Ruslaan

Ruslaan is like a masterclass in how not to make a movie in 2024. Aayush Sharma tries to flex his "mass hero" muscles again, but instead of delivering something entertaining, we're gifted with a mess that feels like it time-traveled from a 90s reject bin. Honestly, the filmmakers seem blissfully unaware that Indian cinema has moved on. They've also hilariously attempted to push the absurd narrative that all Muslim officers are shining examples of patriotism, while the Hindu cop? Yep, you guessed it-he's a traitor. Bold storytelling or just lazy stereotyping?

The film's plot is a worn-out cliché: a terrorist's son proving his loyalty to the country. Groundbreaking stuff, right? Wrong. If they thought the twist in the climax was something new, someone should have told them it was last seen in a Saas-Bahu serial circa 2002. The action scenes are drenched in unnecessary slow motion-seriously, how many angles of Aayush walking in slo-mo do we need? By the third one, I felt like I was stuck in a loop of boredom. The filmmakers seem to think that slow motion equals tension. Spoiler: It doesn't.

Speaking of the cast, Aayush's performance is as forgettable as the plot. The "mass avatar" they've tried to push just doesn't fit. It's like putting a superhero cape on a bored office worker and expecting him to fly. Sushrii Mishraa is there for nothing more than eye candy, because, of course, a film from the 1960s rulebook mandates a bikini scene-even in 2024. Vidya Malvade is supposed to be a tough intelligence officer, but she feels more like a cardboard cutout, and Jagapathi Babu, trying his best to add a pan-India flavor, looks painfully out of place.

The editing? Abysmal. Ruslaan manages to stretch a two-hour runtime into an experience that feels three times longer. The songs are so forgettable, you might wonder if you dreamed them. But honestly, why were they even there? It's like the editor gave up halfway through and thought, "Eh, let's just leave it all in." The production design is so low-budget it feels like the crew raided a discount store five minutes before shooting. At least that would explain why the film looks so shoddy.

Director Karan Butani seems to be living in a parallel universe where outdated masala flicks are still a thing. If this was his attempt to bring that era back, he failed. Spectacularly. Ruslaan is nothing but a torturous ride into mediocrity, and for those who manage to sit through it, congratulations-you've earned a medal for endurance.

What is a movie? Who is acting? What's screenplay? Some serious questions that need contemplation by the makers of this movie. This is some serious B grade from Bollywood. The lead actor, doesn't know acting apart from raising and twisting his eyebrows! What a joke of a movie! The action is lackluster! The music, horrible. Dialogues, noob. Story, idiotic. I would not recommend you watch this movie even at home for free. It's a serious waste of time. I humbly request, Aayush Sharma to stop dreaming of his acting career. Jagapathi Babu doing this B grade movie is beyond me. Save yourself, DO NOT WATCH!

"They prioritize flash over substance, thinking a hero's muscles suffice. Neglecting a compelling face and story, they fill screen time without depth. Balance visual appeal with narrative for genuine impact. Character development and engaging storytelling elevate a hero's physicality, investing audiences emotionally and intellectually.

Substance transcends superficiality, fostering connection and resonance. Meaningful narratives explore complexities, motivations, and growth. Investing in story enriches the cinematic experience, leaving a lasting impression.

Audiences crave authenticity, relatability, and emotional investment. Shallow storytelling alienates viewers, undermining potential. Well-crafted narratives weave themes, symbolism, and subtext, rewarding attention and reflection.

Visual spectacle complements, rather than replaces, narrative depth. Iconic films master this balance, resonating with audiences worldwide. Let's prioritize storytelling substance, crafting memorable, impactful cinematic experiences that linger long after credits roll."

Ruslaan (2024) : Movie Review -

After Antim, Aayush Sharma again gets into the mass zone to show some improvements, but gets a messy flick instead. This mass avatar of Aayush deserved a better script, a better screenplay, and a better film. Antim was saved due to the remake factor, which had something new for the Hindi audiences since they had not seen a masala flick made on farmers or their sons' issues. Ruslaan is way behind in time in that section. The same outdated ideas of patriotic movies from the terrorist's son prove his loyalty to the country. And if they think that the twist in the climax was really new, then they should have made this film in the 1990s, not 2024. It's startling to know that Hindi, or, for that matter, Indian cinema, is still holding onto those ancient theories when Adivi Sesh has already made a spy thriller like "Goodachari." Watch it and learn instead of wasting time, money, and talent on films like Ruslaan.

Little Ruslaan (Aayush Sharma) is adopted by ATS officer Sameer Singh (Jagapathi Babu) and his wife after he killed Ruslaan's terrorist father in an encounter. Ruslaan grows up to be a spy, trying to get a place in RA&W, but his madam, Mantra (Vidya Malvade), believes that he is not ready for it yet. He was given a mission to collect information from the college group of activists and provide it to other agencies. "Do not engage" is the only mantra he gets from Mantra. But his impulsive and aggressive behaviour always blows his cover. Therefore, Mantra sends a senior agent, Vaani (Sushrii Mishraa), to look after him. During one of the missions, Ruslaan finds himself in trouble as he is declared a terrorist by his own father and should be shot dead. There begins a new and personal mission for innocent Ruslaan to prove that he is loyal to his country.

What Ruslaan lacks is a good story, first of all, and then a screenplay that can hold on to that good story. It lacks both, and that's why I have to say that "there is no Jaan in Ruslaan." Exactly; there is no soul. You don't have a good story or engaging screenplay, and then you have over-the-top and low-grade action set pieces. How should one spend 130 minutes watching it? What are you giving us anyway? Seriously, they needed to look through the story before taking it to the floor. Paper work is cheap; filmmaking is expensive, you know. But did they know it before making the film? It might have suited decently in some low-grade cinema industries, but in Bollywood, you definitely need a production design of higher scale and quality. Ruslaan doesn't look like one, not from a distance. The same goddam chase sequences, the boring conversations between the hero and the villain, then the same old action sequences in slow mo and then there is that irritating twist. Please stop it, says the public with joined hands.

Aayush Sharma's performance is nothing special, but his mass image is definitely something. The presentation should have been better. In the first scene, you see his side angle in slow mo, then after 2 minutes, another slow motion from the backside, and then again another slow mo from the front, followed by slow mo action sequences. How many slow Mos were there, by the way? Somebody tell them one is enough. Sushrii again has nothing to do but be useful to make a good female pair. One bikini scene was mandatory, as per the 1960s rulebook, but sadly, they read it in 2024. A hot-looking intelligence officer like Vidya Malvade is the need of the time, but it can only exist in movies. The south dose of Jagapathi doesn't suit here in any way, but they had to have it to make a pan-India thing nowadays. Sal Yusuf, Beena Banerjee, Richard Bhakti Klein, and Manish Gaharwar get something to do and are grateful for it.

Ruslaan is about 2 hours long and still makes it look like a 3-hour ride. The editing by Rajendra Bhaat is at fault here. What are those songs anyway? Did I even look up at the screen once while they were playing? No, I didn't. Then why didn't he remove them? G. Srinivas Reddy takes you through his blink-and-miss frames in free time, while in busy time, he was looking for some free time, I guess. The production design of the film is bad. It never looks like a moderate-budget film that can be viewed as a decent entertainer. It's below what you call a "low level." Karan Butani is studying old books of masala flicks that don't help in today's time. The syllabus has changed, and he needs to buy new books now. Ruslaan is his mistake. He must admit it and move on to better projects in the future, because there can't be any explanation for making such a bad film. Better luck next time to Aayush and Karan both, and best of luck to those who are going to watch it.

RATING - 3/10*

ATS Officer Sameer Singh (Jagapathi Babu) finds Ruslaan during an undercover mission to eliminate suspected terrorists. Sameer saves Ruslaan and eventually adopts him after seeing his state at the orphanage. The grown up Ruslaan (Aayush Sharma) is forced to prove his identity and loyalty all his life, which has made him firm in his decision to join the forces which Sameer objects. This doesn't stop Ruslaan as he willingly becomes the asset of Mantra, his handler and way for joining RAW. On his mission, he uncovers the involvement of China and eventually falls into a trap which makes him the target with his father Sameer leading the team to capture him. How does Ruslaan prove his innocence and also stop an impending attack in Mumbai, forms rest of the story.

The plus is obviously Aayush Sharma's committed performance which does feel too much considering how the film turned out in second half. The delayed production with the change of director, one can clearly notice how basic the writing is and it is designed as a star vehicle to glorify Aayush Sharma on screen. It is watchable as far as the first half goes with the only major minus being the overdose of slow motion shots and forgettable songs. It has enough melodrama and establishes the clear motive for the hero to join the forces. It's a straight forward story with predictable twists.

The problem lies in the second half entirely where the film stops taking itself seriously while Aayush remains committed. In one scene, he provides his phone, having a video and asks his partner to check the co-ordinates for which she literally zooms in the video and swipes right continuously to claim she has found the co-ordinates. The major scenes lack impact and things fall in place rather too conveniently. The final twist was again quite predictable and definitely not well handled. The actors can only do so much when the writing lacks the fizz. I am going with a lenient rating for Aayush Sharma's commitment and Ruslaan offers nothing else.