Sri Sathya Sai Arts’ Ruslaan (UA) is the story of a terrorist’s son who joins RAW.
Ruslaan (Aayush Sharma) loses his terrorist-father in his childhood when the latter is killed in a police encounter. A police inspector, Sameer Singh (Jagapathi Babu), and his wife, Manju (Jaswinder Gardner), adopt Ruslaan. Although Ruslaan has been fond of the guitar since childhood, he joins the RAW as he wants to serve the nation. Of course, the fact that he works for the RAW is unknown to his family. His father, police inspector Sameer Singh, keeps telling Ruslaam to pursue his interest in music, but his only connection with music is that he teaches music in a college.
Ruslaan often gets chided by his seniors for not obeying orders but everyone working with him also knows that he is brave, bold, honest and a man of complete integrity. While working on a mission, Ruslaan is accused of killing an international businessman. His own father comes to arrest him but he flees. What happens thereafter?
Shiva’s story is so ordinary that it doesn’t even pretend to offer novelty. Yunus Sajawal’s screenplay struggles to sustain the audience’s interest with predictable and unexciting scenes. The viewers often feel that Ruslaan can achieve his goals in no time, no matter what the opposition. This makes the drama so unreal that the audience completely lose interest and have to literally force themselves to keep themselves engaged in the proceedings. The shocking revelation in the second half doesn’t have half the impact it should’ve had. Consequently, after a point of time, the viewers simply watch the drama unfold, knowing fully well that anything and everything would be possible for Ruslaan to reach his final goal of exposing the enemies of India. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that there are almost no high points in the screenplay or even any surprises or nuances in the characterisations. Every character and every aspect of the drama is so unidimensional that it is a wonder how anyone could invest crores of rupees in the inane and clichéd script. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that no character is given anything of consequence to perform. Mohit Srivastava and Kavin Dave’s dialogues are dull.
Aayush Sharma is earnest in the title role but his expressions are the same throughout the film. Frankly, the role was meant for an actor with the image of a star, which Aayush Sharma does not yet possess. Sushri Shreya Mishra is barely average as Vaani. Jagapathi Babu lends dull support as police inspector Sameer Singh. Vidya Malavade, in an inconsequential role, makes her presence felt as Mantra. Her exit is so sudden that it doesn’t appeal. Jaswinder Gardner is okay as Ruslaan’s foster mother, Manju. Eiji Mihara is weak as General Woo. Sangay Tsheltrim impresses more for his get-up than anything else, in the role of Lee. Raashul Tandon has his moments as Ruslaan’s friend, Tabla. Shahriyar Abilov has screen presence as Elvin. Zaheer Iqbal is alright as Raheel. Sal Yusuf (as Ozan), Beena Banerjee (as CMO – Aabha), Runav Shah (as kid Ruslaan), Aparna Beniwal (as Saba), Deepak Kriplani (as Saba’s father), Madhuri Bandiwadekar (as Saba’s mother), Pooja Vyas (as Aysa), Sikander Khan (as Pandit), Raynu Verma (as Dr. Rehan), Jyoti Shah (as the biological mother of Ruslaan), Sameer Timbatkar (as the ATS chief), Sulakshana Jogalekar (as the RAW officer) and the others pass muster. Sunil Shetty lends some star value in a tiny role as Shinoy. Nawab Shah, in a special appearance, leaves a mark as Ruslaan’s biological father.
Karan Lalit Butani’s direction is average. His shot takings are good but his narration fails to hold the audience’s interest. Of course, it cannot be overlooked that he is saddled with a weak script. Music (by Rajat Nagpal, Akshdeep Sengupta and Vishal Mishra) is quite melodious but none of the songs is a chartbuster. Lyrics (Rana Sotal, Bipin Das, Shabbir Ahmed and Mellow D) are ordinary. Song picturisations (by Rajitdev Easwardas) are commonplace. Ketan Sodha’s background music is so-so. G. Srinivas Reddy’s cinematography is quite nice. Action and stunt scenes (by Vikram Dahiya and Dinesh Subbarayan) afford thrill. Production designing (by Parijat Poddar, Baji Ramdas Patil and Deep Bhimajiyani) and art direction (by Mukesh Chauhan) are fair. Mayuresh Sawant’s editing is reasonably sharp.
On the whole, Ruslaan is an insipid fare which will turn out to be a non-starter.
Released on 26-4-’24 at Inox (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru NH Studioz. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor. …….Also releasedall over. Opening was weak everywhere.