Aug. 24, 2023|India|176 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Action;Crime;Drama;South;Indian
Description: **King of Kotha (2023) – Movie Overview**
*King of Kotha*, also known as KOK, is a Malayalam-language period action drama film released in 2023. Directed by Abhilash Joshiy in his directorial debut, the film is produced by Wayfarer Films and Zee Studios. It features a notable cast, including Dulquer Salmaan, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nyla Usha, Chemban Vinod Jose, Shammi Thilakan, Saran, Shanthi Krishna, and Anikha Surendran. The cinematography is by Nimish Ravi, with a score and songs composed by Jakes Bejoy and Shaan Rahman.
The film was announced in July 2021, and shooting began in September 2022, concluding in February 2023. It premiered worldwide on August 24, 2023, coinciding with the Onam festival, and received mixed reviews from critics.
**Plot Summary:**
The story is set in the fictional town of Kotha, located near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. In 1996, CI Shahul Hassan is assigned to this crime-ridden area, where he discovers that the local youth are heavily involved in drug abuse. His investigations lead him to Kannan Bhai, a notorious gangster in Kotha, who initially humiliates Shahul during their first encounter.
Flashing back to 1986, we meet Raju, a ruthless gangster and Kannan’s close friend, who dominates the local gang scene and football team called “Winners Kotha.” Raju maintains a rivalry with Ranjith Bhai, the leader of a neighboring town, who refrains from confronting Raju out of respect for his father, Kotha Ravi, a feared gangster in his own right. Raju falls in love with Tara, but his reluctance to engage in drug trafficking stems from the trauma of her brother’s drug-related death.
Cast director: Abhilash Joshiy
Cast actor: Dulquer Salmaan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Nyla Usha, Chemban Vinod Jose, Gokul Suresh, Shammi Thilakan, Shanthi Krishna, Saran Shakthi
Original name: King of കൊത്ത