Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs – A Review

Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs, streaming on JioHotstar, is a bold, if uneven, plunge into the world of royal dysfunction, power struggles, and buried secrets. Set against the opulent backdrop of a fictional Bilkaner palace, this eight-episode drama, created by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor and directed by Sahir Raza, promises a heady mix of murder mystery, family feuds, and political intrigue. While it delivers moments of gripping tension and showcases stellar performances, Kull stumbles under the weight of its own ambition, leaving viewers with a series that’s as frustrating as it is captivating.

The story kicks off with the murder of King Chandra Pratap Raisinggh (Rahul Vohra) on his 60th birthday, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle among his children—Indrani (Nimrat Kaur), Kavya (Ridhi Dogra), Abhimanyu (Amol Parashar), and adopted son Brij (Gaurav Arora)—over the throne and the family’s crumbling legacy. The palace, a character in itself with its intricate Rajput architecture, is a fitting stage for the unraveling of dark secrets, betrayals, and sibling rivalries. The premise is tantalizing: a dysfunctional royal family grappling with a whodunit while vying for power, layered with themes of loyalty, memory, and revenge.

The strongest asset of Kull is its ensemble cast, who breathe life into deeply flawed characters. Nimrat Kaur’s Indrani is a revelation—a guarded, fierce woman whose calm exterior masks a storm of emotions. Kaur’s nuanced performance, especially in the series’ latter half, anchors the show, making Indrani’s complex loyalties and quiet strength profoundly relatable. Amol Parashar, cast against type as the cocaine-snorting, volatile Abhimanyu, delivers a career-defining performance. He makes you loathe the character’s recklessness while subtly revealing the bruised dignity beneath, creating a prince you love to hate.

Ridhi Dogra’s Kavya is the emotional core, her Oxford-educated ambition clashing with vulnerability in scenes that crackle with intensity, particularly in confrontations with Abhimanyu. Gaurav Arora’s Brij, though inconsistently written, brings a heartbreaking loyalty to the family despite being sidelined, though his arc feels underdeveloped.

Visually, Kull is a feast. The cinematography captures the grandeur of the Bilkaner palace, with sweeping shots of ornate interiors and dusty Rajasthani landscapes that lend authenticity to the setting. The costumes and production design are meticulous, immersing you in the regal yet decaying world of the Raisingghs. The series’ pacing, however, is where it falters.

The first four episodes build a slow-burning mystery, teasing a sophisticated Agatha Christie-esque unraveling. But by the midpoint, the show takes a jarring tonal shift, resolving the murder in an anti-climactic video reveal that feels like a betrayal of the setup. What follows is a chaotic pivot to a Game of Thrones-inspired saga of power plays and betrayals, but without the narrative depth or character development to sustain it. This indecision—part murder mystery, part royal epic—leaves Kull feeling like two shows stitched together, neither fully realized.

The writing, credited to Althea Kaushal, is both a strength and a weakness. At its best, it delivers sharp dialogue and emotionally charged moments, especially in sibling confrontations that lay bare years of resentment. But the script often leans into melodrama, with over-the-top twists and predictable tropes that undermine the story’s gravitas. The show’s ambition to tackle complex themes—family legacy, the cost of silence, the weight of entitlement—is admirable, but it sacrifices emotional depth for shock value. Subplots, like a documentary filmmaker’s role or a preening cop’s investigation, feel half-baked, and the fictional Bilkaner’s political landscape is barely explored, making the stakes feel insular.

Kull also struggles with logic and pacing. The rapid-fire plot twists—murders, betrayals, and revelations—come at the expense of character consistency. Indrani’s unwavering loyalty to Abhimanyu, for instance, lacks sufficient backstory, making her choices feel unearned. Brij’s arc, promising at first, fizzles out, leaving his motivations murky. The series’ self-aware nods to Game of Thrones (Abhimanyu even name-drops it) feel more like a crutch than clever homage, and the soap opera flourishes—dramatic yelling matches, convenient video evidence—clash with its aspirations to be a prestige drama.

Yet, for all its flaws, Kull is oddly compelling. There’s a perverse thrill in watching this morally bankrupt family implode, and the cast’s commitment elevates even the most incredulous moments. The show’s refusal to take itself too seriously can be a guilty pleasure, offering a campy, exaggerated portrait of the rich ruining themselves. It’s not Succession or The White Lotus—it lacks their biting wit or social commentary—but it doesn’t entirely aim to be. Instead, Kull revels in its own chaos, delivering enough emotional hooks and visual splendor to keep you watching, even when you’re rolling your eyes.

Verdict: Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs

.. is a flawed but entertaining ride, buoyed by powerhouse performances from Nimrat Kaur, Amol Parashar, and Ridhi Dogra. Its gorgeous visuals and high-stakes drama make it a decent one-time watch for fans of royal sagas and family dysfunction, but its narrative indecision and reliance on soap opera tropes keep it from greatness. If you can overlook the shaky plotting and embrace the melodrama, Kull offers a darkly fun escape. Here’s hoping a potential second season tightens the screws and leans into its cast’s strengths.

Rating: 3.5/5

Streaming on JioHotstar, released May 2, 2025.

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