Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- brooding
- melodramatic
- violent
- action movie night
- gangster film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film technically impressive and visually ambitious but undermined by a clichéd, overlong, uneven screenplay and direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Inspector Shahul tactfully plots the return of Kotha Raju to confront Kannan bhai's gang-controlled order.
The plot combines revenge with the King's return to transform the crime-infested town.
Critics and viewers specifically praised the grand visuals, cinematography, background score, locations, and stylized action sequences.
The songs, visuals, and filmmaking style were noted as helping the Malayalam-language film appeal to a pan-Indian audience.
Films like King of Kotha, and why
Vada Chennai
grand gangster revenge drama with stylized action, regional criminal power struggles, and a charismatic central antihero
Gangs of Wasseypur
violent crime saga centered on rival gangs, shifting loyalties, and an expansive ensemble narrative
Kammatipaadam
South Asian gangster drama combining revenge, criminal hierarchies, dramatic spectacle, and a commanding protagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- Abhilash Joshiy
- Release Date
- 2023-08-24
- Runtime
- 174 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (35)
Cast
- Dulquer Salmaan
- Aishwarya Lekshmi
- Shabeer Kallarakkal
- Prasanna
- Nyla Usha
- Chemban Vinod Jose
- Gokul Suresh
- Shammi Thilakan
- Shanthi Krishna
- Saran Shakthi
Common questions
- What is King of Kotha about?
- A returning underworld legend is weaponized in a revenge campaign against the gang ruling a crime-ridden town.
- What is King of Kotha like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of King of Kotha as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is King of Kotha violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in King of Kotha as graphic.
- What did critics think of King of Kotha?
- Critics broadly found the film technically impressive and visually ambitious but undermined by a clichéd, overlong, uneven screenplay and direction.
- Which films are like King of Kotha?
- Films with a similar feel include Vada Chennai, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Kammatipaadam.
- How long is King of Kotha?
- King of Kotha runs 174 minutes.
