About King of Kotha
King of Kotha is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language period action drama film directed by Abhilash Joshiy in his directorial debut and produced by Wayfarer Films and Zee Studios. The film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nyla Usha, Chemban Vinod Jose, Shammi Thilakan, Saran, Shanthi Krishna and Anikha Surendran. The cinematography is handled by Nimish Ravi and the film score is composed by Jakes Bejoy while the songs are composed by Jakes Bejoy and Shaan Rahman separately.
The film is set in the fictional locale of Kotha, 1996, situated near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, known for its criminal activities. 1996: CI Shahul Hassan is transferred to Kotha, where he enquires more about the town and learns that the citizens, especially teenagers, are addicted to narcotics.
The film was announced in July 2021. It was initially scheduled to be released in April 2023, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was finally released on August 19, 2023.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Some critics praised the performances of the cast, the action sequences, and the cinematography, while others criticized the length of the film and the slow pace of the first half.
The film was a commercial success. It grossed over ₹100 crore (US$12 million) worldwide.
Here are some of the reviews for King of Kotha:
- The Times of India: “King of Kotha is a stylish and action-packed film that has its heart in the right place. Dulquer Salmaan is excellent in the lead role, and the supporting cast is also very good. The film is a bit too long, but it is still an enjoyable watch.”
- The Hindu: “King of Kotha is a well-made film with some great performances. Dulquer Salmaan is outstanding, and the supporting cast is also very good. The film is a bit slow-paced in the first half, but it picks up in the second half. Overall, King of Kotha is a good watch.”
- Film Companion: “King of Kotha is a stylish and action-packed film that is let down by its slow pace and excessive violence. Dulquer Salmaan is excellent in the lead role, but the supporting cast is not given enough to do. The film is a visual treat, but it is ultimately a disappointing experience.”
Overall, King of Kotha is a mixed bag. It has some good elements, but it also has some flaws. It is a film that you may enjoy if you are a fan of action films, but it is not a film that everyone will enjoy.
King of Kotha Release Date
King of Kotha was released on August 19, 2023. It was a pan-India release in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
The film was originally scheduled to be released in April 2023, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cast of King of Kotha
here is the cast of King of Kotha:
- Dulquer Salmaan as Kotha Rajendran “Raju” aliases Raju Madrassi, King of Kotha.
- Shabeer Kallarakkal as Kannan Bhai, Raju’s former friend.
- Prasanna as CI Shahul Hassan.
- Gokul Suresh as SI Tony Titus, Raju’s friend and later become a police officer.
- Aishwarya Lekshmi as Tara, Raju’s girlfriend and love interest.
- Chemban Vinod Jose as Ranjith Bhai, Manju’s husband.
- Shammi Thilakan as Kotha Ravi, Raju and Rithu’s father.
- Anikha Surendran as Kotha Rithu, Raju’s sister.
- Nyla Usha as Manju, Ranjith’s wife-cum-widow; Kannan’s wife.
- Shanthi Krishna as Kotha Malathi, Raju and Rithu’s mother.
- Sudhi Koppa as Rafi.
The film also features several other actors in supporting roles, including Vinayakan, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manoj K. Jayan.
Dulquer Salmaan King of Kotha
Dulquer Salmaan plays the lead role of Kotha Rajendran, alias Raju, in King of Kotha. Raju is a young man who grew up in the fictional town of Kotha, which is known for its criminal activities. Raju is a kind and compassionate person, but he is also strong and capable. He is determined to protect his family and his community from harm.
Salmaan’s performance as Raju was praised by critics and audiences alike. He was particularly praised for his physical transformation for the role, as he gained a significant amount of muscle mass. He was also praised for his emotional range, as he brought a lot of depth and complexity to the role.
Salmaan’s performance in King of Kotha is one of his best to date. He is a talented actor who is capable of bringing a lot of depth and complexity to his roles. His performance in King of Kotha is sure to be remembered for years to come.
Here are some of the things that critics have said about Salman’s performance in King of Kotha:
- The Times of India: “Dulquer Salmaan is excellent in the lead role. He brings a lot of depth and complexity to Raju, and he is believable as both a kind and compassionate person and a strong and capable man.”
- The Hindu: “Salmaan’s performance is the highlight of the film. He is physically transformed for the role, and he brings a lot of emotional range to the character.”
- Film Companion: “Salmaan gives a strong performance. He is believable as both a kind and compassionate person and a strong and capable man. He is also physically transformed for the role, and he brings a lot of emotional range to the character.”
King of Kotha Budget
The budget of King of Kotha is estimated to be ₹50 crore (US$6.3 million). This makes it one of the most expensive Malayalam films ever made.
The film’s budget was spent on a variety of things, including:
- The cast and crew: The film stars a number of popular actors, including Dulquer Salmaan, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, and Gokul Suresh. The director, Abhilash Joshiy, is also a well-known figure in the Malayalam film industry.
- The sets: The film was shot in a number of locations, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The sets were designed to recreate the look and feel of the fictional town of Kotha.
- The action sequences: The film features a number of high-octane action sequences. These sequences were choreographed by stunt experts and required a significant amount of pre-production work.
- The visual effects: The film uses a number of visual effects to create a realistic and immersive experience for the audience. These effects were created by a team of VFX artists.
The budget of King of Kotha is a reflection of the scale and ambition of the film. The filmmakers wanted to create a film that would be visually stunning and action-packed, and they were willing to invest the money to make it happen.
King of Kotha Producer
King of Kotha was produced by Wayfarer Films and Zee Studios. Wayfarer Films is a production company founded by Dulquer Salmaan and his brother, Farhan Akhtar. Zee Studios is a film production and distribution company owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
King of Kotha Director
King of Kotha was directed by Abhilash Joshiy. This was his directorial debut. He is a filmmaker from Kerala who has worked as an assistant director on a number of films, including the National Award-winning film, Drishyam.
King of Kotha Actress
The main actress in King of Kotha is Aishwarya Lekshmi. She plays the role of Tara, Raju’s girlfriend and love interest.
Other actresses in the film include:
- Nyla Usha as Manju, Ranjith’s wife-cum-widow; Kannan’s wife.
- Shanthi Krishna as Kotha Malathi, Raju and Rithu’s mother.
- Anikha Surendran as Kotha Rithu, Raju’s sister.
- Ritika Singh as Inspector Meera
Aishwarya Lekshmi’s performance as Tara was praised by critics and audiences alike. She was particularly praised for her chemistry with Dulquer Salmaan.
King of Kotha Teaser Review
The teaser for King of Kotha was released on July 28, 2022. It was met with positive reactions from fans and critics.
The teaser opens with a shot of a young man, Raju, played by Dulquer Salmaan, walking through a dark alleyway. He is being chased by a group of men. Raju manages to escape, but he is injured.
The teaser then cuts to a montage of scenes showing Raju’s transformation from a young man to a powerful gangster. We see him training, fighting, and taking over the criminal underworld.
The teaser ends with a shot of Raju standing in front of a group of men. He is holding a gun and he looks determined.
The teaser for King of Kotha has been praised for its visuals, action sequences, and Dulquer Salmaan’s performance. Here are some of the reactions to the teaser:
- The Times of India: “The teaser for King of Kotha is stylish and action-packed. It gives us a glimpse of the film’s dark and gritty world, and it also shows off Dulquer Salmaan’s action chops.”
- The Hindu: “The teaser for King of Kotha is impressive. It is visually stunning and it shows off the film’s action sequences. Dulquer Salmaan looks great in the teaser and he is believable as a gangster.”
- Film Companion: “The teaser for King of Kotha is a promising start. It is visually stunning and it shows off the film’s action sequences. Dulquer Salmaan looks great in the teaser and he is believable as a gangster. However, the teaser does not give away too much about the film’s plot, which is a good thing.”
Overall, the teaser for King of Kotha has been well-received by fans and critics. It has generated a lot of excitement for the film and it has raised expectations for Dulquer Salmaan’s performance.
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