. Dialogues were a major drawback when building a "mass" scence. Sometimes it feels like comedy . In all the movie scenes no good whistle moments to enjoy because of the crap dialogue/filters. Worst casting of some the negative character especially, and the emotional scenes added like a filler to a elevation scenes ruined so many other moments, totally crap script and crap acting of most actors apart from dulquer, worst dialogues of 90s and 80s ... Do not recommended if you love dulquer salman movies. Waste of biggest hype of the year , worst direction , if it was 2 hrs movie , most can give 3/10 atleast for this movie , sorry dulquer fans , it's the worst movie he ever done his life.

Watch it for DQ

[Aashkey · 6/10 · 26 August 2023]

King of Kotha is a decent movie despite its minor flaws, such as flat cinematography, average action choreography, and a misplaced background score, which none of the reviewers mentioned in their vlogs. All we saw on YouTube were not reviews; those were just intentional degrading because of the length, and the movie couldn't meet the hype created by the nation-wide promotions. Remember, the movie was directed by a debutant!

* Good background score but misplaced * Good cinematography but too flat for an action flick * Below-average action choreography * Poor dialogues and editing

It could have been one of the best Malayalam gangster movies ever.

Below average gangster flick

[gopalkk · 1/10 · 25 August 2023]

First of all why did director term this movie as Pan-Indian film? It's just a normal DQ movie, nothing is special. Technically speaking, DOP and BGM were good and had its impact but won't elevate a below average script and screenplay. Debutant Abhilash Joshiy could not utilize the opportunity he had and came up with an underwhelming output. Dulquer Salmaan tried to explore himself but he is always a limited actor, from 2012 till now he has not done anything versatile though he was part of some good films. Gokul Suresh reminded my of Suresh Gopi but his role couldn't make an impact due to the writing. Aishwarya Lekshmi was monotonous. Villain was such a weak character. Rest of the characters were dull. Except for the fights, first and second half were literally flat with no goosebumps moments. Duration of the movie was also a negative aspect. The cameo by an actor was hilarious. All-together, a half baked drama. The trailer itself had nothing outstanding and still it was overhyped for no reason. Don't know when will Malayalam Cinema get back on track. Wasted my time guys.

Very fantastic

[ananyasarkaras · 10/10 · 27 August 2023]

From its explosive action to the lead actor's charisma, King Of Kotha was a cinematic thrill. The director's skill in choreography brought the story to life. King Of Kotha's action-packed journey had me riveted. The lead actor's charisma and the director's mastery in capturing intensity made it a visual masterpiece. I was thoroughly entertained by King Of Kotha's action-packed narrative. The lead actor's charisma and the director's skill in choreography created an immersive experience. King Of Kotha's action sequences were a visual spectacle that resonated deeply. The lead actor's charisma and the director's expertise made it a cinematic triumph. From its heart-pounding action to charismatic lead, King Of Kotha was an unforgettable experience. The

director's... Read more.

One more Gangster movie

[dydydydy-67680 · 6/10 · 31 August 2023]

After KGF Success, most of dark, Gangster movies comes from different languages. This time in Malyalam language. Story about one place named kotha and everyone want to ruled on that place. I don't want to give any spoiler but it's want time watch movie who don't waste your time but you can't get anything too. All characters justify their role . Dalquer Salman I think doing first time that kind of gangster movie and he look decent. Others masala also put in movie like family, friendship, love,hate, revenge etc. Story was average, performance good, screenplay decent. Story based on 1996 so cinematography is well and good.

Average

[rajeevsj · 5/10 · 25 August 2023]

Just an Average movie. But as compared to the tamil movie BEAST this is far better.

This is a Drama, Crime movie so some people may feel lag while watching. As a film lover I didnt feel any big lag in it. Way of presenting the story is very bad. Story is very common. Second half is really boring. I feel too much violence from the hero in this movie to portray him as a deadly killer and to get more claps (failed). In my opinion that can make in a different way. Watched in an old English movie villain killed his enemies with just throwing a Pen or Playing Card without direct fight.

BGM, Fight scene, Acting and Camera are amazing. Really appreciate it. This is the first DQ movie I dont like, all other movies from DQ are amazing. Still remembering Lalu, Charlie, Faizy etc. Expected an action story like KALI, KAMMATTIPPADAM, SECOND SHOW etc. Ie; People should remember the story and Hero. Hero should make an impact or attachment (connection) in the viewers mind. Eg. Rocky Bhai and Adheera in KGF, Kattappa in Bahubali, Pushpa, or RAM in SEETHARAMAM, If they are targetting pan India.

Overall - watch and forget movie.

Good movie

[viratkohli-80932 · 10/10 · 28 August 2023]

The lead actors' chemistry was a central element, breathing life into their narrative with remarkable resonance. The film's music, characterized by its infectious rhythm, held my attention from start to finish. The music seamlessly contributed to the film's pace and energy. The magnetic chemistry between the lead actors added depth and authenticity to their narrative. The film's music, known for its catchy beat, ensured my unwavering engagement. The musical choices seamlessly elevated the film's rhythm and vivacity. The lead actors' on-screen rapport emerged as a defining trait, making their journey profoundly absorbing. The film's music, featuring an infectious beat, held my attention unswervingly. The music harmoniously complemented the film's overall tempo and dynamism.

Compelling Mass appeal of DQ in a long streched Movie.

[skmenon1993 · 6/10 · 25 August 2023]

***King of Kotha Malayalam Movie Review***

Directed by Abhilash Joshi starring Dulquer Salman, Shabeer Kallarkal, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Gokul Suresh.

Plot of the Movie.

DQ playing as Kotha Raju was the ruler of the Kotha place. An incident for which Raju needs to take sabattical. After 10 years Kotha calls their ruler back and what happens further is all about King of Kotha..

Postmortem of the Movie.

1) If this could have been done by Prithviraj Sukumaran a mass appeal would have come automatically. DQ , PRITHVI, Fahadh Faasil , being 3 in the 40's age, when it comes to mass character roles it would be suitable for Prithvi at his age group to give more mass appeal..

2) DQ here had put efforts to bring out the mass appeal but it wasn't that much worth for me. Although his get up portrayed for 1996 period was quite convincing but still it doesn't much appealing for me

3) Jakes Bejoy music was elevating the sequences which was worth needed.

4) Storyline doesn't speak anything new. Its all about greed & vengeance.

5) Shabeer Kallarkal as the antagonist had done a neat role.

6) What was that utter requirement of a heroine in this movie as there is nothing great performance came from Aishwarya Lekshmi

7) Gokul Suresh as the supporting cast had done his role nicely..

8) Making quality, cinematography, action choreography was visually appealing.

Overall an one time watchable flick.

Not good at all as per Malayalam movie standards

[aunni5 · 3/10 · 29 September 2023]

Malayalam movies are well known for great story telling, realistic acting and excellent direction. But KOK fails in all these categories. Even with such an excellent cast completely felt like amateurs. Music, BGM and action choreography is justified to an extent.

Otherwise very disappointed. Don't recommend at all.

PS: one interesting similarity I felt with good old Malayalam mass movies. Thilakan as father, Mamukka/Laettan as son/hero, Suresh Gopi as a friend. Similar vibe I felt with combination of actors in KOK, not sure director genuinely tried to recreate such a casting in the movie to invoke nostalgia.

You are my liver. Liverpool.

[chand-suhas · 3/10 · 2 October 2023]

King of Kotha tells the story of dreaded gangster Raju (Dulquer Salmaan). In 1986, he ruled Kotha along with his best friend Kannan and gang. Despised by his mother, he sticks to life of a gangster with a strict anti-drugs code because his lover's brother had succumbed to that addiction. Betrayal follows along with heartbreak, which forces Raju to run away from Kotha to UP where he becomes Raju Madrassi, a dreaded assassin. 10 years later, he is brought back to Kotha to stop the new king of Kotha, his best friend. Will he be able to put down his best friend and how does he free Kotha from such gangsters, forms rest of the story.

With a runtime close to 3hrs, the film is sadly way too long, narrating an uninteresting done to death story with so many scenes designed to elevate it's hero. The problem lies in the writing and it never raises above mediocrity to create any sort of excitement to the lead character or the proceedings. Even the action set pieces don't stand out except for the climax fight. The screenplay is definitely overstuffed due to too many characters and their half baked sub plots. To sum up, it is just another revenge story lacking the fizz and the actors definitely given it their all, which simply wasn't enough when the source material itself was this dull.

Honest Review - and you don't have to read this!

[prattraj-37411 · 7/10 · 30 September 2023]

One thing I learned - never go by reviews, including this one. Many said the movie is lackluster, a disappointment, waste of time etc. , while others gave a 10/10 with copy pasted summaries. Both were wrong!!!

I was pleasantly surprised for all the muck it went through for bad reviews. Yes, it has it flaws, yes it's a tad bit long. But hey! I enjoyed it. Dulquer truly holds the movie together. There is a decent enough story. It gives you the 90's vibe. The music is good. Yes, some scenes did lack the punch that perhaps a Rocky Bhai has, while some scenes make you think " That was good". I can only wonder had the pre release hype not gone overboard raising expectations, this would have been a decent watch for many. Guess I should stop watching trailers as well. Maybe after watching the movie just for fun.

Overall, a good, really good one time watch for me. And if some scenes plays catch up on TV, I would sit down and watch, though maybe not the whole movie.

So, moral of the story - STOP reading reviews!! Don't let someone or something else decide your movie experience. Watch and decide for yourself.

Unbearable

[josephsamual · 1/10 · 21 October 2023]

I tried warching this movie, but it proved to be an unbearable experience. Throughout the viewing, I found myself constantly checking the duration, eagerly waiting for it to end. The film's shortcomings became evident right from the first half, as it suffered from a lack of depth in its storyline.

Dulquer Salmaan's attempt to maintain a tough, rowdy demeanor throughout the movie, often with a cigarette in hand, ended up being more comical than convincing. The dialogue intended to deliver impactful punches turned out to be cringeworthy.

What disappointed me the most was the significant hype surrounding this film. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to expectations. It's safe to say that this movie is an utter failed attempt at delivering an engaging and compelling cinematic experience.

"Theerkan pattumengil theerkada" , not sure if he meant to say this to the viewers of this movie.

Everything went wrong !!

[aboou-876-358885 · 3/10 · 26 August 2023]

Everything went wrong, starting with the casting mishap. The Malayalam industry has exceptional talent, so why was there such negligence in selecting suitable individuals for the roles? Even the characters' names weren't thoughtfully chosen to align with the tone of a mass film. The narrative proved to be a turn-off for the audience, leaving them wondering about the dialogue writer. I remain surprised as to why DQ assembled a team like this . Every decision across various production departments fell flat. With the same storyline entrusted to a skilled and seasoned crew, a blockbuster catering to DQ's style could have been crafted.

The film's portrayal of various relations-Love, friendship, motherhood, and fatherhood-ends up diluting their significance. The way these relationships were depicted felt quite inappropriate and did not do justice to their true meanings.

Every scene becomes predictable, and even the attempts at creating mass scenes result in humor,it seems that when the director crafted the storyline for the years 1986 and 1996, they directly transported themselves back without recognizing the shift in the audience's demographics. The movies were tailored for an audience of that era.