Khalifa: The Ruler

"'Khalifa' brings swagger to a feast for action lovers, with Prithviraj and Mohanlal anchoring a sprawling narrative of gold-smuggling, family rivalries and power struggles."

"Khalifa tells the story of a carefree textile owner whose life flips upside down when a sudden crisis uncovers a startling truth about his family's gold-smuggling past, forcing him to navigate corruption and charisma in unexpected ways."

"In Khalifa, Prithviraj Sukumaran carries a derivative thriller almost entirely on his shoulders with forgettable results. Khalifa wants to build a universe, but forgets to build a compelling film first. Despite Prithviraj Sukumaran's commanding presence, stylish visuals and a few solid action stretches, the film's derivative writing and archaic direction rob that universe of any good momentum."

"Director Vysakh's Khalifa, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Neil Nitin Mukesh, is a template masala entertainer that lacks heart and conviction. The film relies heavily on Prithviraj's swag rather than a compelling story."

"Vysakh's Khalifa, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, delivers slick stunt sequences and grand visuals, but suffers from shallow writing."

"'Khalifa' attempts a grand mass-action film with Shaji Kailas/Joshiy-style ambition, but it ultimately lacks the compelling fire of those legendary Malayalam blockbusters. A mostly dull gangster drama heavily reliant on a rousing last-minute superstar cameo to revive it."

"The narrative lacks the intended emotional pull or the expected thrills. Apart from its novel depiction of the ways smugglers operate and a few reasonably executed fight sequences, little else seems to work in Khalifa. If only a few late cameos could save every shoddily-written movie."