King of Kotha 2023 Full Movie Download
Writer: Abhilash N. Chandran
Stars: Dulquer SalmaanSoubin ShahirAishwarya Lekshmi
Story: In a crime-infested town, Kannan bhai and his gang are the reigning powers. To combat this reign and seek revenge, Inspector Shahul tactfully plots the return of the 'King', leading to a transformative turn of events.
King of Kotha Full Review: Raju (Dulquer Salmaan) and Kannan are childhood buddies, who can kill for each other. They’re young, reckless and undisputed rulers of the Kotha of the 1980s. However, unlike other gangsters, these boys and their gang won’t do drugs or deal in it. But like all good things must come to an end, their brotherly bond comes undone, after a sudden betrayal by one of them. It also has a little something to do with the entry of Raju’s lady love Tara (Aishwarya Lekshmi). Things turn quite messy and bloody, as the two friends turn against each other and Kotha is no longer the same.
It’s a textbook gangster saga with oodles of swag, bloodshed and brutal action ruling the screenplay. Director Abhilash Joshiy and Abhilash N. Chandran ensure their narrative is packed with twists, turns and relentless fights. All the action plays out in the fictional town of Kotha in a decidedly retro setting (by art director Manoj Arakkal) and is brought to life by Nimish Ravi’s visually stunning cinematography. Add to that, a thumping background score by Jakes Bejoy is like icing on the cake. Clearly, it’s more about optics and the immersive experience than anything else.
The story itself is predictable in parts but the fabric of friendship, love and betrayal is seamlessly interconnected. The biggest flaw of the film is its lethargic pace. It starts slow and takes a while to find its rhythm until Dulquer Salmaan’s dramatic entry. A tighter edit would have gone a long way in making this elaborate gangster thriller more enjoyable.
Dulquer Salmaan packs a punch in a completely distinct avatar from his previous outings. The young actor displays the required intensity and depth in his character, who is literally a force of nature. Shabeer Kallarakkal is equally impressive as a formidable villain. The chemistry between the two actors powers the narrative. Aishwarya Lekshmi, Gokul Suresh as the dependable Tony, Prasanna as the scheming IPS officer Shahul Hassan, and Nyla Usha as the venomous Manju, provide able support.
Overall, ‘King of Kotha’ suffers from the same old problem of not knowing how much is too much. Short of becoming a cult gangster classic, it does have the mass appeal and the ability to hold its audience captive for a long time. It just doesn’t know when to stop.
