Khalifa Movie Review (2026): The Malayalam gangster drama “Khalifa: The Ruler,” directed by Vysakh and written by Jinu V. Abraham, arrived in theatres today, on August 20, 2026. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role and has a special appearance by Mohanlal. It also stars Indrans and Renji Panicker in prominent roles.
The film Khalifa has all the elements of a typical commercial gangster drama. The movie’s first half is full of suspense and action, and the second half has all the elements needed to deliver a standard political and gold-smuggling gangster drama. But despite all the strengths, including a stellar performance by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
Khalifa Rating and Movie Details Overview
Baapofmovies.com Rating: 2/5
- Release Date: August 20, 2025
- Director: Vysakh
- Writer: Jinu V. Abhraham
- Director of Photography: Jomon T. John ISC
- Music: Jakes Bejoy
- Editor: Chaman Chakko
- Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mohanlal, Neil Nitin Mukesh (in his Malayalam debut), Malvika Sharma, Shammi Thilakan and Indrans
Plot Summary
Khalifa revolves around the journey of Aamir Ali (Prithviraj Sukumaran), a young businessman who is determined to establish his own business. Aamir’s father, Younus Ali, has been a government contractor. Younus comes from a family of hardened criminals. Ahmed Ali, Aamir’s grandfather, was once a dreaded don. However, Younus decided to retire from the family business and became a government servant. Younus taught Aamir to stay away from the family business and lead a clean life. But these plans went awry when Younus was arrested on charges of gold smuggling.
Aamir decides to protect his family by adopting an underworld identity. The second half of the film Khalifa depicts Aamir’s life as a dreaded don. The film Khalifa is a typical gangster drama that lacks a unique selling point.
Also Read: Hushar Pittalu Movie Review (2026): Good Message but Predictable Execution
Cast Performances
Prithviraj Sukumaran is the highlight of the film Khalifa. He delivers a confident and charismatic performance as Aamir Ali, a young wannabe gangster. He shines in lesser scenes with his body language and swagger. His performance in action scenes is worth praising.
Another notable performance is by Mohanlal, who makes a special appearance in the second half. It was a treat for the audience that witnessed the on-screen combination of Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran in Lucifer.
Renji Panicker delivers yet another solid performance as Younus, the father of Aamir. However, the performances of the villainous characters are one-dimensional and lack depth.
Positive Points
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s performance as Aamir Ali is a treat for his fans. He is sensational in lesser scenes and delivers a solid performance in action scenes.
The action scenes in the film Khalifa are well-made, and the background score by Jakes Bejoy is also appreciable. Jomon T. John’s camerawork is praiseworthy, especially in international locations. Another highlight of the film is the special appearance by Mohanlal. His performance in lesser scenes creates a much-needed dramatic climax for the audience.
Negative Points
The film Khalifa has a mediocre script. It took a long time for the audience to get engaged in the first half of the film. There were too many action scenes and car-chase sequences in the first half that unnecessarily prolonged the narrative.
The second half depicts a standard gangster drama with gold smuggling, political corruption, and vendettas. All the elements used in the second half were explored in great detail in previous films. However, director Vysakh failed to create a unique selling point for Khalifa . The villainous characters lacked depth, and the film’s much-needed dramatic climax relied mainly on the performance of Mohanlal.
Final Verdict
The film Khalifa is a typical commercial gangster drama with a solid star-studded cast. The film’s first half is filled with dramatic suspense and action, while the second half delivers a standard gold-smuggling gangster drama.
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s charismatic performance and special appearance by Mohanlal are some of the film’s highlights. But these elements were not enough to rescue the film from a mediocre script and unsatisfying third-act conclusion. Khalifa is a much-needed gangster drama for fans of Prithviraj Sukumaran but underwhelms in almost all other aspects.
Watch Khalifa Trailer
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