Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs Review: Family feuds and political intrigue power this flawed but gripping royal saga

Kull full series review

'Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs' is a fast-paced series that tries hard to grip the viewer with a constant flow of events, but in the process, it occasionally veers off course. In its eagerness to tell an engaging story, the show sometimes sets logic aside. Still, if you're not too focused on dissecting every detail, there's a certain appeal to the drama. Set in the fictional royal household of Bikaner, the story follows a former king, his two daughters, and his son. With its rapid pace, the show allows some far-fetched moments to sneak into the narrative. The characters are largely flawed, with few—if any—emerging as truly positive. The core of ‘Kull’ lies in its many tangled relationships: sibling rivalries, the tension between father and son, and the friction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs. For viewers who stay attentive, there's enough happening to stay intrigued if you ignore the faults.

The plot centers around Chandra Pratap Raisinggh (Rahul Vohra), the aging Maharaja of Bikaner’s royal family, who is now battling Alzheimer’s. His children—Indrani (Nimrat Kaur), Kavya (Ridhi Dogra), and Abhimanyu (Amol Parashar)—have a strained relationship with him, while Brij (Gaurav Arora), his illegitimate son, holds a special place in his affections. Indrani, the eldest and more composed, is married to Vikram (Suhaas Ahuja), the chief minister’s son. Abhimanyu, the youngest, is impulsive and hedonistic, while Kavya is pragmatic, hoping to lease the palace and bring in money to counter the family’s financial troubles. The Maharaja announces that he will be making a major revelation on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The next morning, he’s found dead in the swimming pool, his body bearing suspicious injuries. This sudden death throws the family into disarray and alters the dynamics among family members and relatives.

The show kicks off with promise, highlighting the economic and emotional decline of the royal family. The early episodes quickly sketch out the key characters and their motivations. What unfolds is a portrait of a fractured family where everyone has a personal stake. However, the show doesn’t maintain its early momentum throughout. Some developments feel exaggerated—like the chief minister being portrayed as a murderer or Abhimanyu casually using drugs in front of his sister, whom he reveres as a maternal figure. These elements stretch credibility and take away from the emotional weight of the story. Had the show been more restrained in its storytelling, the impact could have been stronger. As the series progresses, it also adopts a whodunit tone—first with the Maharaja’s death and later, with a subplot involving missing election funds.

One of the strengths of ‘Kull’ lies in its performances. Nimrat Kaur plays the royal daughter-in-law with quiet conviction, holding back for much of the series before opening up in the final stretch. Ridhi Dogra as Kavya, the Oxford-educated middle child, delivers a credible and consistent performance. Her confrontations with Abhimanyu are among the show’s more compelling scenes. Amol Parashar stands out as the reckless prince. His portrayal invites little sympathy, but he commands attention. While his performance suits the character’s excesses, a slightly more restrained approach in parts might have served the role better. Rahul Vohra, as the ailing patriarch, brings a sense of presence and vulnerability that suits the character well.

‘Kull’ is the kind of series that opens strong, loses its grip in the middle, but manages to pick up again towards the end, leaving space for a potential second season. Gaurav Arora’s Brij is arguably the most intriguing character, though inconsistently written. He starts off on the sidelines, only to become central much later in the series. Another puzzling aspect is Indrani’s unwavering loyalty to her brother, despite his many faults—a relationship that lacks sufficient backstory or depth. The show leaves viewers with several unanswered questions. And yet, ‘Kull’ remains a watchable drama. With elements of royalty, politics, and murder, it manages to hold your attention if you’re willing to look past its flaws. It’s not always polished, but it makes for an entertaining, if uneven, ride.

(‘Kull’ is currently streaming on Jio-Hotstar)