Khalifa-The Ruler Review and Rating

Movie Review

Khalifa

★ 6/10 Good

Director

Jinu V. Abraham

Cast

Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mohanlal, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Malavika Sharma, Tovino Thomas, Indrans, Krithi Shetty

Release Date

August 20, 2026

Verdict: Khalifa delivers stylish action, a strong Prithviraj Sukumaran performance and a few crowd-pleasing moments, but its familiar storyline and uneven emotional writing hold it back. It works better as a mass action film than as a deeply engaging crime thriller.

Pros:

• Prithviraj Sukumaran’s screen presence and performance
• Jakes Bejoy’s energetic background score and stylish visuals
• Strong action sequences and notable cameo moments

Cons:

• Predictable and familiar storyline
• Emotional portions and some supporting characters feel underdeveloped

Khalifa 2026 Overview

Khalifa arrived in theatres on 20 August 2026 as one of the major Malayalam releases of the Onam season. Directed by Vysakh and written by Jinu V. Abraham, the film brings Prithviraj Sukumaran into a crime-action story built around gold smuggling, family legacy, revenge and power.

The film also features Mohanlal, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Malavika Sharma, Tovino Thomas, Indrans and other familiar faces. Its large-scale presentation, international locations and action-driven setup created considerable interest before release. After the first shows, however, the audience response has turned out to be mixed.

Many viewers appreciate the action, Prithviraj’s performance, the background score and selected mass moments, while others feel that the writing follows a familiar template and does not offer enough freshness. The story follows Aamir Ali, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran. He initially leads a comparatively peaceful life, but circumstances connected to his family and the world around him gradually pull him into the dangerous business of gold smuggling.

As Aamir becomes increasingly involved in this criminal network, the story expands into a battle involving family history, revenge, power and competing interests. The film uses this setup to move between personal drama and large-scale action without revealing the major twists.

The basic idea gives the film enough room for a commercial entertainer, but the writing is where the response has been most divided. Some viewers have found the setup engaging once the film gets moving, while others have felt that the narrative takes too long to settle and eventually follows a predictable path.

Early reactions on X have particularly praised Prithviraj’s entry and his overall screen presence. Several viewers have described the action portions as entertaining, with the pre-interval stretch receiving positive reactions from sections of the audience. Jakes Bejoy’s background score is another aspect that has repeatedly been mentioned positively, especially during the bigger action moments.

Mohanlal’s appearance has also become one of the most discussed parts of the film. His presence generated strong reactions among fans, and the cameo provides one of the film’s notable theatrical moments. The combination of his appearance and Prithviraj’s performance gives the movie some of its biggest crowd-response scenes.

Neil Nitin Mukesh has also received appreciation from sections of the audience, particularly for his scenes with Prithviraj. The technical side has generally been viewed more favourably than the writing. Jomon T. John’s cinematography gives the film a polished look, while the action staging adds scale to the major sequences.

At the same time, the most common criticism is the screenplay. A section of viewers has described the story as predictable and similar to familiar gangster or smuggling dramas. Some audience reactions have also pointed to a lack of emotional connection with the characters. The first part has received both positive and negative comments.

Some viewers found the gradual setup worthwhile and felt that the interval stretch delivered the expected adrenaline. Others felt that the opening portion takes too long to become interesting. The second half has also divided viewers. Some found the escalation of the conflict more engaging, while others felt that the film could have benefited from tighter writing and stronger character development.

The villain and certain supporting characters have not made as strong an impression as the lead. The film’s emotional scenes are another area where the response is less consistent. The family and revenge elements are important to the story, but some viewers feel that these moments do not always carry enough weight.

This makes the movie more effective when it focuses on action than when it slows down for drama. Overall, the audience response suggests that Khalifa is likely to work best for viewers who enjoy old-school Malayalam mass entertainers with action, star presence, crime elements and a large theatrical presentation. Those looking for a highly original crime story or a character-driven thriller may find the familiar screenplay disappointing. Prithviraj is easily one of the film’s biggest strengths.

He carries the central role with confidence and gives Aamir Ali the attitude required for the character. The action sequences also benefit from his physicality and screen presence. The technical presentation is another reason to consider a theatrical viewing. The cinematography, action choreography and background score are designed for the big screen, and several of the film’s larger moments appear to have been received better inside theatres than the quieter dramatic portions.

However, viewers who are not particularly interested in action-heavy commercial cinema may find the nearly 2-hour-40-minute runtime demanding. The predictable story and uneven emotional portions also make it difficult to recommend without reservations.

For fans of Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mohanlal and large-scale Malayalam action cinema, Khalifa is worth considering in theatres, particularly for the action sequences and crowd moments. For viewers who prefer fresh storytelling and tightly written crime dramas, waiting for the streaming release may be the better option.

The early response is therefore best described as mixed rather than overwhelmingly positive or negative. Khalifa has enough style, action and star power to entertain its target audience, but its familiar narrative prevents it from becoming the standout film that some viewers were expecting.

Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X, social media platforms and other online discussions at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.