King of Kotha plot revealed! Dulquer Salmaan’s revenge-drama to have a non-linear narrative

It’s never easy to keep the plot of a massive film such as Dulquer Salmaan’s King of Kotha under wraps. But the team of director Abhilash Joshiy’s period gangster actioner have managed to do so for the longest time. Now, with the film’s various versions being sent to the censor board for screening, the details of plot have emerged and it promises to be much more than just about the rise and fall of a gangster. 

Abhilash, in a recent interview with OTTplay, had revealed to us that if the audience goes to theatres expecting an all-out ‘mass’ masala entertainer, they would be disappointed. The movie has ‘mass’ sequences, but it’s married to the storyline that is replete with characters of grey shades, emotions and drama, he explained.

King of Kotha’s storyline revealed

The plot of the film, which was leaked after its Telugu censor, also reveals the same. The movie would start off in the 90s in the town of Kotha, which is ruled by a gangster named Kannan bhai, played by Sarpatta Parambarai actor Shabeer Kallarakkal. After a newly-joined IPS officer Shahul Hassan, essayed by Prasanna, locks horns with him, the former and his group of thugs embarrass him. This urges Shahul to seek revenge, by arranging for the return of a former friend-turned-foe, Raju (Dulquer Salmaan), who had once ruled Kotha. The movie shuttles between Raju and Kannan’s past and how it has shaped up the present of the town of Kotha and its people.

Also read: Aishwarya Lekshmi: King of Kotha is mounted on a scale 100 times more than what I thought was possible in Malayalam 

King of Kotha’s two timelines

The film’s lead actress Aishwarya Lekshmi recently told OTTplay that each character in King of Kotha is pivotal. “Each character, more than taking the story forward, pulls it these different directions,” she said. “It’s told in a non-linear fashion and would be an interesting experience for the audience.”

Abhilash added that unlike the usual ‘mass’ films that often are devoid of logic, King of Kotha has a strong storyline. “I didn’t want to do a ‘leave your brains behind’ kind of movie. King of Kotha has ingredients that would appeal to all sections of the audience,” he said.

King of Kotha runtime and release date

Dulquer’s King of Kotha, which has a runtime of 2 hours and 56 minutes, is set to hit theatres across the world on August 24. Apart from Malayalam, the movie will also be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. The film is already touted to be the front-runner to break the record for the highest opening-day grosser in Malayalam in 2023.

Also read: King of Kotha 2023: Release date, trailer, plot, cast, OTT partner, advance booking, box office prediction