‘King of Kotha’ Unveiling: Dulquer Salmaan Reigns with Technical Brilliance – A Riveting Review

Starring: Dulquer Salmaan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Dancing Rose Shabeer, Prasanna, Nyla Usha, Anika Surendran, Chemban Vinod, Gokul Suresh, Shanthi Krishna

Director: Abhilash Joshiy

Producers: Wayfarer Films & Zee Studios

Music Directors: Jakes Bejoy, Shaan Rahman

Release date : 24 August 2023

The wait is over, and the spectacle begins! “King of Kotha” (KoK) sweeps across the nation, transcending linguistic bounds with releases in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. Guided by the visionary Abhilash Joshiy, this period gangster saga boasts a stellar lineup – Dulquer Salmaan leading alongside luminaries like Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nyla Usha, Chemban Vinod Jose, and Shammi Thilakan. Born from the partnership of Zee Studios and Dulquer’s Wayfarer Films, the movie artfully blends storytelling prowess with grand entertainment.

Dulquer Salmaan takes the spotlight as a messiah from Kotha, offering glimpses of heart-thumping action in the riveting trailer. Addressing the film’s ‘mass’ appeal, Dulquer shares with The Indian Express, “Picture a symphony of story-driven gangster drama intertwined with commercial flourishes – dance, fights, and razor-sharp dialogues. It’s my wholehearted embrace of the ‘mass’ sentiment.”

Endorsements from icons like Shah Rukh Khan, and backing by Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, and Nani, add to the film’s stature. As “King of Kotha” takes the Onam stage, it faces off against “RDX,” led by Antony Varghese, Shane Nigam, Neeraj Madhav, and Nivin Pauly’s “Ramachandra Boss & Co.”

As the curtains rise on “King of Kotha,” prepare for storytelling finesse, visual splendor, and the magnetic pull of stars. Get ready for a journey through the realm of Kotha that’s bound to captivate and enthrall, courtesy of Dulquer Salmaan’s majestic performance.

Story :

In Kotha town, there is a drug lord named Khanna Bhai (Dancing Rose Shabeer). C.I. Shahul Haasan (Prasanna) makes the decision to destroy the drug mafia in the community, but he is unsuccessful. Shahul discovers that Khanna Bhai is Raju’s close friend and that Kotha was once under Raju’s (Dulquer Salmaan) control. However, for a few reasons, Khanna Bhai and Raju decide to split ways. What led to their split? C.I. Shahul Haasan then did what? The story’s core is in part comprised of this.

Plus Point :

Without a question, Dulquer Salmaan is the star of the entire production. Raju’s character is given life by the versatile actor, who acts with ease. He has a well-defined role and wants to destroy the drug cartel. The performer excels in the action scenes as well.

Dancing Shabeer Kallarakkal’s alter ego Rose did a good job acting the part of a mobster. He is given a substantial role, and he plays it skillfully. Chemban Vinod made people chuckle with his amusing English diction. In this movie, Jakes Bejoy’s background music serves as a blessing in disguise.

Minus Point :

To begin with, this is not the kind of plot one would anticipate from a Dulquer Salmaan movie. It is a typical gangster movie, and the film’s plot is also unremarkable. Although Dulquer and Dancing Rose make every effort to elevate the movie with their performances, the weak plot significantly lessens the impact.The story moves slowly for the most part, and watching the entire movie takes a lot of patience. The editing team did a bad job because there were numerous lengthy sections that may have been condensed. The movie is also rather predictable, and the climax drags on pointlessly.
To a certain extent, none of the characters are memorable, with the exception of Dulquer, Dancing Rose, and Cheman Vinod. Although a lot of work went into making the movie, the screenplay needed further consideration.