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Prithviraj Sukumaran brings the style, Mohanlal delivers the surprise, but is that enough? Read our Khalifa review to know what works and what doesn’t.
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Movie Details |
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Movie Name |
Khalifa |
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Release Date |
20 August 2026 |
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Lead cast |
Prithviraj Sukumaran, Malvika Sharma, Mohanlal, Neil Nitin Mukesh |
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Language |
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Genre |
Action / Crime Thriller |
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Director |
Vysakh |
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Producers |
Jinu V. Abraham and Suraj Kumar |
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Writer |
Jinu V. Abraham |
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Music Composer |
Jakes Bejoy |
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Cinematography |
Jomon T. John |
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Editor |
Chaman Chacko |
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Budget (approx.) |
Rs 70-80 Crore |
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Rating |
2.5/5 |
What Is The Story Of Khalifa Movie?
Directed by Vysakh, Khalifa revolves around Mambarakal Aamir Ali (played by Prithviraj Sukumaran), a powerful figure who finds himself drawn into his family’s long-standing gold-smuggling empire operating between the Middle East and Kerala. His grandfather, Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, was a notorious smuggler whose operations once rattled national politics.
When old rivalries re-emerge and hidden secrets threaten his family's hold over the criminal syndicate, Aamir is forced to navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, revenge, and shifting alliances. The narrative also touches upon real-life political controversies surrounding gold smuggling in Kerala, setting up the conflict for a multi-part saga.
Malayalam Movie Khalifa Cast
The Onam release features a massive ensemble cast across Indian cinema:
Prithviraj Sukumaran: Plays the main protagonist, Mambarakal Aamir Ali.
Mohanlal: Features in a widely talked-about, goosebumps-inducing special cameo appearance.
Supporting Cast: Includes Neil Nitin Mukesh, Shammi Thilakan, Indrans, Sanju Sivaram, Tovino Thomas, Sathyaraj, Mohini, Krithi Shetty, Kajal Aggarwal, Malavika Sharma, and Kayadu Lohar.
Behind the Scenes: Directed by Vysakh, produced by Jinu V Abraham Innovation and Saregama Films, with music scored by Jakes Bejoy.
Also Read: Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2 Review, Rating, Collection, & Budget
Khalifa Review - Our POV
What Works:
Prithviraj’s Screen Presence: Prithviraj completely owns his role as Aamir Ali, carrying the film with intense body language, stylish costumes, and a commanding presence.
Mohanlal’s Cameo: The standout theatrical moment comes from Mohanlal’s unexpected appearance, which brought down the house in early audience screenings.
Engaging Second Half: Despite a slow setup, the second half picks up momentum as the smuggling war between rival syndicates escalates.
What Doesn't Work:
Predictable Storyline: The central plot follows a standard, old-school crime thriller template that offers very few genuine narrative twists.
Weak Antagonist: Critics and early viewers noted that the villain feels "plasticky" and uninspiring, failing to create a real sense of danger for the hero.
Flat Emotional Arc: The underlying family drama and emotional beats struggle to land, leaving the audience largely unattached to the characters' personal struggles.
Malayalam Film Khalifa Twitter Reviews
A user wrote, “Khalifa felt flat with a template like an old script with stylish Prithvi. No emotional connection at all. House attack & jail fight were the only sequences worth watching.”
#Khalifa felt flat with a template like old script with stylish Prithvi. No emotional connection at all. House attack & jail fight were the only sequences worth watching. Cameos were good. Jakes was also not up to the mark. Good director can't make a good film with a mediocre… pic.twitter.com/w0PnU8s4M4
— 几丨ᐯ乇ᗪ (@realNiveD) August 20, 2026
While another user shows their disappointment by writing, “A cliched story without emotional connect to any characters.. took its initial 40 mins to get into the story.. interval block stretch was good but other than that nothing much interesting”.
#Khalifa
— SmartBarani (@SmartBarani) August 20, 2026
A cliched story without emotional connect to any characters.. took its initial 40 mins to get into the story.. interval block stretch was good but other than that nothing much interesting 😭
Fight sequences were okayish .. background score loud & old 😒 didn’t work… pic.twitter.com/9ihAEvJhuL
Overall, the movie is getting negative reviews from the audience. Let’s see whether the film will recover its production budget.
Should You Watch This?
If you are a fan of out-and-out mass action thrillers, sleek visuals, and Prithviraj in peak hero mode, Khalifa offers a solid big-screen experience. Theatergoers who enjoy grand star power and fan-favorite cameos will find plenty to cheer for during its 150-minute runtime.
However, if you are looking for an unpredictable, plot-heavy crime thriller with deep emotional writing, you might find the narrative a bit generic.
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