Movie Name : Salaar
Release Date : December 22, 2023
Starring : Prabhas, Prithviraj, Shruthi Haasan, Tinu Anand, Eshwari Rao, Jagapathi Babu, Sriya Reddy, Garuda Ram
Director : Prashanth Neel
Producer : Vijay Kiragandur
Music Director : Ravi Basrur
Cinematographer : Bhuvan Gowda
Editor : Ujwal Kulkarni
After a three-year wait, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, the much-anticipated union of Prabhas and Prashanth Neel, at last graced the big screens worldwide today amid towering expectations. Join us as we delve into our review to determine whether the film roars like a dinosaur or not.
Story :
Deva (Prabhas) lives a casual life with a shadowy past along with his mother in Tinsukia. The tranquility is disrupted when a group of goons searches for Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), newly arrived in town. Deva tracks the gang and discovers it’s the scheme of his best friend Varadharaja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) in Khansaar city. The war escalates, posing serious questions. Who is Aadhya? What ties her to Varadharaj? What caused the enmity between the two best friends? The movie unfolds the answers.
Plus Points :
After a considerable hiatus, fans finally witness Prabhas in a full-fledged action film, skillfully presented by Prashanth Neel, who understands how to showcase the Herculean Prabhas in a way fans desire.
Prabhas seamlessly fits into the role of Deva aka Salaar, making it hard to envision another actor in the part. His character involves minimal dialogue but exudes violence, highlighting his physique, dialogue delivery, and overall fan-friendly persona. Prabhas’ maniacal and ruthless behavior, particularly in action sequences, keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a decent performance, adding significant depth to the film, as acknowledged by Prashanth Neel. His surprising proficiency in Telugu and compelling scenes opposite Prabhas enhance the viewing experience.
The story makes a strong impact in the first half, featuring Prashanth Neel’s signature racy, crisp, and elevating screenplay. Outstanding action sequences are accompanied by neat score. Whistle-worthy moments, including the interval, climax, and elevations, contribute to the film’s appeal.
Minus Points :
While the story maintains a decent pace in the first half, the second half could have benefitted from a more refined narration. Certain scenes in the second hour might evoke thoughts of KGF, impacting the film’s originality.
Despite a substantial supporting cast, Prashanth Neel predominantly highlights actors like Jagapathi Babu, Bobby Simha, John Vijay, and Sriya Reddy, sidelining others like Brahmaji and Jhansi, who might have more significant roles in the latter part.
The abundance of violence in this section could deter family audiences from connecting to the film.
Technical Aspects :
Prashanth Neel once again proves his directorial prowess, skillfully using simple scenes to elevate heroism. However, a more focused approach to the story and screenplay in the second half could have enhanced the overall narrative.
Ravi Basrur delivers a satisfactory job and his score helps in elevating a few scenes. Bhuwan Gowda’s cinematography is commendable, and Anbarivu’s stunts stand out as a highlight. While Ujwal Kulakarni’s editing could have been more refined in the second hour, the production values are commendable.
Verdict :
On the whole, Salaar: Part 1-Ceasefire stands out as an intense action drama that features a terrific performance by Prabhas, especially in action parts, and Prithviraj. The well-executed stunts contribute to the film’s overall appeal. However, the simple narrative, a somewhat dragging second half, and excessive violence are the notable drawbacks. If you are a fan of Prabhas or enjoy high-octane action-packed movies, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is worth a watch this weekend.
Rating : 3.5/5
