Onam 2023 witnessed the release of three major Malayalam films in the preceding week, all vying for supremacy at the box office. First among them was the debut directorial venture of Abhilash Joshiy, titled King of Kotha, featuring Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role. Presenting a period gangster thriller, the film aspires to leverage its widespread Pan-India appeal and is dedicated to transforming Dulquer into a one-man powerhouse. The second offering, RDX: Robert Dony Xavier, directed by Nahas Hidayath, stars Shane Nigam, Antony 'Pepe' Varghese, and Neeraj Madhav in prominent roles. An exhilarating action entertainer, the movie encountered production challenges, yet its release unfolded seamlessly. RDX Movie Review: Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese and Neeraj Madhav's Actioner Offers Enough Thrills.

The third film in contention is Ramachandra Boss & Co, helmed by Haneef Adeni, presenting an ensemble cast in a comedic heist thriller, with Nivin Pauly leading the ensemble. This marks Nivin's second collaboration with Haneef after Mikhael and the director's maiden foray into the realm of comedy. The question remains: Did this experimentation yield positive results? We shall delve into that.

So, which among these 2023 Onam releases delivers the most engaging entertainment? In this article, we arrange the three films based on their quality, from least to best! Feel free to express your thoughts or offer your personal rankings in the comments section below.

Ramachandra Boss & Co

There's no denying that Ramachandra Boss & Co represents a significant missed opportunity. Boasting an intriguing heist premise, a skilled ensemble cast, and impressive production values that fully exploit its UAE settings, the film, unfortunately, falters due to uninspired writing—a fundamental requirement for an effective heist thriller. With a lackluster antagonist and a disappointing climax, Ramachandra Boss & Co fades into obscurity, save for Vinay Forrt's side-splitting, scene-stealing performance. Ramachandra Boss & Co also stars Mamaitha Baiju, Arsha Baiju, Jaffer Idukki, Munish, Vijilesh among others. Ramachandra Boss and Co Movie Review: Nivin Pauly's Heist Comedy is Less 'Ocean's 11' and More 'Happy New Year'!

King Of Kotha

Dulquer Salmaan's Onam offering fares marginally better than its predecessor, owed largely to its consistent technical aspects and moments that hint at a more captivating film than King Of Kotha ultimately delivers. A fitting description for King Of Kotha would be the fusion of Pushpa and Kammatipaadam, infused with a dash of John Wick, albeit lacking the charismatic allure of its influences. King of Kotha enjoyed a commendable start at the box office but is being outpaced by the subsequent entry on this list. King of Kotha also stars Shabeer Kallarakkal, Prasanna, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nyla Usha, Chemban Vinod Jose, Shammi Thilakan, Shanthi Krishna, Anikha Surendran and Saran. King of Kotha Movie Review: Dulquer Salmaan's Violent Swagger is Trapped in This Inconsistent Gangster Flick.

RDX - Robert Dony Xavier

Without a doubt, debutant Nahas Hidhayath's RDX emerges as a delightful revelation. While not a masterpiece, it effectively fulfills its intended purpose as a well-crafted action entertainer. The trio of male leads—Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese, and Neeraj Madhav—impress with their physical prowess in the action sequences (although these scenes deserved more meticulous treatment). Packed with thrills and unexpected twists, RDX maintains its grip on the audience's attention until the very end. RDX also stars Lal, Babu Antony, Vishnu Agasthya, Mahima Nambiar, Aima Rosmy Sebastian, Maala Parvathi and Baiju.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2023 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).