'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire', described by Hombale Films as an epic action thriller, hit the screens today. The term 'Ceasefire' sounds verbose and exaggerated, considering that it is deployed by experts in the context of bilateral issues between rival countries. Does the film have an agreement between two warring sides to "stop fighting in order to allow discussions about peace"? Does this pan-Indian Prabhas outing prove to be his best outing since 'Baahubali 2'? Is director Prashanth Neel in form? Let's find out in our review.
Plot:
The story is partially set in the city of Khansaar, a fictional town with a specific geographical location. Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu), a clan chief, wants to make his son Vardharaja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) his successor. All hell breaks loose when Raja Mannar's subordinate lords and governors seek to upstage him by launching a coup in his absence. In cahoots with the enemies are armies from other countries.
This is when Vardha seeks the help of his childhood bestie Deva (Prabhas), who enters the fray after living in exile for many years.
Performances:
From slow-motion entries to build-up shots, Prabhas aces them all. 'Radhe Shyam' and 'Adipurush' didn't put him to even a bare minimum use. 'Saaho', in comparison, did better justice to his talent. But 'Salaar' is leagues ahead; Neel knew how to maximize the impact of Yash. Extracting a swashbuckling performance from Prabhas is something he has done without breaking a sweat.
Prithviraj Sukumaran's nuanced performance is worthy of appreciation. But is it cherishable in the long run? Not so sure. His acting might not be impeccable for repeat viewers. Shruti Hassan as Aadhya is a strong character wasted in inconsequential scenes. Jagapathi Babu is average.
Bobby Simha and John Vijay bring their mean streak to the table. Tinnu Anand and Mime Gopi (as Varadha's aides) are satisfying. Eeswari Rao is melodramatic as Deva's emotional mother. Sriya Reddy, Brahmaji, Jhansi and others are okayish.
Technical Departments:
Ujwal Kulkarni's work suits the leisurely speed at which the film moves. Bhuvan Gowda's sleek photography is commendably done. The frames have a dark texture to them, thanks to the VFX and the quality DI. For a change, Ravi Basrur's background music is not as deafening as it would have been believed to be. The mellowed nature of the sound design fits into the larger tastes of the audience. The sets are sweeping and meticulously done by production designer TL Venkatachalapathi.
Merits:
1. The final act and the epilogue are nice. They build up to 'Salaar 2'.
2. The anchoring of Deva (Prabhas' character) is strong.
3. Yash's Rocky was dark in 'KGF 2'. Neel's Deva comes as a multi-dimensional character.
4. Anbariv's stunts are wholesome and not patchy.
Demerits:
1. The dialogues (by Sandeep Reddy Bandla, Hanumaan Choudary, DR Suri) could have been better.
2. Lack of adequate lines for Prabhas' character sticks out like a sore thumb.
3. The first half is dull. The villains playing cat-and-mouse with Shruti Haasan's character doesn't come with exciting elements.
4. The friendly bond between Deva and Varadha hasn't been explored well beyond a point.
Vox Verdict:
'Salaar' is over-hyped for sure. It is unlikely to work with the Hindi audience, who were offered great songs by 'Pushpa: The Rise' and awesome screenplay style by the two 'KGF' movies. By contrast, 'Salaar' is more like a mass masala action drama sans the magic of the movies of Sukumar and Neel's previous outings.
Rating: 2.5/5
