Salaar: Parte 1- Ceasefire

Salaar has been my most-awaited film for 2023. It ticks most of the boxes for the mass movie fan in me: A mass movie focused on a single character dominance, Neel directorial which is usually a no-nonsense action movie with cracking goosebump scenes and a much awaited comeback for Prabhas who is tailor made for characters like this amongst other things. Salaar somehow touches most of these boxes but does not check it wholeheartedly.

I will approach this review differently by describing how different aspects of the movie works but falls short somehow:

The Plot/Story: This is definitely the most complex storyline of a Prashant Neel movie. While the plot gets really interesting towards the end, you tend to realize that a lot of time was wasted in the first half for no good reason. Eventually the movie leaves a lot to be explored in Part 2 but I feel there could be too much left to show in Part 2 and I'm afraid there is going to be a tough job for editors. It is also quite a risky move to have not even planned to shoot Part-2 yet (which Neel has admitted in interviews) with so much left to be told.

The Action: Finally Prabhas gets his groove back with the action sequences which perfectly suit his body language. There are some great creative choices on some of the action scenes which are definitely bound to get cheers in the cinema halls although they aren't entirely logical. There are creative killings which justify the A rating but they were definitely not necessary for the plot, not that I'm complaining. But I would have definitely loved to see some more physical effort from the lead characters for some of the action scenes. At times it is just too cool and too easy.

Screenplay: Prashant Neel's strength has been screenplay over the storyline in his past movies but in Salaar it is the other way around. The movie does follow the traditional way of telling flashback stories like most mass movies but as the movie gets close to the end, there is no payback to the flashback narration. The movie ends like an interval scene which we have seen in most of the mass movies. This ending makes the first half screenplay seem pretty odd.

Dialogues: Neel's previous works have always boasted of minimal but impactful dialogues. While Uggram had some of the best written Kannada lines, KGF had very quirky and mass one liners especially with a good mix of Hindi. There aren't any trademark dialogues in Salaar which will etch in one's memory but Prabhas and Prithwiraj's does have some fun one liner exchanges. Those also serve as the little humour element in this movie. Dialogues are well written but it is not something you'd remember it for years to come.

Music and Background Score: Most of us were already slightly disappointed with the background score of Ravi Basrur in KGF 2 as compared to KGF 1. Unfortunately the background score doesn't really match up to Prabhas' screen presence and build up for most parts in the first half, especially for his introduction sequence. The music and background score does get better in the second half and there's a 'main theme music' which could have been made better use of in the first half as well. Overall, the background score falls short of creating some major goosebump moments leading up to the fight.

Cinematography, Editing and Visuals: Bhuvan Gowda continues his stellar form with some great shots and he manages to showcase Prabhas at his best. Aerial shots and shots of the city landscape totally reminds you of KGF 2 in many parts but not in a bad way. The visual effects team have done a great job in showcasing completely imaginary cities, towns and walls. The choice of using Neel's favourite dark-tone does seem excessive at times. Dare I say that they also have done a good job in digitally modifying Prabhas' looks in some scenes, and yes it is evident. While the action sequences are edited well, the same cannot be said about the shifts that we experience in some of the dramatic sequences. While the set design of Khansaar kingdom does remind you of many hollywood movies, the hair and make-up department has done an exceptional job in making each character stand out.

Performances: Neel manages to explore Prabhas' strengths perfectly by writing a role which involves him being the quiet and dangerous hero. Prabhas' performance does remind one of his Chatrapathi and other mass movie days without the unnecessary comedy and duet numbers. This is definitely the much needed comeback for Prabhas. Prithwiraj does excel as Varada Raja Mannar but at least for Part 1 there isn't any USP element for his role which makes him stand out or explore his strengths. Apart from these two, there is a plethora of supporting characters of which most of them have done nothing but justice to their role. Sriya Reddy, Bobby Simha, Garuda Ram, Madhu Guruswamy, Pramod Panju and Tinu Anand are some of the highlight performers. Of course special mention to Naveen Shankar who even with a very little screen presence makes a major impact and I am quite excited to see him in part-2. Just like the other Neel movies, we do have some creative choices for character and family names.

Uggram Connection (Extra): A lot has been discussed about this movie being a remake of Uggram, but let me assure you it's not. However Neel has straight up taken some scenes and moments from Uggram and recreated them here. He does have the creative freedom to do that considering its his own work but I personally feel that he should have admitted that to the Kannada audience. I could here some gasps of disappointment in the theatres for some of the exact scenes.

Overall, Salaar makes for an almost satisfying theatrical experience but it leaves a lot of things open-ended. While it does deliver on the promise of a violent action film, it somehow fails to connect much at an emotional level. Neel continues to show how good he is at doing what he does but I feel that he does not really justify the time he has invested to bring this dinosaur finally out of its hideout.

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*

Action movies have become excessively exaggerated in Indian cinema lately. Prabhas, known for his roles post-Bahubali, seems to be stuck in a rut with repetitive movies where he remains stationary, only altering the planet's rotation. This particular film features a dozen entry scenes, with Prabhas engaging in fights without moving from a single spot, resulting in hundreds of people being chopped down. The movie appears to be heavily inspired by Game of Thrones but executed poorly, mirroring the constant shifts in the storyline.

The main lead in the film resembles a mere model, standing stoically and striking poses every 5-10 minutes. The movie lacks substance, presenting a mindless and directionless action spectacle where everything seems to spiral out of control. Unfortunately, there's a sequel on the horizon, much to the dismay of the audience. It's advisable to steer clear of this film at all costs to save yourself from disappointment.

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 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.