If you've been following the Telugu film scene, you've definitely heard the buzz—and the mixed chatter—surrounding Vijay Deverakonda's latest outing, Kingdom. After a theatrical run that started on July 31, this high-stakes spy action drama has made its way to the small screen. The big news is that the film, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, has officially landed on Netflix, giving it a second shot at winning over audiences after a pretty turbulent time at the box office.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Vijay Deverakonda's spy thriller 'Kingdom' is now streaming on Netflix as of August 27.
- ✓ Made on a massive budget of Rs 130 crore, the film only grossed ₹82.02 crore worldwide.
- ✓ The film faced significant controversy and protests over its portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils.
- ✓ The OTT release date coincides with the 8th anniversary of 'Arjun Reddy' and the 3rd anniversary of 'Liger'.
- ✓ It's available in five languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi (as 'Saamrajya').
From Theaters to Your Couch: Kingdom's Big Netflix Debut
It’s official! Less than a month after its theatrical release, Kingdom is ready for you to stream. The film dropped on Netflix on August 27, perfectly timed for the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday. As is pretty common with big Telugu releases these days, the window between its cinema and OTT debut was super short, which is great news for those of us who prefer watching from home.
Netflix India made the announcement with a pretty epic caption on social media: "In the kingdom of gold, blood and fire a new king rises from the ashes." The film's producer, Sithara Entertainments, echoed the sentiment, confirming that the movie is available in a whole host of languages. You can catch it in its original Telugu, or dubbed in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Fun fact: due to some title issues, the Hindi version is called Saamrajya.
High Hopes and a Box Office Tumble
Let's talk numbers, because they tell a big part of this story. Kingdom was not a small film by any means. It was made with a hefty budget of Rs 130 crore and came from director Gowtam Tinnanuri, the same filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed movie Jersey. With that kind of money and talent involved, expectations were sky-high.
Unfortunately, the film just didn't connect with audiences in the way everyone had hoped. Despite the hype, it struggled to pull people into cinemas and ultimately didn't meet commercial expectations. According to trade reports from Sacnilk, Kingdom's lifetime worldwide gross collection was ₹82.02 crore. That breaks down to about ₹60.79 crore from India and another ₹21.25 crore from overseas markets. When you compare that to its massive budget, it's clear why it's being called a box office bomb.
The reception from both critics and the general audience was decidedly mixed, which likely contributed to its modest performance. Now, with its OTT release, the big question is whether Kingdom can find the audience on streaming that it couldn't capture in theaters. Sometimes, a film just needs a different platform to shine.
The Story: A Constable's Dangerous Mission
So, what is Kingdom actually about? It's a spy action thriller that centers on a character named Suri, played by Vijay Deverakonda. Suri starts as a simple constable who gets pulled into the high-stakes world of espionage. He agrees to go on a perilous undercover mission to Sri Lanka, but this isn't just about national security—it's personal.
Suri's main objective is to find his long-lost brother, Siva, who is played by the talented Satyadev. Of course, things get complicated fast. Once in Sri Lanka, Suri inadvertently crosses paths with Murugan (played by Venkitesh), the son of a powerful cartel kingpin named Odiyappan. This showdown complicates his mission and raises the stakes considerably. Along the way, he finds an ally in Dr. Madhu, played by Bhagyashri Borse, who eventually falls for him. The film also features a score by the popular composer Anirudh Ravichander and even ends by setting things up for a potential sequel.
The Controversy That Sparked Protests
Beyond its box office performance, Kingdom also found itself in hot water for another reason. The film faced significant criticism and courted controversy over its portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils. Soon after its release, sections of the Tamil community voiced their objections, arguing that their ethnicity was represented in a way they found offensive.
The backlash wasn't just online chatter; it led to real-world action. Cadres from the political group Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) held a protest outside theaters in Tirchy. They went as far as tearing down posters and stopping screenings, demanding an outright ban on the film. This is a serious situation for any movie to face and undoubtedly impacted its run.
In response to the growing criticism, the filmmakers issued an apology. They clarified that their intention was never to offend anyone and stressed that all the characters and the narrative in Kingdom are "completely fictional." The matter even reached the Madras High Court, which placed on record an undertaking from the Tamil Nadu state police that they would provide protection to theaters screening the film if needed. It was a messy, complicated situation that added another layer to the film's already difficult journey.
Conclusion
The story of Kingdom is a fascinating one—a tale of huge ambitions, a tough box office reality, and unexpected controversy. From its Rs 130 crore budget to its final worldwide gross of just over ₹82 crore, the film's theatrical run was a rollercoaster. Now, it gets a fresh start on Netflix.
With its multi-language release, Kingdom has the chance to reach a global audience that may have missed it in theaters. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Vijay Deverakonda or just looking for a new spy thriller to dive into, now's your chance to see what all the talk was about and decide for yourself. It's a perfect example of how streaming can give a film a second life, free from the pressures of opening weekend numbers.
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