Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom Reviews: Some fans call it a comeback, for some it is a letdown

Vijay Deverakonda is back on the big screen and so is the madness around him. His latest outing, Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, finally released this Thursday and early reactions have been pouring in nonstop. Packed houses, social media trends, and fan frenzy have turned its release into a moment for Telugu cinema, and perhaps, for Deverakonda himself.

Ticket sales alone reflect the scale of excitement. Within a day of pre-bookings opening, over one lakh tickets were snapped up across India, with international screens also seeing solid pre-release traction. The kind of buzz surrounding Kingdom brings to mind the actor’s Arjun Reddy and Geetha Govindam phase, when his popularity reached sky-high levels.

So, does Kingdom deliver on the hype?

Early viewers seem to think the film offers a mix of highs and hiccups. The first half, in particular, has drawn appreciation for its tight screenplay and emotional pulse. Vijay’s character takes off in a setting filled with tension and intrigue, with the story gradually building into an intense family and political drama. Satyadev, who plays a pivotal role alongside him, has been praised for holding his own in confrontational scenes.

However, as the film progresses into its second half, the reviews have begun to divide sharply. A number of viewers felt that the pace begins to taper off post-interval. Scenes that promise big emotional or action payoffs appear to fall a bit flat for some. Despite strong performances and a clear intent to push narrative boundaries, the latter part of the film reportedly struggles with coherence and depth. The heroic highs do not always land with the force they aim for.

That said, the technical department has earned consistent appreciation. Anirudh Ravichander’s background score stands out as one of the strongest elements, enhancing both action scenes and dramatic moments. In fact, a particular boat sequence in the second half has emerged as a fan favourite. The sound design, choreography and scale of that scene have become major talking points, with several audience members calling it the visual highlight of the film.

Cinematography has also received a nod of approval. The gritty tone of the visuals, the staging of key moments, and the overall production scale have contributed to making Kingdom a film that looks and sounds premium, even when the story falters.

Interestingly, at the film’s pre-release event, music director Anirudh mentioned that Kingdom could become a landmark project for the entire team. He rarely makes such claims publicly unless he truly believes in the film, and his confidence in the final product has become a talking point in its own right.

One recurring theme in fan discussions is that Kingdom feels like a film that had all the right ingredients. A star-driven plot, strong supporting cast, striking visuals, and an impactful score. But the execution, especially in the latter stages, appears to have left a few people wanting more. The potential was there, they say, but the payoff not quite complete.

Still, with fan loyalty running high and the curiosity factor only increasing, Kingdom is poised to draw in large weekend crowds. The kind of passionate reactions the film is already generating suggests that, whether or not it is universally loved, it will be widely discussed. And for a star like Vijay Deverakonda, that kind of chatter is never a bad thing.

All eyes are now on how the film performs in the days ahead. Will it find steady footing through word of mouth, or will the mixed feedback catch up with it? One thing is clear. Kingdom has ensured that Vijay Deverakonda is back in the centre of public conversation, and for many of his fans, that is reason enough to book their tickets