The highly anticipated “Kuli” movie has now been released in cinemas, making its debut as a multilingual film. Advance bookings for the movie were open across various locations, and it is widely expected that its opening day will mark the biggest opening for any pan-India release to date. Notably, shows for “Kuli” were even released in Dubai from 8 PM the previous night. This article shares the experience and review of the film.
Star-Studded Cast and Plot Overview
“Kuli” features an impressive lead cast, with Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna facing each other, which inherently builds intensity for the movie. The film runs for an approximate length of three hours and showcases not only its lead characters but also numerous cameos. The movie’s music is described as decent, and the background score accompanying the action sequences is good.
The central storyline revolves around a gold smuggler who specializes in smuggling gold watches and aims to re-establish his name. In his endeavor, he plans to utilize a large group of coolies. However, the plot thickens with the presence of a leader or a spy among this coolie group. While the film boasts an extensive roster of characters including Nagarjuna, Kattappa, Upendra, Aamir Khan, and Shruti Haasan, the core narrative primarily focuses on Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna.
Actor Performances: Rajinikanth Shines, Nagarjuna Outshines
In terms of performances, Rajinikanth is once again seen shining in “Kuli.” His fans are unlikely to be disappointed, as the movie delivers the action, style, and characteristic slapstick comedy they expect from him. Surprisingly, Nagarjuna truly outshines in this movie, delivering a tremendous portrayal of his character. While Aamir Khan’s cameo has generated some buzz in the Hindi belt, it is noted that viewers might not find anything particularly special there. Similarly, Upendra, who often doesn’t make a significant impact in his own films, is not expected to add much in his cameo role.
Action & Glamour: A Mixed Bag
For a three-hour film, the action sequences in “Kuli” are notably few. Those seeking intense action will find only about three to four such sequences throughout the movie, with much of the runtime dedicated to the storyline. This imbalance can make it challenging for action enthusiasts to remain engaged. Regarding glamour, Shruti Haasan is the sole presence, with no other significant contributions in this aspect.
Storytelling and Length: An Engagement Challenge
The movie explores two contrasting sides of a character: one aspiring to be a smuggling king, and the other, at home, having banned smoking and drinking. The narrative focuses on his rough family life, presenting these two facets in parallel before eventually merging them to explain motivations. However, the execution is deemed not interesting enough to justify the extensive runtime dedicated to these details.
A significant issue highlighted is the excessive number of cameos, leading to insufficient screen time for any single actor. The movie’s storyline, its considerable length, and the lack of desired action sequences contribute to a feeling that the film ultimately lacks substance. Yogesh Karraj, the creator of the movie, has attempted to extract performances from the actors. However, due to the missing action and the extended length, the film struggles to maintain its impact.
“Kuli” Movie Review: Hype vs. Reality – An Average Verdict
Overall, the prevalent hype surrounding “Kuli” is largely attributed to just that – hype, as the movie itself is perceived to lack significant substance. While a good opening is anticipated due to initial excitement, the word-of-mouth is unlikely to be positive, as the movie is considered average. Engaging with the film for its full three-hour duration is described as extremely difficult.
“Kuli” is classified as a strictly average movie. Despite a strong initial hype leading to a good start, its word-of-mouth is expected to be poor due to engagement challenges. It is suggested that a shorter movie with a more condensed storyline and the addition of a couple more action sequences would have made it more interesting. The current length causes the movie’s intensity to fluctuate, being good in parts but overall described as lackluster. While viewers are welcome to watch it, the consensus is that it remains an average movie.
