'Kingdom' OTT release: Vijay Deverakonda fans upset over THI ..

Vijay Deverakonda’s much-discussed spy thriller Kingdom has now entered the digital space, but its arrival on streaming platforms has been met with more dismay than delight. What was expected to be a chance for fans to revisit the film in its entirety has instead turned into an exercise in frustration, as viewers quickly discovered that certain sequences were missing.

According to reports, one of the most glaring omissions is the romantic number Hridayam Lopala. The song, which had already been cut from the theatrical version on the grounds that it disrupted the film’s sombre narrative tone, was once again absent from the streaming release. Audiences, who had been hoping the OTT version might restore the track, were left disappointed. The decision underscores the filmmakers’ commitment to maintaining a taut spy drama, though at the cost of depriving the film of one of its more tender interludes.

Another casualty is the carnival fight sequence, a visually ambitious set piece that audiences had praised in theatres. Its removal from the streaming version sparked a wave of criticism online, with fans insisting that such edits undermine the film’s storytelling weight. For many, these omissions feel less like artistic decisions and more like compromises that erode the immersive experience.

Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri of Jersey fame, Kingdom tells the story of Suri, a fiery police constable played by Deverakonda, who is sent on a perilous mission to infiltrate a smuggling empire based on a fortified Sri Lankan island. The twist, of course, comes with the discovery that the syndicate is helmed by his estranged brother Siva. With Rashmika Mandanna, Satyadev, and Bhagyashri Borse in key roles and Anirudh Ravichander’s music elevating the drama, the film grossed over Rs 82 crore worldwide.

Despite its trimmed digital debut, Kingdom remains one of Deverakonda’s boldest ventures, though its full impact seems perpetually just out of reach.
**This news was published on Times of India on 28th August, 2025.

 

 

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