‘Khalifa’ X Review: Moviegoers Feel Prithviraj Sukumaran and Vysakh’s Crime Saga Is ‘All Style, No Substance’
Prithviraj Sukumaran's high-stakes action drama 'Khalifa: The Ruler' has received mixed early reviews on X, with audiences praising its slick technical production and the actor's intense lead performance. However, netizens noted that the film's reliance on familiar gold-smuggling tropes creates a predictable plot that dilutes its emotional impact.
Prithviraj Sukumaran's high-stakes action drama Khalifa: The Ruler hit theatres worldwide, sparking immediate discussions across social media platforms. Directed by Vysakh, the film has drawn steady interest from moviegoers following its release. Early reactions on X indicate that while the film delivers strong technical production and memorable performances, it struggles to maintain momentum due to a routine narrative structure. SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ Synopsis Leaked: Mahesh Babu Set To Save the World From an Asteroid Threat?.
‘Khalifa’ X Review
Viewers taking to X have largely lauded Prithviraj Sukumaran for his commanding lead performance. Playing Aamir Ali, the actor has been praised for his intense screen presence, restraint, and body language. Additional positive points highlighted by users include the stylish entry sequences, slick action choreography, and Jakes Bejoy's energetic background score. A key highlight generated online is a widely discussed cameo by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.
Watch the Trailer of ‘Khalifa’:
However, the film's writing has drawn sharp criticism from the audience. Many netizens noted that the overall plot relies heavily on familiar tropes from classic smuggling and mafia dramas, leaving the story feeling predictable and flat. While action enthusiasts found the visuals engaging, several posts emphasised that the lack of narrative surprises weakens the film's emotional weight.
Moviegoers Review Prithviraj Sukumaran's ‘Khalifa’
#Khalifa: ALL STYLE, ZERO SUBSTANCE.
Prithvi and Jakes bring the only highs. Screenplay is the real letdown with emotional beats that don’t land well. Cameos too forced to help, adding nothing to narrative.
Disappointed. #KhalifaReview pic.twitter.com/7VSNd1BCIi
— Mollywood BoxOffice (@MollywoodBo1) August 20, 2026
‘Khalifa’s Mediocre Script Disappoints
#Khalifa felt flat with a template like old script with stylish Prithvi. No emotional connection at all. House attack & jail fight were the only sequences worth watching. Cameos were good. Jakes was also not up to the mark. Good director can't make a good film with a mediocre… pic.twitter.com/w0PnU8s4M4
— 几丨ᐯ乇ᗪ (@realNiveD) August 20, 2026
Jakes Bejoy's Background Score Also Disappoints
A cliched story without emotional connect to any characters.. took its initial 40 mins to get into the story.. interval block stretch was good but other than that nothing much interesting 😭
Fight sequences were okayish .. background score loud & old 😒 didn’t work… pic.twitter.com/9ihAEvJhuL
— SmartBarani (@SmartBarani) August 20, 2026
A User Wrote
#Khalifa First Half - To elevate a star, the best way is to keep the character in shadows and elevate the character intermittently, exactly what has the film done in first half.
What they should have done should be building the character arc of the protagonist. Tries to use a… pic.twitter.com/LwxGFBoOw1
— What The Fuss (@WhatTheFuss_) August 20, 2026
Another User Wrote
#Khalifa Review ⚔️🔥
PRITHVIRAJ IS MASS… BUT #KHALIFA ISN’T.
Prithviraj’s style, screen presence & swag 🔥
A few action blocks genuinely deliver 💥
The interval & climax have the theatre moments 👌
But the BIGGEST PROBLEM? 👇
The writing feels painfully predictable.
Weak… pic.twitter.com/9NvdBy8BL9
— CineArenaTN (@CineArenaTN) August 20, 2026
More About ‘Khalifa’
Khalifa centres on Mambarakkal Aamir Ali (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who finds himself drawn into his family's legacy of gold smuggling and internal power struggles. Written by Jinu V Abraham, the narrative balances high-stakes criminal conflicts with underlying family drama. ‘Did You Like Beef?’: Actress Malvika Sharma Stunned by Kerala Reporter’s Question in Viral Video; Netizens React – WATCH.
The feature boasts an ensemble cast including Neil Nitin Mukesh, Indrans, Rajisha Vijayan, Krithi Shetty, and Malvika Sharma. The project also marks a major collaboration between director Vysakh and Prithviraj, with veteran actor Mohanlal making a special appearance as Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, setting up potential directions for future instalments in the franchise.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2026 02:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
