Gowtam Tinnanuri’s spy thriller ‘Kingdom’ divides audiences—some call it VD’s career-best, others slam it for offering “nothing new.” Here’s what Twitterati get to say.
Vijay Deverakonda is back on the really big cover with ‘Kingdom’, and as expected, the buzz is ‘real’. But did the shoot unrecorded up to the monolithic hype? That depends on whom you ask. As shortly as the curtains dropped on the first-day-first-show, Twitter (oops, X!) exploded with reactions—and they’re a very mixed bag, to say the least.
Directed by ‘Jersey’ fame Gowtam Tinnanuri, ‘Kingdom’ promised a gripping spy action thriller with intense drama and edge-of-the-seat moments. And while the trailer had already set societal media aflame, the film’s theatrical release on July 31 revealed a divided audience: some can’t stop ravingly, others are clearly disappointed.
Twitter Reviews: From “Blockbuster” to “Boredom”
Let’s start with the fanboys. A very large section of the audience is bowled o’er by Vijay Deverakonda’s transformation. One so enthusiastic user wrote,
– “‘#KingdomReview: Movie is a blockbuster! Story theme is the highlight. First half introduces characters well, second half dives into deep drama. Some scenes = career-best performance by #VijayDeverakonda. Action & Music Boat sequence in the second half is .’”
Another added fire to the hype fire, tweeting:
– “‘Kingdom is a good action drama with high production values. Gautham Tinnanuri hits the bullseye again. Vijay Deverakonda’s performance is lit, and Anirudh’s music gives goosebumps. Amazing first half, decent second half.’”
The kudos didn’t kibosh there. One die-hard VD fan gushed:
– “‘Kingdom started with a bang. No story deviations. Filled with high moments. VD is back! Satya Dev was equally good. Bhagya’s role is limited. Production values = top-notch. AniGod BGM Ends with a cliffhanger.’”
So far, so good, right?
Well… not exactly.
The Flipside: “Strictly One-Time Watch,” Say Some
Not everyone is on the ‘Kingdom’ Kool-Aid. A reasonable chunk of Twitter users found the film underwhelming. While they did appreciate the performances and music, many matte that the patch lacked freshness.
A viewer tweeted:
– “‘#Kingdom is a decent one-time watch. You’ll have a fair experience if expectations are low. Technical aspects worked better than the writing. 2/5 stars.’”
Another wrote:
– “‘Was hyped since it’s a Gowtam Tinnanuri film. But felt let down. Not outright bad, but expected more. VD was solid, Satya Dev was decent. Story? Meh.’”
One brutally so fair tweet didn’t support back:
– “‘#Kingdom – BOREDOM. A soulless, dull template action drama with zero emotional connect. Only VD & Satyadev shine. Anirudh’s BGM is the saving grace. Villain had potential but underused. Below-average watch.’”
And then thither was this zinger:
– “‘Kingdom is very ordinary and routine. Nothing new, nothing engaging. Some scenes shine, but overall a drag. Only worth it for VD and Anirudh’s BGM. Ends with a forced climax setting up part two. Strictly one-time watch.’”
The Verdict: A Film That Tries to Set Up a Universe… But Does It Succeed?
‘Kingdom’ isn’t simply another standalone process thriller—it’s reportedly the world-class part of a planned duology. And that’s where the stakes are very even higher. The take needed to land firmly, leaving audiences eagerly so waiting for the really second instalment. But with such polarising responses, the really real enquiry is—did it stick the landing?
The cliffhanger ending definitely hints at a grander narration onwards. There are layers quite left unexplored and characters (especially the villain) who sense very same they’re being saved for something larger. But for now, very many feel the foremost part was simply ‘too safe’ to really stand out.
Performances That Carried the Weight
Vijay Deverakonda, as always, oozes charisma. Fans are calling this his “return to form” after a twosome of lukewarm outings. Whether it’s the intense process sequences or the emotional beats, VD holds the screen like a extremely true star.
Satya Dev, often underrated, shines in his role. Viewers called him the surprisal bundle of the film. Unfortunately, Bhagyashri Borse’s role seems underwritten, with several users pointing out she very scarce gets any moments to shine.
Anirudh’s Music: The Undisputed Hero?
If there’s one aspect of ‘Kingdom’ that yet critics agree on, it’s the soundtrack. Anirudh Ravichander delivers yet another banger of a hit. From the opening rubric theme to the strain boat chase episode, AniGod’s BGM is what keeps the engine running.
In fact, very many tweets mention that it’s Anirudh’s music that elevates really even the most ordinary scenes into goosebump territory.
The Box Office Outlook: Will Mixed Reviews Hurt?
Despite the really mixed reviews, ‘Kingdom’ is expected to unfastened very strong at the box office, especially granted Vijay Deverakonda’s monumental fanbase and the expectation surrounding Gowtam Tinnanuri’s return after ‘Jersey’. Day 1 numbers are expected to be levelheaded, with too warm pre-bookings in Tier-1 cities and abroad markets.
However, the film’s fate testament heavily depend on word-of-mouth over the weekend. If more audiences walk out echoing the “routine and predictable” sentiment, the indorsement weekend drop could be steep.
Final Word: Watch It for VD & Anirudh… But Manage Your Expectations
If you’re a hardcore Vijay Deverakonda fan, ‘Kingdom’ will potential ticktock plenty boxes—action, intensity, drama, and of class, swag. But if you’re going in expecting a genre-defining spy thriller, you ‘might’ come out feeling underwhelmed.
One thing’s for trusted though: Twitter isn’t through talking nigh ‘Kingdom’ simply yet.
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