Director Gowtam Tinnanuri, best known for his emotional and character-driven films like Jersey, seems to have taken a sharp turn in his upcoming film Kingdom. Judging by the recently released trailer, Kingdom swaps subtle storytelling for large-scale visuals, violence, and raw intensity—aiming clearly at the mass audience.
This is a bold change for Tinnanuri, a filmmaker often praised for his sensitivity and storytelling depth. With Kingdom, he appears to join the wave of filmmakers embracing high-octane action and dramatic visual styles, similar to KGF and Kalki 2898 AD. Even the trailer carries their shadow—in colour tone, mood, music, and overall scale.
The film stars Vijay Deverakonda in what looks like his most rugged avatar yet, playing a lone warrior in a jungle setting ruled by gangsters. There’s less focus on inner emotion and more on survival, style, and spectacle. Anirudh Ravichander’s background score adds to the larger-than-life effect, keeping emotions high and adrenaline pumping.
Tinnanuri’s signature human drama seems replaced by crowd-pleasing punches and cinematic flair. The trailer reveals a familiar brotherhood-based plot—a younger brother sets out to rescue his elder one—but this time, it’s packed in layers of darkness, blood, and action.
While the visual quality and scale are commendable, the question remains: has Tinnanuri traded his emotional storytelling roots for a chance at commercial stardom?
The trailer leaves no doubt—Kingdom is a mass film through and through. Now it’s up to the full feature to show whether this new direction for the director is a one-time experiment or a permanent shift in style.
