Hombale Films’ Salaar (dubbed from the Telugu film of the same name; A) is an action film. It is a story of friendship, enmity, hatred, love and power.
Deva (Prabhas) and Vardha (Prithviraj Sukumaran) have been childhood friends who share a bond of unparalleled love. Vardha does not get along with his father, Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu), and step-brother, Rudra (Ramachandra Raju). They had had a fallout many years ago when Vardha and Rudra were still kids.
Raja Mannar holds sway over all the different rulers of Khansaar. The power game becomes ugly and so, Vardha is forced to call Deva to help him. The two friends meet after a gap of many years when Vardha goes to fetch Deva. Does Deva help Vardha? How?
Prashanth Neel has written a story which is an out-and-out action drama. Although the story is not new, there are so many turns and twists that it involves the audience right from the word ‘go’. Neel’s screenplay is super-fast and doesn’t give the audience a single moment to think. Having said that, it must be added that the drama is confusing at many places. Although the confusions of the first around one hour or a bit more get clarified later, several confusions of the post-interval part are not clarified. The last portion of the drama, in particular, is very confusing. Also, there are too many characters in the drama, because of which the audience tend to lose track of who is on whose side in the power game. The excessive violence in the drama will be loved by the masses but it will keep many among the womenfolk away. Dr. Suri, Riya Mukherjee and Maneesh’s dialogues are good.
Prabhas looks every inch the one-man army he plays. As Deva, he shines and emerges as the ultimate action hero. He has very few dialogues as he does all the talking with his fists, swords, revolvers and hammers. He looks phenomenal with a physique to die for. Prithviraj Sukumaran is first-rate as Vardha. His acting is wonderful and he is brilliant in action and stunts too. Shruti Haasan is okay in a less significant role as Adya. Jagapathi Babu makes a fine mark as Raja Mannar. Sriya Reddy is pretty effective as Raja Mannar’s daughter. Easwari Rao does a fine job as Deva’s mother, but why is her character so overly melodramatic? Tinnu Anand lends fair support as Baba. John Vijay is supremely entertaining as Ranga. Ramachandra Raju is menacing as Rudra. Bobby Simha (as Bhaarava), Devaraj (as Mamaji), Garuda Ram, M.S. Chowdary, Ramana, Mime Gopi (as Bilal), Madhu Guruswamy, Prithviraj, Jhansi and the others provide able support.
Prashanth Neel’s direction is praiseworthy. To his credit, it must be said that despite the confusions at many places, he has managed to keep the audience engrossed totally. Ravi Basrur’s music is nice. Frankly, the scope for songs in the action film is minimal but the songs are, nevertheless, melodious. Lyrics (Riya Mukherjee) are weighty. Ravi Basrur’s background music is outstanding. Bhuvan Gowda’s cinematography is fantastic. Anbariv’s action and stunts offer phenomenal thrill. The Kali mata action sequence is hair-raising and clapworthy. T.L. Venkatachalapathi’s production designing is of a high standard. Ujwal Kulkarni’s editing is sharp. Dubbing is excellent.
On the whole, Salaar will prove to be a comfortable earner. It will do hit business in mass-oriented cinemas.
Released on 22-12-’23 at Inox (daily 5 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: very good. Opening: good. …….Also released all over. Opening was excellent at many places.