Salaar movie review: Prabhas, Prashanth Neel deliver a blockbuster punch in massy cinema

box office success of Prashant Neel-directed KGF and KGF 2 forced Hindi film industry to take notice of content being churned out of Kanna film industry. 

Besides its box office impact, Yash starrer also stood out for its grand vision and way filmmaker wedded idea of a conventional alpha male protagonist into film's storyline. Arguably, KGF 2 changed direction of Indian cinema, setting template for directing mass entertainers.  

After two back-to-back blockbuster hits, it was only natural for audiences to have high expectations from Prashant Neel's latest offering Salaar helined by Prabhas.

Hot Take

plot of Salaar is imagined in a way that story makes viewers travel world. From New York to New Delhi to Gujarat to Assam, Neel crafts a narrative which is brimming with constant activity and makes for an information-heavy first act. 

Does Salaar live up to hype?

Wher you liked KGF franchise or not, Salaar will surely live up to your appetite for a larger-than-life action drama. only way in which you could be disappointed by film is if you are expecting it to be a relentless actioner. Compared to KGF franchise, Salaar delivers fewer action-driven moments. 

Salaar plays out in a 'parallel reality’

Prashanth Neel has a penchant for creating a parallel reality within his film universe. While tropes and mes are those of an ancient India, with tribes thriving and battling with each or devoid of any law or constitution, Neel also wants to use contemporary technology as part of his narrative. It’s sheer abandon with which director crafts his narrative that is real clincher here. 

Even though film’s central landscape is situated somewhere towards west coast of India, everyone talks in Telugu while still wearing local Gujarati attire and accessories. Since Neel is never conscious of this appropriation, neir is audience. 

Perhaps some people mistook KGF’s box office success to be a glorious one-off. However, with Salaar, Neel has established his intentions very firmly - a fantastical cinematic landscape like this intends and promises to overhaul idea of what big-screen movies should be like.

re are certain sequences in both first and second half where Neel elevates his narrative to a surreal landscape, aiming for a very heightened level of emotionality. re aren't too many filmmakers who can pull off this material, but Neel shows confidence in his execution. Salaar runs entirely on conviction, and Neel is one of those filmmakers who is gifted with this specific quality.

Salaar builds tension steily

It’s hard not to constantly compare Salaar with KGF movies. However, where former differs from latter is while its narrative begins at a breakneck speed and maintains its pace, film takes its own sweet time before bowing at altar of its invincible protagonist. For longest time, we keep hearing about epic bravery tales of Deva (Prabhas). Neel builds tension long enough and fills narrative with intrigue, and it's when tension finally breaks that hero decides to return to savagery. And pay-off is worth it.

Salaar also surprises with its structure. After a riveting prologue of protagonists’ childhood, building entire first half in establishing protagonist as protector, Salaar takes a sharp turn and focuses entirely on establishing backstory, building great intrigue about a journey of 32 years that first reunited two long-lasting friends before making m foes all over again.

Every performer is in sync with Salaar’s energy

Prithviraj provides a beautiful and smoldering contrast to Prabhas’ furious avatar in film. two actors play off each or very well, with an understated Prithviraj complementing a atrical Prabhas. In this sense, it makes perfect sense that Neel chose to cast someone like Prithviraj in film, a Malayalam star who noneless feels like an outlier in this outlandish universe with energy bursting out of seams.

ensemble cast of Salaar deserves equal credit for understanding assignment and rising up to film’s requirements. Everyone talks in grunts and shivers at any display of bravo - and it also feels perfectly attuned to Neel’s vision of a parallel government somewhere in Western India that has reins over everything that is happening in country. John Vijay, who plays Ranga, deserves special mention for bringing an infectious manic energy to his part. 

Sriya Reddy too delivers a hammy yet impactful performance as Rha Rama Mannar. Tinnu Anand, who appeared prominently in trailer, has a relatively smaller role but delivers goods.

Watch it or skip it?

Salaar definitely needs to be watched for its grand vision and conviction of filmmaker Prashanth Neel. While heightened tonality might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Salaar surely lives up to scale of its ambition. 

Bottomline

Salaar also marks a solid pan-India comeback for Prabhas. He does complete justice to his towering persona and star presence. 

Rating - 3.5/5 stars