United Kingdom Of Kerala (UKOK) Review: A Missed Opportunity Wrapped In Good Intentions
United Kingdom of Kerala (UKOK), directed by Arun Vaiga, arrives with the promise of a contemporary take on generational conflicts, father-son relationship, entrepreneurial dreams and society’s response to what youth wants to do. Known for his earlier works Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan and Chembarathipoo, Vaiga attempts to juggle multiple themes in this latest venture, but unfortunately, ends up delivering a muddled and meandering experience, and the viewer is left in a universe of flawed ideas and conflicting visions.
The film begins with the story of a directionless young man, played by Ranjith Sajeev (as Tony), known for his work in Qalb and Golam. His character is introduced as someone dabbling in different ambitions without clear focus. Just as the viewer tries to settle into this narrative, the film shifts gears to explore the father-son relationship dynamic, and later veers again — this time into the realm of entrepreneurship and its hurdles. While each of these thematic strands has the potential to resonate, the lack of a cohesive screenplay and narrative structure leaves the viewer feeling confused and disconnected.
UKOK is a film that clearly had resources at its disposal. The issue the story was trying to discuss towards the end is so contemporary – the lives and purpose of many youth who leaves Kerala to study abroad – and was the best chance to make the movie perfect.
From impressive production design and a talented ensemble cast to a story that touches upon relevant contemporary issues, it had all the ingredients to deliver a meaningful cinematic experience. However, the execution lacks clarity and conviction. The screenplay never finds a stable rhythm, and the direction seems to chase too many ideas without committing fully to any of them. As a result, the film feels like it was made for the sake of filmmaking, rather than out of a strong creative vision.
On the performance front, Ranjith Sajeev shows signs of growth compared to his earlier films, but he isn’t quite able to carry the weight of the film alone. The standout performer here is Johny Antony, who continues to impress in his evolution as a dependable character actor. His presence adds some emotional depth and relatability to a film that otherwise feels adrift. Other actors, including Indians, Manju Pillai and Sangeetha, have done their work really well.
So, is UKOK worth watching? If you’re hoping for a fresh take on familiar themes, you may be disappointed. The central thread is something we’ve seen before — the struggle of a youth trying to find his place in the world — but what the film needed was sharper writing and more purposeful direction. Unfortunately, UKOK remains a well-meaning effort that fails to make use of its potential, resulting in a film that offers everything in bits, but ultimately, delivers very little.
