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K.G.F Movie Review

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KGF: Chapter 1 movie review — Yash-starrer has a gripping story that deserved better treatment

KGF: Chapter 1 tries a little too hard.

It’s all very well to want to repeat a Baahubali , but filmmakers aspiring for that kind of scale must know this: at the core of every great epic is heart. It scores above everything else, including effective performances, great visuals, rousing music and direction.

That way, KGF: Chapter 1 tries a little too hard. The film has a solid story line. A young orphan grows up to become a don who seeks his place in the world. Helping him retain his moral core and propelling him towards greatness are nuggets of advice handed out by his mother who died young. But, KGF: Chapter 1 fails to tap into the emotional side of the characters. That effectively prevents you from buying into why the characters behave the way they do.

The film is structured in such a way that Yash (well-chiselled, suitably grim) is present through the film but hardly has 15 minutes of talking to do. His valour and strength are narrated by others, and when it gets a bit much, you’re reminded of the original instruction rookie writers are given: Show, don’t tell.

The film opens with the country’s Prime Minister announcing in 1981 that she’s sending the Army to capture India’s worst criminal. And then, you see Yash’s silhouette. You’re told the Government has banned a book written on him by journalist Anand and the entire stock is burnt; one survives, and the film is about the author speaking about the man whose story was never told.

Veteran Anant Nag plays Anand, who recites poetry from his book and page numbers by rote, nearly four decades after it was banned. Listening to him is hotshot journalist Deepa (Malavika Avinash) who initially gives him half an hour, but is listening even as the end credits roll.

Young orphan Ramakrishna heads to Bombay from Karnataka, polishes shoes for a living and slowly grows up the ranks of the city’s underworld to become don Rocky. He gets a chance to make Bombay his, if he finishes some work in Bangalore. In between, he meets a girl (Srinidhi Shetty) and sets out to the place after which the film is named. His brief is to vanquish the enemy, but he also ends up empowering 20,000 workers.

There are scenes with great potential. In one, which also sees the heroine falling for him, Rocky stops the car in the middle of a road and helps a woman with a child pick up her bag and a bun that’s rolled off. He begins speaking about how he could buy a bun only after polishing eight pairs of shoes and how a mother is the biggest warrior of them all, and even as you wait to see if you’ll get glimpses of a tortured childhood, the scene cuts to the heroine melting for his actions.

This, after a typical hero-heroine introduction in the middle of the road (again!), where she has stalled traffic so she can party with her friends. He fights her goons, she’s miffed, but he thinks she’s lucky he’s fallen for her. “Congratulations, I love you,” he says. “How dare you,’ she replies. “How fair you,” he retorts, even as you wince. Elsewhere, the misogyny in the dialogues continue. Men are told to wear bangles twice. Rocky is dared to touch the girl in front of everyone; he does not, and the girl’s face falls. Sigh. You expect more from a film that supposedly celebrates the mother as warrior.

Also read:   KGF: Chapter 1 — Actor Yash on releasing film in five languages, and putting talent before seniority

The film ambles around in Bombay and Bangalore (with even a club song, featuring Tamannaah Bhatia) till it moves to the actual theatre of war – Kolar Gold Fields.

Tighter editing (Srikanth) would have smoothened out the kinks. About 20,000 labourers are enslaved and made to dig out gold from the giving mines by antagonist Garuda (Ramachandra) and his henchmen. Girls are killed the minute they are born – this is a brutal place. The boys grow up seeing those blind with age get killed, and live in hope of the saviour the storyteller (another worker who narrates stories to keep their hunger away) promises them.

The action sequences by Anbariv are beautifully executed and performed by Yash; the interval block and the fight deep inside the mines using torches and a red-hot rod are poetic. Of course, there’s gore too, and human sacrifice. But, like Rocky’s mother told him, if you inspire a 1000 people who stand behind you, you can conquer the world. How Rocky did it will probably be the big reveal of Part 2, even if it’s not a question on the lines of ‘Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali’.

Music by Ravi Barsur is soothing and inspiring in turn, while cinematography by Bhuvan Gowda is suitably panoramic. Credit to art director Shivakumar for bringing alive the grime and heat of the gold mines. The costume department slips up, though, and in the midst of the 80s wide collar, you suddenly have clothes that would feel right at home in 2018.

This film begins in 1951 and narrates the story till the 1980s. Part two will hopefully capture the gold rush and the quest for power too. So, who will take over the empire that Suryavardhan (the man who operated the mines, enslaved people, and told the world it was a limestone quarry) built and parcelled off among five people?

Just one question. What’s the possibility of two totally different films – one in Kannada and another in Tamil ( Maari 2 ) releasing on the same day having a similar dialogue. “If you think you’re bad, I’m your dad.”

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Movie Review| KGF: Chapter 2 is an explosive sequel powered by a terrific Yash

Four years ago, the makers of KGF: Chapter 1 made a promise to take Kannada cinema to new regions and audiences. They are now back with KGF: Chapter 2, and it’s fair to say that the promise has been kept. Written and directed by Prashanth Neel, the KGF films have appealed to the entire nation’s consciousness and reinvented the time-tested story of an underdog’s triumph against all odds. When the underdog is the seemingly invincible Rocky Bhai (Yash), every element of the masala template is dialled up to astronomical levels.

The second part resumes from where the first part ends. We now see the “pillars” of Narachi being forced to accept Rocky as their new boss. Of course, this leads to resentment across the board, and it is clear that betrayals will hit our protagonist left, right, and centre. But KGF isn’t about plot ingenuity; it’s about inventive filmmaking. Every time we think that a high point of a particular conflict has been reached, Prashanth Neel zooms out to show that it’s all just the tip of an iceberg.

This happens on more than one occasion and stands testament to some great writing. Where in another film the meeting of Adheera and Rocky might have been shown as the ideal climactic showdown, here, we get three brilliant sequences capturing the oscillation of power, and each of these scenes delivers grandeur and intensity that the film will forever be known for. There’s also the hyper-stylised violence that was such an important part of the first film. Sure, there is a lot to discuss where the film falls on the moral spectrum, but the arresting visual style keeps analysis at bay.

The big problem is the terribly underwritten female lead. Srinidhi Shetty’s Reena suffers from a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome, and it’s hard not to feel sympathetic for why she gets relegated to the background. Even smaller roles like Easwari Rao’s character get neatly rounded arcs. The film also runs the risk of feeling bloated, especially in the pre-interval portions, when layer after layer gets packed in.

There are one too many villains and crisscrossing storylines. In fact, I wasn’t sure if the final few minutes do justice to events that have taken place over two films and eight years. However, the towering performance of Yash, rooted in nonchalance, keeps us hooked. His emotional turns, more than the playful bits, are more effective, and his enraged eyes say way more than his trademark broken English does. The dialogues too add to the undercurrent of humour, but then, there are all these lines that could so easily be turned into motivational posters: “Greed is good… Greed is progress…”

Another writing highlight of KGF: Chapter 2 is how a buildup song also acts as a quick narration of the first part. It is ingenious and inventive. Discussing logic serves no purpose in such a film, but for what it’s worth, every actor stays true to Prashanth’s world. The technical team too steps up, conjuring mesmerising visuals to keep us invested in the world of KGF. Keeping the colour palette to a minimum, cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda gives us stunning visuals that capture the grandeur of the project without ever showboating. No aspect of the opulence feels wasted or excessive. Be it the vast expanses of the mines or the never-ending shots of vehicles including cars, planes, ships, bikes, helicopters… the imagery is glorious. Any showboating comes from the edit table of Ujwal Kulkarni.

Even here, in the over-the-top world of KGF, his work fits in just fine. Composer Ravi Basrur, art director Shivakumar, and stunt choreographers Anbariv are all in form as well. Every high moment of KGF: Chapter 2 is the collaborative work of these artists, and it is wonderful to see them all deliver.

The pan-Indian movie idea may feel like a gimmick in many films, but the KGF franchise is a true-blue example of this trend. The success of the first part has pushed the makers to dream bigger, and they have brought in names like Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Rao Ramesh, and Prakash Raj for quality and wider reach. Sanjay Dutt is menacing as Adheera, the primary antagonist, and writer-director Prashanth treats him with respect. Adheera even gets moments that place him above Rocky Bhai, and the same holds good for Raveena’s Ramika Sen as well. Both actors ace their roles.

As for Prakash Raj, Replacing Anant Nag is no easy task, and it is much credit to the writing once again that neatly brings him into the mix. The actor’s baritone brings an interesting mix of humility and pride to the narration. However, despite all these names, the film never loses focus on what it is actually about: Yash and Rocky Bhai. The relentless attempts at elevating the star gives us a fascinating film that proves once again that the world will always cherish ‘mother sentiment’ films.

At an important juncture in KGF: Chapter 2, Rocky asks his detractors to avoid pointless conversations about their territories. He adds, “The world is my territory”. If the response to this film is any indication, KGF: Chapter 2 is proof of an outsider breaking down walls to become the most unlikely pan-Indian superstar... or as he would perhaps put it, its ‘ONLY Rocking Star’.

Director: Prashanth Neel Cast: Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty Rating: 3.5/5

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‘The writing in KGF Chapter 2 will be one of my best’

With a successful 50-day run for across India and a spot on Amazon prime, KGF Chapter 1 has had a dream run. And director Prashanth Neel is on a high with audience having “acknowledged the film as a good entertainer”. And what more can a filmmaker ask for? “It’s a success for the entire team, which I feel is well-deserved,” he says.

  Going the extra mile

Prashanth feels that producer Vijay Kirangandur and Yash are the reasons behind KGF ’s success."They pushed us beyond our limits. I was not completely convinced the film would live up to the expectations of a pan-Indian audience, but both of them had the conviction from day one. The look, feel and trailers of the film did most of the job. In fact, they were the ones who 'sold' the product outside. They didn’t restrict themselves to being just producer and actor, but took on entrepreneurial roles,” says Prashanth, who also gives due credit to the entire team — cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda, music director Ravi Basrur, art director Shivakumar and editor Srikanth — who worked behind the scenes tirelessly. “Apart from the leads and character artistes, most of those cast in KGF were non-actors. Despite it being their first time on screen, they still took the KGF journey forward,” he says. 

The director regrets not thinking of making KGF as a two-part feature right at the beginning of the project. “It was only during the making that I realised that it can be done in two parts. We even had a month-long discussion on it. We brainstormed and finally decided that the film would have a second part...and that would be our USP,” he says, adding, “Whether it is going to be better, is something that the audience will have to decide. However, what I can say is that it will be much larger in terms of budget, ambition, and responsibility.”

'The best is yet to come'

On an all-time high, the director is confident that Chapter 2 will see his “best writing”. “Most of the writing for Chapter 1 happened on the sets as the film went along. But it’s going to be a different story for Chapter 2 . I just know that the writing for this film will be better than any of my other projects. I believe it will be the strongest in my career,” says Prashanth 

Vision 2020

Prashanth plans to start shoot for the film from March. “Once I start I am going to work like a demon. It took me two years to complete KGF Chapter 1 , but I will complete part two within a year. So, it is going to be double the work for everybody,” he says. 

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Review: ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ betters its predecessor in every department

• Release Date: 14/04/2022
• Cast: Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Prakash Raj, Achyuth Kumar
• Director: Prashanth Neel

KGF: Chapter 2  begins exactly where  Chapter 1  had left off. Rocky (Yash) has killed Garuda and has taken control of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). The conspirators who had sent him to kill Garuda are taken aback by this sudden change of fate and decide to eliminate Rocky. However, Rocky proves to be equal to the task and easily subdues them with his swag and muscle power. In desperation, the conspirators turn to Adheera (Sanjay Dutt), a vicious and brutal killer who was presumed dead and has a legitimate claim to the throne of KGF. He makes a towering comeback and nearly brings Rocky to his knees. What is left to be seen is how Rocky responds. He has a history of hitting back the hardest when pushed to the wall. Will he do the same again or will Adheera prove to be too strong for him to contend with. To know the answers to those questions, you have to watch the film at a theatre near you.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

K.G.F: Chapter 2

In the blood-soaked Kolar Gold Fields, Rocky's name strikes fear into his foes, while the government sees him as a threat to law and order. Rocky must battle threats from all sides for uncha... Read all In the blood-soaked Kolar Gold Fields, Rocky's name strikes fear into his foes, while the government sees him as a threat to law and order. Rocky must battle threats from all sides for unchallenged supremacy. In the blood-soaked Kolar Gold Fields, Rocky's name strikes fear into his foes, while the government sees him as a threat to law and order. Rocky must battle threats from all sides for unchallenged supremacy.

• Prashanth Neel
• Sanjay Dutt
• Raveena Tandon
• 1.9K User reviews
• 36 Critic reviews
• 6 wins & 7 nominations

• Guru Pandian

• Vijayendra Ingalgi

• Kanneganti Raghavan

• Deepa Hegde

• Inayat Khalil
• Rajendra Desai

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Best of 2022: Top 10 Most Popular Indian Movies

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Did you know

• Trivia Yash himself has written most of the dialogues for his role in this movie.
• Goofs In the first action sequence, where Rocky tries to save Reena, it is clearly visible that some of Adheera's goons are using Scorpios and Tata Xenons. These vehicles were launched in the 2000s and go completely against the late 1970s setting of the first half.

Rocky : Violence, Violence, Violence, I don't like it, I Avoid... . but Violence likes me, I can't Avoid.

• Connections Alternate-language version of K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018)
• Soundtracks Toofan (Hindi) Music by Ravi Basrur Lyrics by Shabbir Ahmed Vocals by Brijesh Shandilya, Mohan Krishna, Laxman Datta Naik, Saaj Bhatt, Santhosh Venky, Sandesh Datta Naik, Sachin Basrur, Ravi Basrur, Puneeth Rudranag, Priyanka Bharali , Giridhar Kamath, Raksha Kamath, Sinchana Kamath, Nishanth Kini, Bharath Bhat, Anagha Nayak, Avani Bhat, Swathi Kamath, Shivanand Nayak & Keerthana Basrur

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 46 minutes
• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital

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Home » Reviews » Kannada Movie Reviews

KGF: Chapter 2 Movie Review: Yash’s ‘Rocky’ Transitions From ‘Bhai’ To ‘Bhagwan’, But The Atheist In Me Is Also A Critic! 

Prashanth neel's 'ambition' overrides his 'story-telling' and that's the biggest issue of his script..

Star Cast: Yash, Srinidhi Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Prakash Raj

Director: Prashanth Neel

What’s Good: Yash. Yash’s style. Yash’s action. And the thread that joins them all!

What’s Bad: Makers don’t ‘narrate’ the (half-baked) story, they howl in your eardrums!

Loo Break: The tracking rate of decibel/scene is so high that you’ll be forced to take one

Watch or Not?: Did you watch Chapter 1 and loved it? Give this a try as well, you may not love it as much but you’ll live through it

Available On: Theatrical Release

Runtime: 168 Minutes

Author Anand Vasiraju’s son Vijayendra (Prakash Raj) continues to tell the infamous Rocky’s ( Yash ) tale to a news-channel editor starting from where it all ended in the first chapter. In his story, we see how Rocky, from ‘bhai’, has now transitioned into ‘bhagwan’ for people around him. Now that he has killed Garuda, it’s Adheera (Sanjay Dutt) and his army who returns to find and kill Rocky.

Adheera isn’t the only obstacle for Rocky to cross but he now is on the radar of India’s Prime Minister Ramika Sen (Raveena Tandon). While Rocky somehow dodges Adheera, it’s the Government that comes in his way of becoming the ‘CEO of India’ (in his own words). In this triple threat match, will there be just one winner? Well, put some cotton in your ears and sit back to know!

KGF: Chapter 2 Movie Review: Script Analysis

Prashanth Neel’s ‘ambition’ overrides his ‘story-telling’ and that’s the biggest issue of his script. Everything looks extremely cool visually, but the whole argument behind making things cool is weak. It comes with some similar issues as chapter 1 like why is everyone talking so loud with everyone? I wanted to keep a track of how long any scene could be silent but it was so loud, I couldn’t concentrate.

Just to clarify, I don’t mind loudness in films, I’ve loved movies like Master, Rowdy Rathore, Dabangg and likes. But, this one doesn’t just leave your mind numb, but it does the same thing with your ears as well.

Side Bar: A scene censors the word ‘democracy’ changing it to ‘demography’, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the irony of what a democratic society we’re living in.

Bhuvan Gowda’s camerawork elevates the already monumentally mounted action sequences, to a level that’s almost unseen in the Indian film industry. Yash’s car chase sequence with ‘play & pause’ transitions remains the best highlight of the film owing to its breathtaking cinematography and well-synchronised background score by Ravi Basrur.

But the same Class-A cinematography goes against the feel of the film when it rushes from one place to another in Yash & Sanjay’s combat scenes because as the film’s story, nothing is clear enough to understand anything.

KGF: Chapter 2 Movie Review: Star Performance

Chapter 1 was enough to register why there could be no one else apart from Yash to get the machismo of Rocky with such accuracy & swag. Chapter 2 just strengthens the similar thought further by transitioning him from ‘bhai to bhagwan’. Makers make sure to keep Rocky bhai on the pedestal boasting his high-octane presence in every alternate scene. The way he delivers his self-written dialogues, one can’t help but listen to him (even if that doesn’t interest you).

Srinidhi Shetty gets too little to contribute to the narrative, plus she gets a song (Mehbooba) that clutters the second half without any solid explanation. Sanjay Dutt was expected to repeat Kancha Cheena from Agneepath but due to the story’s myopic treatment, he doesn’t get a single chance (apart from his introduction sequence) to register any intrigue.

Raveena Tandon’s PM remains one-dimensional throughout the film without creating any major impact. Prakash Raj is reduced down to be a mere narrator, adding nothing apart from his voice.

KGF: Chapter 2 Movie Review: Direction, Music

Prashanth Neel, like every other director working with ‘worshipped by fans’ star, gives in to the fan service losing his focus from what should’ve been a raw & earthy treatment of the story. The film celebrates Yash not once or twice but in every scene, he is in, it’s just Prashanth fails to find equally interesting reasons to do so for most of such instances.

Ravi Basrur’s background score serves in a huge spectrum from too loud to too trippy. Just like every other thing, even the BGM of this film is on steroids complimenting a few sequences, burdening others. Not a single song is going to remain in my playlist after the film, but the problem is they aren’t even situational.

KGF: Chapter 2 Movie Review: The Last Word

All said and done, this jumps from ‘larger than life’ to ‘larger than god’ treatment, and gives Yash fans another reason to celebrate his heroism. But beneath all the screams and boisterous BGM, one important thing gets suppressed and rarely gets a chance to flourish – intriguing storytelling.

Two and a half stars!

Are you a Vijay fan? Read our Beast movie review to know whether that’s worth a watch!

KGF: Chapter 2 Trailer

KGF: Chapter 2 releases on April 14, 2022.

Share with us your experience of watching KGF: Chapter 2 .

Must Read: Beast Movie Review: Vijay Fails To ‘Master’ This One, But It’s Still A Celebration For Thalapathy Fans!

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Review: ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ is visually impressive, but falters on narrative

Entertainment south indian.

This film is a sequel to the 2018 blockbuster and shows Rocky’s reign

For the uninitiated, K.G.F. stands for the Kolar Gold Fields. This film is a sequel to the 2018 released ‘K.G.F: Chapter 1’.

With its timeline stretching from 1951 to 1981 and narrated in a non-linear manner, the film takes off from where it left in the first chapter.

Anand Ingalagi, the author of the book El Dorado, suffers a stroke the night after detailing the events in Chapter 1. His son Vijaayendra Ingalagi (Prakash Raj) takes over the narration. He continues to tell us of the rise and fall of Rocky, the kingpin of Kolar Gold Fields who was considered the “Biggest Criminal” by the government of the country, the “Biggest Businessman amongst his peers, and the messiah of the downtrodden at Kolar Gold Fields.

He tells us how Rocky retained his supremacy against his adversaries and government officials while also coming to terms with his past.

The narrative takes us from Kolar to Paali to Varca, to Surat, UAE, Delhi, Banglore, and Bombay and loads us with dramatic dialogues that are amusing.

Mounted as a magnum opus the film begins in a dramatic tone, verbose and loud. Gradually you realise that the telling is its undoing. On-screen the passive narrative makes the film appear like a grand, hyper-active montage laid over a voice-over.

The action sequences along with the high-pitched sound that accompanies the visuals, make you care less for the characters. Also, the fight sequence in the climax seems like an action jamboree where one is not sure, who is fighting whom. Generally, the emotional connection is lost.

On the performance front, Yash displays a variety of emotions, from brutally ruthless and menacing to humane and a bit dumb at times he is good. But, despite his stylish, raw, and rugged look, he lacks the persona of a larger-than-life superhero or an anti-hero.

Sanjay Dutt as Rocky’s opponent Adheera makes a stronger impact with his tattooed visage and braided hairdo, unfortunately, his character is poorly written and thus appears on screen only for the action sequences.

Raveena Tandon, with her intense look, makes the formidable Prime Minister Ramika Sen appear relatable. How she means business while dealing with anti-social elements is intriguing. Unfortunately, she appears in the second half of the film, when the interest in the film wanes away.

Srinidhi Shetty, as Rocky’s love interest and later wife, Reena is sincere in her performance but is short-changed by the poorly written script.

The others in supporting roles seem to befit their characters, and they all essay their roles earnestly.

The film showcases ace technical and production values. But the VFX, at times, lacks lustre. The only good thing about this film is Bhuvan Gowda’s cinematography. He captures the picturesque locales and the emotions of the characters with precision. His frames seem like replicas of iconic masterpieces, picture-perfect and poster-worthy.

The film, despite being brilliantly edited by Ujwal Kulkarni does not seem to be seamlessly layered. There are moments where the scenes seem to be abruptly interspersed with blank screens while the audio plays in the background.

Overall, this film may appeal only to the fans of ‘K.G.F: Chapter 1’.

Don't Miss It!

Film: ‘k.g.f: chapter 2’, duration: 168 minutes, director: prashanth neel, cast: yash, sanjay dutt, srinidhi shetty, raveena tandon, anant nag, prakash raj, archana jois, ramesh indira, ramachandra raju, rao ramesh, stars: 2.5 out of 5.

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KGF Chapter 1 Movie Review: Sloppy writing spoils Yash's intriguing gangster drama

Director prashanth neel's kgf starring yash is a riveting gangster drama that goes wrong in many places..

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Kannada star Yash is completely new to Kollywood. But the support that his film KGF got in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi made sure that KGF had the potential to be a great film in multiple languages.

KGF did manage to surprise the audience with its brilliant 'mass' sequences and its fascinating story. However, the film looks so dragged and over-stretched that viewers lose patience.

The gangster film's story is about a young boy named Rocky, who wants to achieve greatness by thrashing goons ruthlessly. Yash feels this way because his family, which is hit by poverty, couldn't enjoy even the simplest of things, let alone saving the life of his mother. At her deathbed, Rocky's mother asks him to die only once he is famous, so that people know who he is. The story of KGF then goes on to trace how Rocky becomes invincible.

Director Prashanth Neel's story is fascinating to listen to and the impressive visuals add to the film's intensity. However, the film moves at lightning speed and you seem to lose track of what is happening in the world of KGF.

In the first half, a dozen characters are introduced and it's all confusing to follow. In addition to that, every scene is cut in such a way that it moves forward within a few milliseconds, which is definitely not pleasant on the eyes. Add to it the film's ridiculous Tamil dubbed dialogues, which spoil the intense moments at times. Yash owns the film and shoulders KGF with his extraordinary performance. You take a look at him and instantly you know that this guy will do the impossible and pull people out of their misery.

In several interviews, Yash has repeatedly said that SS Rajamouli's Baahubali inspired him to distribute KGF in different languages. Even though KGF has a universal theme, it gets lost in translation, thanks to sloppy editing and atrocious dialogues.

These dialogues do not make the kind of impact it should, which is one of the disappointing factors in KGF. Also, the first half of KGF is spent entirely on establishing Rocky as the powerful don, again and again.

A major portion of KGF also preaches how ruthless the people ruling the Kolar Gold Fields are. Rocky uses his intelligence to become the messiah of people suffering in the Kolar Gold Fields.

A gangster drama like KGF doesn't require a heroine who falls in love with the rowdy hero at all. Her portions don't add any value to the story. There are many such scenes which slow down the pace of the film.

The editing by Srikanth is incoherent; especially the transition between Rocky's flashback and present portions. The screen blacks out every few minutes and you get a headache sitting through it.

KGF had some brilliantly choreographed stunt sequences that will wow you. The slo-mo shots used in the action blocks elevate the feel of the movie. Especially, the well-shot climax scene. So much so, that you're in awe of Rocky.

Director Prashanth Neel's KGF starring Yash is a riveting gangster drama that goes wrong in many places, says our review.

3 out 5 for KGF.

ALSO SEE | Shah Rukh Khan was bowled over by KGF trailer: Kannada star Yash

ALSO WATCH | Rajnikanth to launch TV channels?

‘K.G.F.’ Star Yash’s Monster Mind, Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Team on ‘Dangal’ Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s Epic ‘Ramayana’ (EXCLUSIVE)

By Naman Ramachandran

Naman Ramachandran

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• ‘K.G.F.’ Star Yash’s Monster Mind, Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Team on ‘Dangal’ Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s Epic ‘Ramayana’ (EXCLUSIVE) 4 days ago

Indian actor-producer Yash ‘s Monster Mind Creations and producer Namit Malhotra ’s Prime Focus Studios have partnered on an adaptation of Indian epic “ Ramayana ” for global audiences.

The film will be directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose “Dangal” is the highest Indian grosser of all time. Yash is best known for the “K.G.F.” action film franchise, the second part of which is also the fourth-highest grossing Indian film of all time.

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Malhotra said: “After years spent living between the U.S., the U.K. and India, building a business that has achieved unparalleled commercial success and more Oscar wins in the last 10 years than any other company, my personal journey has led me to the point that I feel ready to do justice to the incredible story of ‘Ramayana,’ treating it with the due care and reverence that it deserves. My challenges from the start have been two-fold: to respect the sanctity of a tale, which is held in such high regard by all of us who grew up with it, while also bringing it to the world in such a way that this incredible story is embraced by international audiences as a compelling big screen experience. In Yash I recognise a similar aspiration to share the best of our culture with the world. Inspired by his journey from Karnataka to the incredible international success of ‘K.G.F: Chapter 2,’ I can’t think of a better partner to help create a major global impact with this, the greatest of all our stories.”

The cast and crew of “Ramayana” will be unveiled imminently.

Yash said: “’Ramayana’ is woven into the fabric of our lives. We believe we know it well, yet each encounter unveils fresh wisdom, ignites new knowledge, and offers unique perspectives. Our vision is to translate this timeless epic onto the silver screen in a grand spectacle, honoring its scale. But at its core, it will be an honest and faithful portrayal of the story, the emotions, and the enduring values we hold so dear. This is a journey to share the ‘Ramayana’ with the world, a testament to our commitment to creative exploration, bold visions and honest storytelling.”

Prime Focus Studios is also currently co-producing “Animal Friends” with Legendary Entertainment and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort; and “The Garfield Movie,” with Alcon Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. Monster Mind Creations is currently co-producing “Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups.”

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Guest Essay

The New Movie ‘Civil War’ Matters for Reasons Different Than You Think

By Stephen Marche

Mr. Marche is the author of “The Next Civil War.”

“Not one man in America wanted the Civil War, or expected or intended it,” Henry Adams, grandson of John Quincy Adams, declared at the beginning of the 20th century. What may seem inevitable to us in hindsight — the horrifying consequences of a country in political turmoil, given to violence and rived by slavery — came as a shock to many of the people living through it. Even those who anticipated it hardly seemed prepared for its violent magnitude. In this respect at least, the current division that afflicts the United States seems different from the Civil War. If there ever is a second civil war, it won’t be for lack of imagining it.

The most prominent example arrives this week in the form of an action blockbuster titled “Civil War.” The film, written and directed by Alex Garland, presents a scenario in which the government is at war with breakaway states and the president has been, in the eyes of part of the country, delegitimized. Some critics have denounced the project, arguing that releasing the film in this particular election year is downright dangerous. They assume that even just talking about a future national conflict could make it a reality, and that the film risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is wrong.

Not only does this criticism vastly overrate the power of the written word or the moving image, but it looks past the real forces sending the United States toward ever-deeper division: inequality; a hyperpartisan duopoly; and an antiquated and increasingly dysfunctional Constitution. Mere stories are not powerful enough to change those realities. But these stories can wake us up to the threats we are facing. The greatest political danger in America isn’t fascism, and it isn’t wokeness. It’s inertia. America needs a warning.

The reason for a surge in anxiety over a civil war is obvious. The Republican National Committee, now under the control of the presumptive nominee, has asked job candidates if they believe the 2020 election was stolen — an obvious litmus test. Extremism has migrated into mainstream politics, and certain fanciful fictions have migrated with it. In 1997, a group of Texas separatists were largely considered terrorist thugs and their movement, if it deserved that title, fizzled out after a weeklong standoff with the police. Just a few months ago, Texas took the federal government to court over control of the border. Armed militias have camped out along the border. That’s not a movie trailer. That’s happening.

But politicians, pundits and many voters seem not to be taking the risk of violence seriously enough. There is an ingrained assumption, resulting from the country’s recent history of global dominance coupled with a kind of organic national optimism, that in the United States everything ultimately works out. While right-wing journalists and fiction writers have been predicting a violent end to the Republic for generations — one of the foundational documents of neo-Nazism and white supremacy is “The Turner Diaries” from 1978, a novel that imagines an American revolution that leads to a race war — their writings seem more like wish fulfillment than like warnings.

When I attended prepper conventions as research for my book, I found their visions of a collapsed American Republic suspiciously attractive: It’s a world where everybody grows his own food, gathers with family by candlelight, defends his property against various unpredictable threats and relies on his wits. Their preferred scenario resembled, more than anything, a sort of postapocalyptic “Little House on the Prairie.”

We’ve seen more recent attempts to grapple with the possibility of domestic conflict in the form of sober-minded political analysis. Now the vision of a civil war has come to movie screens. We’re no longer just contemplating a political collapse, we’re seeing its consequences unfold in IMAX.

“Civil War” doesn’t dwell on the causes of the schism. Its central characters are journalists and the plot dramatizes the reality of the conflict they’re covering: the fear, violence and instability that a civil war would inflict on the lives of everyday Americans.

That’s a good thing. Early on when I was promoting my book, I remember an interviewer asking me whether a civil war wouldn’t be that terrible an option; whether it would help clear the air. The naïveté was shocking and, to me, sickening. America lost roughly 2 percent of its population in the Civil War. Contemplating the horrors of a civil war — whether as a thought experiment or in a theatrical blockbuster — helps counteract a reflexive sense of American exceptionalism. It can happen here. In fact, it already has.

One of the first people to predict the collapse of the Republic was none other than George Washington. “I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations,” he warned in his Farewell Address. “This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature.” This founder of the country devoted much of one of his most important addresses, at the apex of his popularity, to warning about the exact situation the United States today finds itself in: a hyper-partisanship that puts party over country and risks political collapse. Washington knew what civil war looked like.

For those Americans of the 1850s who couldn’t imagine a protracted, bloody civil war, the reason is simple enough: They couldn’t bear to. They refused to see the future they were part of building. The future came anyway.

The Americans of 2024 can easily imagine a civil war. The populace faces a different question and a different crisis: Can we forestall the future we have foreseen? No matter the likelihood of that future, the first step in its prevention is imagining how it might come to pass, and agreeing that it would be a catastrophe.

Stephen Marche is the author of “The Next Civil War.”

Source photographs by Yasuhide Fumoto, Richard Nowitz and stilllifephotographer, via Getty Images.

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• 4 Years of 'KGF Chapter 1': The day Yash put the Kannada industry on the global map!

4 Years of 'KGF Chapter 1': The day Yash put the Kannada industry on the global map!

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