Salaar

Synopsis: The film invests significant time in world-building but falls short of captivating the audience within its narrative.

First half: The initial segment is rather mediocre. While the Interval block attempts to instill excitement, the audience struggles to connect with the story from the outset. The buildup feels somewhat excessive.

Second half: Exhaustive. A substantial twist at the end sets the stage for part 2, but its impact is diminished by a desire for the film to conclude. The prolonged buildup doesn't adequately match the actual scenes, resulting in a sense of loud anticipation that one wishes to end. Trimming 30 minutes from the 3-hour runtime would have made it a more engaging watch.

Background music is subpar, excessively loud, creating an unwanted auditory experience. The songs merely exist without evoking much interest.

Final verdict: "Salaar" is a film worth exploring when time permits. It has its moments of attraction, but overall, it delivers a rather lackluster cinematic journey.

Salaar Part 1 has an unbearable first half, with useless exposition, a needless Shruti Hassan (thankfully not a romantic interest for Prabhas), an overbearing and supremely annoying mom-son angle, ultrabasic mass hero build-ups, and a tame set-piece (Anbariv Masters, what the hell is happening here?). Some kids even refer to Prabhas as a cut-out, and that's exactly what he is for the entirety of the initial half. Though he looks good, the man is stiffer than tree bark, and Eashwari Rao (playing his mother) is supposedly emoting for the both of them, as she's asked to ham it up. I haven't seen Ugramm and I don't intend to see it either, especially if it's anything like this.

It's only in the second half that the film starts its world-building exercise, and since there's only 90 minutes to do so, writer-director Prashant Neel is forced to explain key plot points over voiceovers. Dozens of new characters are introduced, a whole lawbook is explained in a few shots and lines, a power tussle is set in motion. It's also here that Prithviraj Sukumaran enters the scene but for a large chunk of the film, neither he nor Prabhas have any essential bits of dialogue. All of it is reserved for the final act and the cliffhanger(ish) finale, and though the duo redeemed their parts to some extent, I barely felt the emotional strength of their presumed, long-standing friendship. Ravi Basrur delivers a humdrum score, and except for the main theme, his efforts fell short. The less said about the edits, the better.

It also sucks that the set pieces feel boringly repetitive (goons are flying in all directions) and the only instance I felt like appreciating cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda's work is during an action block set in a village where Goddess Kali is the deity. There are some fantastic shot choices in this segment, supplemented well by the color grading. The rest of the film visually feels like an extension of the KGF franchise, there isn't much here that you haven't seen in those two films. Also, I'm glad I saw this in Tamil; the dubbing was decent, and the translations too weren't the shabbiest. Still, Salaar Part 1 did next to nothing for me as a cinephile - utterly disposable!

Salaar (2023) : Movie Review -

KGF fame Prashanth Neel is back with the biggest film of his career (so far), "Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire," starring pan-India superstar Prabhas. Neel's Ugramm (2014) wasn't a pan-India sensation, but it was a blockbuster success in the domestic market and also set a fanbase for Neel. He decided to restore it on a larger scale with Salaar, and no matter how many times he denied the reports, Salaar is a remake/adaptation of Ugramm. The idea definitely deserved a pan-India reach and huge scale, and Prashanth has surely done a great job. He extended Ugramm to 6 hours in 2 parts (the second will be Salaar 2) and gave a fantastic twist to the story at the end. The hero has to have that stature, and he gives it to Prabhas. Why he or the film was named "Salaar" is presented with a blasting vision by Neel, and that's the much-hyped big twist in the end I'm talking about.

Set in a coal-mine-coloured place called Khaansar, Salaar is about Deva (Prabhas) and Vardha (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who have been besties since childhood. Deva is ready to fight the world for Vardha, and he takes on tough guys to save Vardha's nake. In return, Vardha trades his territory to save Deva's mother, and then Deva is sent to leave somewhere else, never to return-unless Vardha calls him. To win the political and power battle of Khaansaar, Vardha calls only Deva, while others bring armies. Cutting the story to future times, Deva and his mother are living somewhere remotely without coming into anybody's eyes. However, Deva has to break his promise to save Aadhya (Shruti Haasan) from the local goons. He then finally has to show his face to the world when Aadhya is being kidnapped and nobody dares to stop certain "stamp" people. The story then moves back to the past to tell us how Deva created the world of Khaansaar and that big, fearful stamp as well.

Prashanth Neel denied promoting Salaar as the official adaptation of Ugramm, but that was a marketing trick, I guess. Now the entire world will laugh at his statements after the release of Salaar Part 1, and let's leave other topics to Salaar Part 2 if he has really changed things there. Written by Neel, Salaar (part 1 and 2) is an overlong craft of about 6 hours, while the entire Ugramm was 140 minutes long. This might be the answer to probable questions about why it takes so long. He literally stretches Deva's elevation scene for an hour or so and then again for almost half an hour for the massy interval block. The overlong gesture does irritate you for a while, but those action scenes are worth it. Not to forget some weirdly crazy and mad characters that are written with childish vision. It somehow takes the film into the B-grade zone. Then, he follows the same pattern again in the second half, as there are two more big sequences during that one and a half hour. The idea of narrating the story with a lot of confusion (in the ending features) was inspired by KGF. So, Salaar is like watching Ugramm in KGF style, but on a larger scale. He writes some intricate and pre-revolutionary parts in the last 15 minutes, which I think those immature masses won't really understand. They might have to watch the film again to understand what actually happened, and that's a very good technique to bring repeat audiences to your film.

This is the Prabhas we have been missing since Baahubali 2, and it took us 8 freaking years. It also has a lot to do with the directors, and Prasanth Neel was surely aware of Prabhas' larger-than-life image. Prabhas carries the entire film with his phenomenal swag. Those slow mos, action scenes, whistle-worthy dialogues, and mass elevation sequences prove why it is called "Darling" by his fans. Salaar will give them all at least half a dozen opportunities to go wild with their celebrations inside the cinema hall. Prithviraj Sukumaran looked calm most of the time but then went into an out-and-out mass zone in the last 20 minutes. I don't know if it was the issue of dubbing or what, but what a cringeworthy performance Shruti Haasan has given here. Such a terrible accent and bad dialogue delivery. Jagapathi Babu sounded dangerous, but it hasn't been explored yet. Bobby Simha, Tinnu Anand, Ramana, Sriya Reddy, and Easwari Rao were decent, while the rest of the supporting cast was so annoying.

Salaar Part 1 Ceasefire is surely an instant mass blockbuster, despite some flaws in the screenplay. The sound design is loud and massy, but I don't think complaining about it will help us anymore. Prashant Neel did the same thing with KGF, and he is not going to stop. The same dark frames and dark tones aren't going to change either. The cinematography is good, though, and some frames made me regret missing the film in IMAX, especially those top views. Music isn't really there, and it's not an issue, by the way. Prashanth Neel has become a big director and has gained the image of a big-screen master after KGF. Surely, many movie critics won't support that (including me, for some reasons), but audiences have proven it with box office numbers. Salaar will prove it again because Neel has made this film for mass audiences, not critics. It's a complete mass action bonanza for that certain section of cinegoers, which is actually the biggest section of cinegoers in our country. KHG had that monster thing and Yash entering the KGF den scene, and here Salaar has "Phod Diya Na," "Interval Block," "Kaali Maa," "head-cutting scene," and the "climax" that will set single screens on fire. I will remember that dialogue about the "stamp" also. "You said nobody can stop the stamp," and there has been a lot of hype around it since the beginning. The shivering man ends it with a reply: "But he is the man who created that stamp." That's more than enough to make it a blockbuster. It's just not that critic-friendly, but I don't mind some crazy action movies once in a while. As a whole, all I can say is that Salaar Part 1 Ceasefire is going to set the box office on fire this Christmas week and maybe January too. Go for it if you love out-and-out massy action flicks, and prepare yourself for "Salaar Part 2: Shouryaang Parvam.".

RATING - 5/10*

Neon-drenched action and pulsating music ignite Prashanth Neel's Salaar, but beneath the dazzling surface lies a narrative wasteland. While fleeting moments of potential flicker in supporting performances, the film ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own bombast, failing to connect with audiences on an emotional level.

Neel's penchant for spectacle over substance permeates the film. Thundering soundtracks and flamboyant set pieces mask a predictable plot built on overused tropes like "friends turned enemies." The narrative, echoing Neel's previous work, feels reheated and lacks the thematic depth and emotional resonance that captivated audiences in KGF.

Prabhas, burdened by a stoic script, becomes a passive observer in his own film. His slow-motion walks and unemotional delivery fail to inject depth into the protagonist, leaving viewers struggling to connect with him or his motivations. The supporting cast, however, fares better. Prithviraj and Shriya Reddy deliver nuanced performances, hinting at the complexities their characters could have possessed had the script delved deeper.

Action sequences, despite their visual flair, remain emotionally hollow. They roar with bombast but lack the raw power and thematic weight that fueled the fights in KGF. Neel throws spectacle at the screen, but it's like empty confetti - flashy and fleeting, leaving nothing behind but a sense of disappointment.

Salaar's greatest sin lies not in its flaws, but in its missed potential. Glimpses of a compelling story, exploring complex relationships and emotional turmoil, flicker briefly before being extinguished by the film's relentless pursuit of spectacle. These fleeting moments serve as a painful reminder of what Salaar could have been, a film that resonated with audiences on a deeper level than mere visual thrills.

Ultimately, Salaar is a disappointing detour for Neel.

It descends from the raw power of KGF into a hollow spectacle, devoid of the emotional core and thematic depth that made his previous work so impactful. While sparks of potential glimmer in the supporting performances, they're not enough to salvage the overall underwhelming experience. Skip Salaar and revisit KGF for a more fulfilling encounter with Neel's directorial talent.

***Salaar Movie Review ***

Directed by Prashant Neel starring Rebel Star Prabhas in the lead. Also starring Prithviraj Sukumaran

Prashant Neel's KGF, this was the reason for watching Salaar & an expectation that there will be link of KGF and Salaar but the later is not there.

Coming to Salaar, the movie had given mass moments but it's kind feel of over injection of mass elements which creates a disinterest in watching.

Prabhas had given the best with his swag and the way he delivers the action but a viewer who watched Yash in KGF, the same goosebumps is not having when watching Prabhas in Salaar. The background music had been used extensively to elevate the mass sequences which clearly gives an indication that its intentionally made.

Prithviraj had given a decent performance.

The last 30 minutes filled with action was interesting but when deep driving in the second half, many times the screenplay had been accelerated thereby a lot feeling that something is not going as per it is required.

The core of the movie is similar to of KGF. It's about the POWER but Salaar had expressed in through the mode of friendship & violence..

There will be a lot which needs to be unboxed in Part so Part 1 is an above average flick for me.