Top critic
IBNLive
Film review ·
Kaala is a polished production with slick set pieces, including an action scene built around an umbrella as the only choice of weapon. Then there is the powerful climax with an imaginative use of color.


Rajinikanth and bold caste politics carry a film let down by length and a thin story.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Kaala is mixed, with most reviewers acknowledging it as a functional Rajinikanth vehicle elevated by his screen presence and Pa Ranjith's ideological ambitions around caste, land rights, and revolution. Several critics praised the bold social messaging, the abstract climax, and specific set pieces, while Rajinikanth's performance was frequently cited as the film's strongest asset. The most consistent criticism across reviews was the film's excessive length and a thin, unoriginal story that struggled to fully support its thematic reach. A minority of critics found the political messaging heavy-handed or felt the film failed to cohere as a whole.
3 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 17 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Kaala is a polished production with slick set pieces, including an action scene built around an umbrella as the only choice of weapon. Then there is the powerful climax with an imaginative use of color.
Top critic
Film review ·
The second Rajini-Ranjith outing is better than 'Kabali', but still an odd fit for both...
Top critic
Film review ·
Pa Ranjith has some strong Leftist messaging and a lot to say about caste and colour, but all is lost within a mediocre film.
Film review ·
Kaala works really well as a film and as a Rajinikanth vehicle; it would be wise to leave the politician outside the theatres though.
Film review ·
Pa Ranjith keeps talking of ideologies. Kaala seems to be the personification of his ideas. The dialogue "Ellarum Kaala thaan (Everyone is Kaala)," which comes at the tail end of the film, sums up the entire film. And it takes some serious guts to make an ambiguous and abstract climax like this one in a Rajinikanth film.
Film review ·
Kaala is Rajinikanth's film all the way. It's the kind of Rajinikanth movie you have been waiting for a decade. It's the film you can take your appa, amma, pati, or even your girlfriend and everyone will walk home with a smile.
Film review ·
Kaala isn't a film about a gangster but a film about revolution. And Ranjith stays true to his objective. The traces of what we saw in Kabali have been fleshed out and beautifully embellished.
Film review ·
This time, Ranjith uses Rajinikanth the Superstar to tell his message — land is the common man's right. The story is simple... Migrants from Tamil Nadu settle in Dharavi and help build it, and run the city. When an evil politician-cum-land mafia don sets his eyes on their land, they revolt.
Film review ·
Don't go for the slow-mos and the dialogues. Watch it for the story, and the incredible performances. It's a bit too long and there will be a time when you might feel bored but the climax will defintely make up for it.
Film review ·
The major drawback of Kaala is the length of the film — at 2 hours and 46 minutes, there is nothing new in the story. Kaala is an out-and-out Rajinikanth film and he is one of the biggest reasons to go watch it.
Film review ·
Clever ideas, smooth filmmaking and some entrancing acting covering up for a film whose flaws are a result of its reach far exceeding its grasp.
Film review ·
All said and done, Kaala is all Rajinikanth – pure seeti-maar entertainment. 160 minutes well spent, watch this if you have an appetite for masala films. Also, watch this to know how there's much more left in the powerhouse known as Rajinikanth.
Film review ·
There's not enough Rajini magic...When Rajini Sir arrives, it's as if the screen itself folds from both ends to bend down in a respectful namaskaram.
Film review ·
Overall, Kaala falls short of expectations as it doesn't live up to the tag of a 'Rajnikanth film'. Though there are a few moments here and there, these are overshadowed by slow narration and some boring scenes. All in all, if you're expecting a larger-than-life performance, you'll be disappointed.
Film review ·
...when the film ends abruptly, we almost feel that the writing and production team has suddenly decided to finish it all, as if to say, "Enough is enough! Let's get done with it!" But by then, the audience is already tortured, its patience worn thinner than the plot!
Film review ·
Don't bother with reports of soft opening; don't miss this...
Film review ·
Nothing original, surprising or remotely unpredictable Filled with a plethora of social messages and political propaganda to set the grand stage for Rajinikanth's political entry
Film review ·
...an underwhelming film made for Rajinikanth, the politician
From our readers
2 ratings · user score 2.0
its time to stop rajini sir doing movies, we are the rajini fans cant see him like old old old. no great fights no style , no big dialogues. not his range movie. stop doing in tamil . take movies from directors like sankar , rajamouli.
Director Pa Ranjith's Kaala is a chaotic and inconsequential crime drama based on fantasy surrounding the popular area of Dharavi in Mumbai and uses its aging lead star Rajinikanth's pointless style and glamour to create a mockery of itself - primarily of what it sets out to do - with the help of a weaker remaining cast (Hume Qureshi, et al) who all act hunky-dory and fool around romancing while not focusing on the main agenda to gradually reduce itself to highfalutin claptrap. TN.
Credits
RajinikanthKarikaalan "Kaala"
Nana PatekarHaridev Abhayankar "Hari Dhadha"
Huma QureshiZareena
SamuthirakaniVaaliyappan "Vaaliyappa"
Anjali PatilCharumathi Gaekwad
Eashwari RaoSelvi
ManikandanLenin
AruldossMLA
Aravind AkashSivaji Rao Gaekwad
Sayaji ShindeMinister
Sampath RajVishnu "Vishnu Bhai"
Ravi KaleSunil
Pankaj TripathiPankaj Patil
Sakshi AgarwalKarikaalan's daughter-in-law
Ramesh ThilakReporter
Santhosh Narayanan
Sreekar Prasad
Pa. Ranjith
DhanushMore Hindi films