‘Salaar’ review: Prabhas one-man show

"Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire," the long-awaited collaboration between Prabhas and Prashanth Neel, has finally hit the big screens worldwide. Let's explore our review to determine whether the film lives up to the expectations or not.

Story

Deva (Prabhas) leads a laid-back life with a mysterious past, residing in Tinsukia with his mother. The tranquility is shattered when a gang of thugs starts searching for Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), who has recently arrived in town. Deva investigates and unravels that his best friend Varadharaja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) in Khansaar city is behind the scheme. The conflict intensifies, raising crucial questions. Who is Aadhya? What connects her to Varadharaj? What led to the animosity between the two best friends? The movie unfolds to provide answers.

Analysis

"Salaar" unfolds as a commendable action drama where Prashanth Neel skillfully navigates the intricate dynamics of friendship between Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran within the captivating backdrop of the Khansar kingdom, exploring the highs and lows embedded in their relationship. The director goes the extra mile to satisfy Prabhas' fans, elevating the actor's heroism to unprecedented heights. The film features four to five meticulously choreographed fight sequences that will entertain movie lovers.

The climax of "Salaar-Ceasefire" suggests a potential expansion of screen time for characters like Shruti Haasan and others, introducing an exciting dimension to the unfolding narrative. The film strikes a resonant chord through its well-executed action sequences featuring Prabhas, along with poignant emotional scenes that explore themes of friendship and the mother-son relationship.

However, the occasional slow pace and moments of predictability somewhat dampen the overall impact of the film. Despite these drawbacks, when considering the film's strengths and weaknesses, “Salaar-Ceasefire” remains a compelling watch for fans of action-packed dramas.

Performances

Prabhas embodies his rugged, no-nonsense character with a perfect cut-out that captivates both fans and regular audiences. His portrayal as Devaratha showcases a juggernaut in action sequences, effortlessly blending composure with rebellious attitude. Prithviraj, in the role of Varadharaja Mannar, aptly describes Prabhas's character as a maniac, and Prabhas lives up to it in the intense fight sequences.

Prithviraj performs well in his role, making a significant impact and effectively contributing to the elevation of the protagonist's character. Shruti Haasan delivers a decent performance, even though her role may not have much prominence. Easwari Rao plays her part in a usual manner, while Jagapathi Babu portrays a powerful character that, unfortunately, doesn't leave a lasting impression towards the end. Bobby Simha shines in his limited role, and Shriya Reddy does well in her crucial and lengthy character. Tinu Anand, Jhansi, and the rest of the cast fulfill their roles effectively.

Technicalities

Prashanth Neel demonstrates his directorial prowess once again, adeptly using simple scenes to amplify heroism. However, a more focused approach to the story and screenplay in the second half could have elevated the overall narrative. Ravi Basrur does a satisfactory job with the music, contributing to the elevation of key scenes. Bhuwan Gowda's cinematography is commendable, and Anbarivu's stunt choreography stands out as a highlight. While Ujwal Kulakarni's editing could have been more refined in the second hour, the film's production values are commendable.

Advantages

Prabhas

Action blocks

Interval sequence

Background score

Drawbacks

Lag in the latter half

Lack of depth in characterisations

Movie Review by: SUHAS SISTU