The Onam festive season theatrical release of the Malayalam action thriller *Khalifa*, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, has generated heavily divided reactions across social media platform X, according to audience reviews. Directed by Vysakh and written by Jinu V Abraham, the movie arrived in cinemas with substantial anticipation as the opening installment of a planned two-part franchise. Alongside Sukumaran, the feature stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Malvika Sharma, Shammi Thilakan, and Indrans, and was co-produced by Abraham and Suraj Kumar.
Despite high expectations, a significant portion of viewers took to the internet to express their dissatisfaction, labeling the project a major letdown. Critics of the film panned its conventional narrative, lackluster script, and weak emotional depth, with some viewers noting that it required nearly forty minutes to establish its plot. Negative feedback also targeted the underwhelming background score by Jakes Bejoy, predictable sequencing, and poor villain characterization, though certain spectators did praise Sukumaran's stylish onscreen appearance and a few decent fight sequences.
Conversely, a segment of the audience found elements to appreciate, particularly regarding the movie's explosive concluding moments. Several moviegoers highlighted the inclusion of three unexpected cameos and a surprise narrative twist in the tail-end credits that drew comparisons to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s hit Hindi film *Animal*. While some critics dismissed these final sequences as unnecessary gimmicks, thrilled fans reported that the explosive climax and mass elements successfully electrified theater crowds, leaving the ultimate box office trajectory of the August 20 release uncertain.
At a glance
- The Onam festive season theatrical release of the Malayalam action thriller *Khalifa*, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, has generated heavily divided reactions across social media platform X, according to audience reviews.
- Directed by Vysakh and written by Jinu V Abraham, the movie arrived in cinemas with substantial anticipation as the opening installment of a planned two-part franchise.
- Alongside Sukumaran, the feature stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Malvika Sharma, Shammi Thilakan, and Indrans, and was co-produced by Abraham and Suraj Kumar.
The update
The Onam festive season theatrical release of the Malayalam action thriller *Khalifa*, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, has generated heavily divided reactions across social media platform X, according to audience reviews. Directed by Vysakh and written by Jinu V Abraham, the movie arrived in cinemas with substantial anticipation as the opening installment of a planned two-part franchise. Alongside Sukumaran, the feature stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Malvika Sharma, Shammi Thilakan, and Indrans, and was co-produced by Abraham and Suraj Kumar.
Despite high expectations, a significant portion of viewers took to the internet to express their dissatisfaction, labeling the project a major letdown. Critics of the film panned its conventional narrative, lackluster script, and weak emotional depth, with some viewers noting that it required nearly forty minutes to establish its plot. Negative feedback also targeted the underwhelming background score by Jakes Bejoy, predictable sequencing, and poor villain characterization, though certain spectators did praise Sukumaran's stylish onscreen appearance and a few decent fight sequences.
Conversely, a segment of the audience found elements to appreciate, particularly regarding the movie's explosive concluding moments. Several moviegoers highlighted the inclusion of three unexpected cameos and a surprise narrative twist in the tail-end credits that drew comparisons to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s hit Hindi film *Animal*. While some critics dismissed these final sequences as unnecessary gimmicks, thrilled fans reported that the explosive climax and mass elements successfully electrified theater crowds, leaving the ultimate box office trajectory of the August 20 release uncertain.
Source note: This page is an original article informed by public coverage and discussion. It does not reproduce the source article. Anything not yet announced by the makers is labelled as unconfirmed.
Source: Hindustan Times
