Khalifa Movie Review: Prithviraj Owns the Screen, But Mohanlal’s Entry Changes Everything

Khalifa has the scale, style and star power of a big-screen action entertainer, but its predictable storyline prevents it from becoming the gripping gold-smuggling thriller it could have been. Directed by Vysakh, the film benefits enormously from Prithviraj Sukumaran’s commanding presence and a memorable Mohanlal appearance that injects fresh energy into the narrative.

The film follows Mambarakal Aamir Ali, played by Prithviraj, as he becomes increasingly connected to his family’s gold-smuggling legacy. His grandfather, Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, was a smuggler whose activities had once attracted the attention of authorities. While the premise creates an intriguing world, the screenplay rarely delivers the unexpected turns that the story demands.

Khalifa Review: A Predictable Story That Still Keeps You Engaged

Khalifa may be predictable, but it remains reasonably engaging throughout.

The first half focuses largely on establishing Aamir Ali, his family and the circumstances that eventually pull him into the gold-smuggling business. The film takes its time building the characters before shifting gears in the second half.

That is when the story turns into a larger conflict between Aamir and his rivals, with the gold-smuggling operations becoming the centre of the action.

The broad trajectory is easy to anticipate, and this remains the film’s biggest weakness. A thriller built around smuggling needs to constantly keep the audience guessing, but Khalifa rarely manages to do that.

The Gold-Smuggling World Is One of the Film’s Stronger Elements

The mechanics of the gold-smuggling business provide some of the film’s most interesting moments.

Some of the techniques shown may feel familiar or dated, but the way the operations function adds texture to the world created by Vysakh.

The film also brings in references to political developments surrounding gold smuggling in Kerala. Certain portions may remind viewers of real-life incidents, although the film primarily uses them to strengthen its fictional world.

The lavish presentation also works in the film’s favour. The characters, locations and operations are given a sense of luxury that suits the larger-than-life tone of the story.

Prithviraj Sukumaran Is a Major Strength of Khalifa

Prithviraj Sukumaran is undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons to watch Khalifa.

Aamir Ali is built around screen presence, attitude and confidence, and Prithviraj handles all three effortlessly. His style remains one of the film’s biggest attractions.

The actor particularly shines during the action sequences, where his commanding presence allows him to dominate the frame.

The action is well choreographed and gives Prithviraj several opportunities to showcase Aamir’s physicality and swagger.

For audiences who enjoy Prithviraj in stylish action roles, Khalifa offers plenty to appreciate.

Jakes Bejoy’s Background Score Adds to the Action

Jakes Bejoy’s background score effectively complements the film’s action and scale.

While the soundtrack may not rank among his strongest work, the music serves its purpose during the film’s major moments.

Interestingly, the music featured in the trailer remains one of the highlights of the overall musical experience. The songs and themes that follow do not quite achieve the same impact.

Still, the background score adds the required intensity to several action-heavy sequences.

Mohanlal’s Entry Gives Khalifa a Major Boost

Mohanlal’s presence becomes one of the film’s biggest talking points.

For much of Khalifa, the audience remains invested in Aamir’s journey and the unfolding conflict. That changes when Mohanlal’s character is first hinted at.

When Mohanlal finally appears, he immediately commands attention.

His effortless screen presence temporarily shifts the balance of the film, and for a while, he manages to steal the aura even from Prithviraj.

There are also other surprise appearances toward the climax. Revealing them would take away from the theatrical experience, but they are likely to generate excitement among audiences.

Even so, Mohanlal’s presence remains the most memorable of these surprises.

Supporting Cast Delivers Solid Performances

The supporting cast also contributes effectively to the film.

Shammi Thilakan is particularly impressive and brings weight to his role. Mohini makes a decent comeback after around 15 years, while Sanju Sivaram, despite having limited screen time, shows promise.

The performances help strengthen the family and criminal dynamics surrounding Aamir.

However, the film ultimately remains driven by its major stars, with Prithviraj carrying most of the narrative weight.

Khalifa Looks Impressive on the Technical Front

Technically, Khalifa is a well-executed film.

The cinematography and editing maintain the film’s scale, while the production design adds to the luxurious atmosphere surrounding its characters and operations.

Vysakh understands how to present action, star power and larger-than-life moments on the big screen.

The film looks and feels like a theatrical entertainer, particularly during its action sequences.

The problem is that the screenplay does not always provide enough surprises to match the visual ambition.

Does Khalifa Set Up a Stronger Part 2?

Khalifa is presented as the first part of a larger story, and that decision works reasonably well.

The film establishes its characters and introduces a world that clearly has room for further expansion. It provides enough material to set up what could come next without making the first chapter feel completely incomplete.

However, the setup does not deliver the kind of major “wow” factor one might expect.

By the time the credits roll, only a handful of moments are likely to stay with the audience. Prithviraj’s stylish performance, the action sequences and the surprise appearances are among them.

The story itself leaves a relatively smaller impact.

Vysakh Delivers a Better Outing Than Monster and Turbo

Vysakh deserves credit for handling the scale and action of Khalifa with confidence.

After Monster and Turbo, the director delivers a more effective outing here, particularly in terms of action staging and star presentation.

He knows how to create moments designed for a theatrical audience.

However, the screenplay remains the limiting factor. The film has the ingredients for a much more gripping thriller, but its predictable progression prevents it from reaching that level.

Khalifa Movie Review: Verdict

Khalifa is an unusual combination of predictable storytelling and engaging presentation.

The film does not offer enough unexpected twists to become a truly gripping gold-smuggling thriller. Yet, it remains watchable because of its stylish treatment, action sequences and strong performances.

Prithviraj Sukumaran is in commanding form, while Mohanlal’s appearance provides one of the film’s biggest theatrical highs.

The technical execution, lavish presentation and star-powered moments make Khalifa worth considering for viewers looking for a big-screen action entertainer.

However, audiences expecting a constantly surprising and tightly written gold-smuggling saga may find the narrative underwhelming.

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