Do you remember those good old days when the only important question was “Kattappa ne Bahubali ko kyu maara?” Well, they weren’t good old days just for us, but for Prabhas too. But ever since Bahubali 2, ‘that’ Prabhas really went missing. With nothing going his way, especially last year’s Adipurush (core trauma), it almost felt like inka toh hogaya ab. But Prashanth Neel had other plans. The much-awaited Salaar is finally in theatres, and guess what? Prabhas is back with banggg lessgooo. Prashanth Neel throws us into the crazy, action-packed world of Khansaar. And while it is not another KGF, it still is a treat for all Prabhas fans out there!
Plot
Okay, first warning– apne dimaag ki cache clear karke jaana ye movie dekhne because it is SO information dense. Seedha-seedha bolu toh, we’ve got Deva (Prabhas) and Prince Varadaraja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) who are the best of friends. But Deva has to move out of Khansaar but promises that if Varada ever needs him, wo waapis aayega. Now, cut to three decades later, it is time for Varada to become the king. But the evil ministers decide to stage a coup, and that’s when Varada calls for Deva, and they team up to beat the shiz out of the enemies. But as I said, itna bhi simple nahi hai. There’s politics, tribes, zombies(???), and like a dozen important characters WITH their backstories in just under 3 hours. *takes a deep breath*
Performances
Since the movie has sooo many characters, it naturally has a mixed bag of performances. Prabhas flexes his muscles and brooding stares as the massy Deva and it is easily his best representation since Bahubali (jashn ki taiyyari karo guysss). But I felt his character was mostly one-dimensional apart from the scenes where he is shown to care for Varada. Prithviraj brings that royal vibe to Varadaraja Mannar and matches Prabhas’ intensity in the action sequences. The supporting squad, from Jagapathi Babu to Bobby Simha, does enough to contribute to the chaotic storyline. However, Shruti Haasan is a biggg disappointment. What is that accent??? What are those dialogues??? Just so fcking funny. Also, Easwari Rao as Deva’s mom is pretty irritating. Har choti-choti baat par insecure hojaati hai yaar. Just chill pls.
Direction and Writing
Prashanth Neel always goes all out on grandeur and scale. But this time, it kinda pinches you. 3 hours ki movie mein se ek ghanta toh bass base story set up karane mein lag jaata hai. At one point, it really gets on your nerves. And itna saara info? There’s politics, various tribes, drugged zombies, and dozens of backstories– this first part itself demands a trilogy. Isme saare aspects aadhe-adhure se lagte hain. It is the second half that actually gets you striped for a mad rollercoaster ride. Neel’s characters are ‘violent men’ on steroids, and the ‘mother sentiment’ is the glue holding it all together. But you have to wait a longgg, longgg time before you can embrace the juicy stuff. ‘Sabr ka phal meetha’ ko kitna Gen-Z bana diya maine, wow.
Screenplay and Cinematography
I absolutely fell in love with the way Khansaar and its tribes were presented, almost got a GOT-like feeling. And if “Salaar” gets a spin-off, it better be on the history of that place. For a massy action thriller, the cinematography is top-notch and there are SO MANY *peak cinema* scenes. Even the set design is on point and almost draws you into the world of Khansaar. But my favorite part of the movie has got to be the climax. The visuals, the backstories, just *chef’s kiss* So, I have a simple point to keep– the slow burn in the first half might make you want to check your watch, but trust me, the explosion in the second half is worth the wait.
All in all, Salaar- Part 1 is everything a Prabhas fan could’ve wished for. But it’s not everything a Prabhas Neel fan would’ve wished for. There’s a crazy chaotic storyline, some of the most bizarre action sequences, and stunning cinematography and set design. But it is too information-dense for an action movie and drags a hell lotttt. And that’s where it kinda fcks up. You can’t help but wish for the first half to be over so that you can dive into the second half. Definitely watch it on the big screen, but don’t forget to take your note pads with you. Prabhas is SO BACKKK.
