The Malayalam film “Khalifa,” starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, receives largely negative reviews from multiple outlets, with critics focusing on problems in the screenplay and storytelling. While reviewers acknowledge Sukumaran’s screen presence and swagger, they say the film’s narrative does not fully come together.
India Today and NDTV both describe the film as falling short in its story progression, suggesting that the movie struggles to sustain its impact beyond the lead performance. The Hindu adds that the drama relies on an older, smuggling-focused template and is held back by what it calls shoddy or outdated writing and a flat narrative.
All three reviews also note that attempts to elevate the film through standout moments do not significantly change the overall assessment. The Hindu, in particular, says even a cameo from a major superstar fails to compensate for the film’s broader weaknesses, reinforcing the view that the issues lie in the script and execution rather than casting alone.
