'King of Kotha' is dubbed from Malayalam. Since Dulquer Salmaan's stature has gone up in the eyes of the Telugu audience after last year's 'Sita Ramam', the openings are expected to be respectable in the Telugu States. How is the action drama film? Is it worth a watch? Let's find out...
Story:
Back in 1996, a town named Kotha came under the vice-like influence of drugs, thanks to Kannan (Shabeer Kallarakkal) and his gang. Before Kannan's ascension to the throne, Raju (Dulquer Salmaan) prevented substance abuse from taking root in Kotha. He opposed Ranjith (Chemban Vinod Jose) tooth and nail. Treachery by his friend Kannan resulted in Kotha falling prey to drugs.
Years later, motivated by the need to save his sister Ritu (Anika Surendran) from danger, Raju returns to the town with vengeance. Will he eliminate Kannan? Or, will he get eliminated?
Performances:
It takes time for the audience to accept Dulquer Salmaan in the role of a gangster who shows aggression and violent tendencies even in an unlikely place like a library. He is toxic but he can't tolerate some moral transgressions. He shines in the scenes with his girlfriend Tara (Aishwarya Lekshmi) more than with the antagonist.
But the staggering reliance on Dulquer takes a toll after a point. Nobody else makes an impression, be it Kannan, Raju's estranged father, Kannan's estranged and melodramatic mother, or the sister in danger. Some of the performances are watered down by illogical writing, especially in the second half.
Technical Departments:
In recent times, the background music has decided the fate of movies. In some cases, the BGM was the difference between a film becoming a blockbuster and just a hit. Think of 'Vikram' and 'Jailer'. Jakes Bejoy becomes that life-saving force in the case of 'King Of Kotha'. But director Abhilash Joshiy is no Lokesh Kanagaraj or Nelson. That's why the film under review can't aspire to become a box-office scorcher. Yet, purely from an artistic and technical standpoint, the film needs to be commended for letting Jakes Bejoy conjure up some magic here and there.
The cinematography by Nimish Ravi and the production design by Nimesh M Thanoor don't prevent the second half from feeling claustrophobic. The backdrops seem limited. The production values needed to be better. Shyam Sasidharan's editing is run-of-the-mill.
Merits:
The resurrection element. The hero's return to Kotha and the build-up to it are good ideas.
The football element is another positive. Mollywood movies try to use sports/arts/literature pretty well even in mass movies.
No major Mollywood-ish hangover.
Demerits:
The second half is blighted by illogical moments where the antagonist behaves like a headless chicken.
The 'KGF' influence feels second-rate.
The romantic scenes don't work. Why can't Tara persuade Raju to leave the path of violence? You don't get an answer.
The action scenes and the grammar of violence are inspired by other movies. There is no originality.
Vox Verdict:
'King Of Kotha' is a lost opportunity. Its storyline had so much potential. In the second half, everything goes downhill.
Rating: 2/5
