A Tamil Sea Adventure That Sinks Under Its Own Ambition
Released on March 7, 2025, Kingston—marketed as Kingston and the Cursed Sea in some circles—is a Tamil-language fantasy horror adventure that aims to chart new waters for Indian cinema. Directed by debutant Kamal Prakash and starring G.V. Prakash Kumar (who also co-produces and scores the film) alongside Divya Bharathi, this sea-bound thriller promises a blend of maritime mystery, supernatural scares, and high-stakes drama. Set in the fictional coastal village of Thoovathur near Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, it’s billed as India’s first sea adventure film—a bold claim for a ₹20 crore production backed by Zee Studios and Parallel Universe Pictures. But does it sail triumphantly or flounder in the deep end? After catching it on opening day, I’m left with mixed feelings: Kingston is a visual spectacle that drowns in a convoluted narrative, offering fleeting thrills amid a sea of missed opportunities.
The Plot: A Cursed Sea and a Smuggler’s Quest
The story kicks off with a haunting premise: in 1982, Thoovathur’s fishing community is crippled by a mysterious curse that claims lives at sea, banning fishing for over four decades. Fast-forward to the present, and we meet Kingston, or “King” (G.V. Prakash Kumar), a brash smuggler working for local kingpin Thomas (Sabumon Abdusamad). King’s life revolves around trafficking sea cucumbers—until he discovers it’s drugs instead, sparking a rift with Thomas. When his girlfriend Rose (Divya Bharathi) is kidnapped, King defies village lore, rallying his crew to venture into the forbidden waters. What follows is a tangle of flashbacks revealing a generational feud involving his grandfather Solomon (Chetan) and a wronged man, Bose (Azhagam Perumal), whose coffin lies at the sea’s heart, fueling the curse with ghostly vengeance.
The narrative hops between timelines—1980s, 2010s, and now—layering smuggling, romance, and zombie-like sea creatures into a chaotic stew. It’s a slow burn until the second half, where the sea adventure finally kicks in, but by then, the overstuffed plot has already waterlogged the momentum. The climax, tying greed to supernatural retribution, feels predictable, leaving you adrift rather than anchored.
Performances: G.V. Prakash Holds the Helm
G.V. Prakash Kumar anchors Kingston with a spirited turn as King. He’s convincingly cocky yet conflicted, evolving from a money-hungry rogue to a reluctant hero. His physicality shines in the sea sequences, though the script doesn’t give him enough emotional meat to chew on. Divya Bharathi’s Rose is a de-glamorized village girl with pluck, but her role feels peripheral—more a plot trigger than a character. Sabumon Abdusamad brings menace to Thomas, while Azhagam Perumal and Chetan add gravitas to the flashback drama, though their arcs suffer from rushed resolutions. The supporting crew—friends and foes alike—provide comic relief and cannon fodder, but none leave a lasting mark.
Direction and Craft: Visual Waves, Narrative Storms
Kamal Prakash’s debut is a tale of two halves. Visually, Kingston is a triumph. Gokul Benoy’s cinematography paints a stormy, fog-drenched sea with striking nighttime shots that ooze atmosphere. The production design—cramped boats, weathered villages—grounds the fantastical in gritty realism. G.V. Prakash’s score tries hard, with booming cues to heighten tension, but it often overwhelms rather than elevates. The VFX, while ambitious for a mid-budget Tamil film, waver—skeletal sea apparitions dazzle at times, but shoddy CGI undercuts their menace. San Lokesh’s editing, however, is a misstep; the constant timeline shifts and dragging flashbacks disrupt the flow, making the 140-minute runtime feel like a slog.
Prakash’s vision—to fuse Tamil folklore with a Pirates of the Caribbean-esque adventure—is bold, but the screenplay buckles under its weight. The first half meanders with setup, while the second half’s thrills—zombies, jump scares—arrive too late to salvage the pacing. It’s a film that looks grand but lacks the tight storytelling to match.
Themes: Greed and Ghosts in the Deep
Kingston wants to say something about greed’s curse—both personal and communal. King’s pursuit of wealth mirrors the village’s lost livelihood, while Bose’s ghostly wrath ties past sins to present peril. There’s a nod to resilience, too, as King defies superstition to reclaim the sea. Yet, these ideas drown in a cluttered plot that prioritizes spectacle over depth. The horror feels tame—less Jaws, more jump-scare gimmick—and the emotional stakes never fully register.
Verdict: A Shipwrecked Ambition
Kingston is a paradox: a film with dazzling moments that sink under poor execution. Its sea adventure premise is a breath of fresh air for Tamil cinema, and the technical craft—barring some VFX hiccups—punches above its budget. G.V. Prakash’s dual role as star and composer keeps it afloat, and the second half’s eerie sea sequences offer genuine chills. But the convoluted screenplay, sluggish pace, and half-baked characters capsize its potential. It’s not a lazy cash-grab—Prakash clearly has genre chops—but it’s a debut that overreaches, sacrificing coherence for scale.
For fans of visual flair or G.V. Prakash’s star power, it’s worth a theatrical look; the big screen amplifies its stormy vistas. Yet, as a mystery thriller, it’s more frustrating than fulfilling—a ship lost in its own fog. Here’s hoping Prakash’s next voyage finds surer footing. For now, Kingston is a noble misadventure—ambitious, uneven, and ultimately adrift.
Rating: 2.5/5
Catch it in theaters or wait for the OTT drop—either way, temper your expectations for this cursed sea tale.
Catch it in theaters or wait for the OTT drop—either way, temper your expectations for this cursed sea tale.
