Khalifa Story:
The story revolves around Aamir Ali, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is involved in the gold-smuggling business. However, his connection with the illegal trade goes beyond his own journey. Aamir comes from a family with a notorious history, as his grandfather Mambarakkal Ahmed Haji, played by Mohanlal, was a prominent smuggler in South India during the 1980s.
Aamir Ali does not enter the world of smuggling purely by choice. Certain incidents in his life push him towards the business, eventually putting him in conflict with powerful figures operating in the same field. The central conflict also brings in Haris Basheer, played by Neil Nitin Mukesh, another influential gold smuggler, while Shammy Thilakan plays politician Raghavan, who has his own interests in the proceedings. Their presence adds the expected rivalry and political dimension to the narrative.
Khalifa Review
The makers had previously described Khalifa as a film packed with all the elements of a commercial entertainer, and the movie largely lives up to that promise. It does not attempt to reinvent the action genre, instead relies on a familiar formula and presents it on a larger scale.
The first half has its share of emotional moments and engaging action sequences. The car-chase sequences, in particular, benefit considerably from Jakes Bejoy’s energetic background score. The music and sound design contribute significantly to the film’s mass appeal.
Prithviraj Sukumaran in Khalifa
Prithviraj Sukumaran carries the film effectively as Aamir Ali, bringing the required intensity and swagger to the character. Shammy Thilakan, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sanju Sivaram also deliver good performances. However, the characters and their arcs do not offer anything particularly fresh, with most of them operating within familiar commercial-movie templates. The cameo appearances by Mohanlal and Tovino Thomas are among the notable highlights.
Both make an impression despite their limited screen time, with their presence adding extra value to the proceedings. Jakes Bejoy’s music and background score are among the film’s strengths. The cinematography and editing by Chaman Chacko complement the action-heavy presentation, while the stunt choreography delivers the expected big-screen moments.
However, the biggest drawback of Khalifa is its predictability. The revenge track, romantic elements, gold-smuggling rivalry and political intervention follow a well-established commercial formula. While this may work for viewers looking for a straightforward mass entertainer, those expecting a more innovative storyline may find the narrative familiar.
Khalifa Verdict
Khalifa is a predictable action entertainer that relies on the tried-and-tested commercial formula. Prithviraj Sukumaran’s mass appeal, Jakes Bejoy’s energetic background score, action sequences and the cameos by Mohanlal and Tovino Thomas provide the film with its major highlights. The movie does not offer much novelty in terms of its story or characters, but it delivers the ingredients expected from a festival-season commercial entertainer.
