Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- stylized
- melodramatic
- action movie night
- Rajinikanth fan viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed Kabali as an ambitious, star-powered gangster drama with a more nuanced Rajinikanth performance, though its lagging screenplay and uneven dramatic structure divided opinion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kabali’s criminal history and family struggle are tied to oppression within the Malaysian Tamil community.
Rajinikanth plays Kabali as an older reformed gangster whose return to violence is shaped by his past and family responsibilities.
The film retains Rajinikanth’s iconic dialogues and style while presenting Kabali as an older, more measured character.
Kabali leaves prison seeking to protect and reconnect with his family while confronting enemies from his gangster past.
Films like Kabali, and why
Pudhupettai
shared Tamil gangster action, star-driven swagger, family loyalty, and rivalry between criminal factions
Company
shared Indian gangster-film conventions, stylized action, male mentorship, and underworld power struggles
The Departed
shared aging criminal protagonist, gang rivalry, family stakes, and emotionally charged action melodrama
Baahubali: The Beginning
shared South Indian mass-cinema energy, charismatic star performance, and criminal-versus-criminal conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Pa. Ranjith
- Release Date
- 2016-07-22
- Runtime
- 150 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (95)
Cast
- Rajinikanth
- Radhika Apte
- Sai Dhanshika
- Winston Chao
- Kishore
- V R Dinesh
- Kalaiyarasan
- John Vijay
- Nassar
- Riythvika
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sun Nxt
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kabali about?
- A reformed Malaysian gangster returns from prison to defend his family and challenge the enemies who fractured his life.
- What is Kabali like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kabali as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Kabali violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Kabali as brutal.
- What did critics think of Kabali?
- Critics broadly viewed Kabali as an ambitious, star-powered gangster drama with a more nuanced Rajinikanth performance, though its lagging screenplay and uneven dramatic structure divided opinion.
- Which films are like Kabali?
- Films with a similar feel include Pudhupettai, Company, The Departed, and Baahubali: The Beginning.
- How long is Kabali?
- Kabali runs 150 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kabali?
- In United States, Kabali streams on Sun Nxt.
