Prabhas Salaar Review
Release Date: December 22, 2023
Rating: 3.25/5
Starring: Prabhas, Prithviraj, Shruti Haasan, Tinu Anand, Eshwari Rao, Jagapathi Babu, Sriya Reddy, Garuda Ram
Director: Prashanth Neel
Producer: Vijay Kiragandur
Music Director: Ravi Basrur
Cinematographer: Bhuvan Gowda
Editor: Ujwal Kulkarni
After a three-year wait, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, the highly anticipated collaboration of Prabhas and Prashanth Neel, finally hit the big screens worldwide today amidst high expectations. Let’s dive into our review to see if the film lives up to the hype.
Story:
Deva (Prabhas) leads a simple life with a mysterious past, residing with his mother in Tinsukia. The peace is disrupted when a gang searches for Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), a newcomer in town. Deva discovers that his best friend Varadharaja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) in Khansaar city is behind the scheme. The conflict escalates, raising questions. Who is Aadhya? What connects her to Varadharaj? What caused the rift between the two friends? The movie unfolds the answers.
Plus Points:
After a long break, fans finally see Prabhas in a full-fledged action film, skillfully presented by Prashanth Neel, who knows how to showcase Prabhas in a way fans love.
Prabhas fits perfectly into the role of Deva aka Salaar, making it difficult to imagine another actor in the part. His character involves minimal dialogue but oozes violence, showcasing his physique, dialogue delivery, and overall fan-friendly persona. Prabhas’ intense and ruthless behavior, especially in action scenes, keeps the audience engaged.
Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a solid performance, adding depth to the film. His proficiency in Telugu and compelling scenes with Prabhas enhance the viewing experience.
The first half has a strong impact, featuring Prashanth Neel’s signature fast-paced and engaging screenplay. Impressive action sequences, along with a good score, create moments that fans will cheer for.
Minus Points:
While the story maintains a decent pace in the first half, the second half could have benefited from a more polished narration. Some scenes in the second hour might remind viewers of KGF, affecting the film’s originality.
Despite a strong supporting cast, Prashanth Neel mainly highlights certain actors, sidelining others who could have had more significant roles.
The abundance of violence in the second half may not resonate well with family audiences.
Technical Aspects:
Prashanth Neel again showcases his directing skills, using simple scenes to highlight heroism. A more focused approach to the story and screenplay in the second half could have improved the overall narrative.
Ravi Basrur’s music adds to the scenes, and Bhuvan Gowda’s cinematography is commendable. Anbarivu’s stunts are a highlight. While Ujwal Kulkarni’s editing could have been smoother in the second half, the production values are commendable.
Verdict:
Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire stands out as an intense action drama featuring a fantastic performance by Prabhas, especially in action scenes, and Prithviraj. Well-executed stunts add to the film’s appeal. However, the simple narrative, a somewhat slow second half, and excessive violence are noticeable drawbacks. If you are a fan of Prabhas or enjoy high-energy action movies, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is worth watching this weekend.
