Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire review: Prabhas starrer is a bloody mix of KGF & Baahubali with a dash of Game of Thrones

Cast: Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu, Bobby Simha, Tinnu Anand, Easwari Rao, Sriya Reddy and Ramachandra Raju

Director: Prashanth Neel

After delivering monstrous blockbusters in the form of  Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion, Prabhas emerged as the pan-India megastar. However, his last three outings – Saaho, Radhe Shyam and Adipurush– failed to meet the audience’s expectations. This time, the Rebel Star has collaborated with KGF franchise helmer Prashanth Neel for a massy-actioner. So, does he succeed in winning our hearts this time? Let’s find out…

The story of Salaar revolves around Deva (Prabhas) aka Cutout, fondly called by children, who lives near a coal mine with his mother (Easwari Rao) in the remote village of Tinsukia in Assam. For the last seven years, the duo has been moving from place to place with Deva’s mother keeping a close eye on her son and shielding him from violence. Everything seems fine until Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), who is in danger from Obulamma (Jhansi), is brought to Deva and his mother by Billal for refuge.

Simultaneously, Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu) decides to make his son, Vardha (Prithviraj Sukumaran) his successor to Khansaar City. However, this decision triggers ministers and close relatives of Mannar. After which, we see some mind games, strategies and ultimately the chaotic situations to get the crown. The war raises several questions like the identity of Aadhya and her connection with Vardha. What was the reason for animosity between two best friends Vardha and Deva? The movie unfolds these answers with surprises and massy twists.

Director Prashanth Neel once again comes up with a riveting tale, which has all the elements of a commercial entertainer. Right from celebrating heroism to the ruggedness of characters, larger-than-life storytelling with layers of traits like betrayal, loyalty and leadership ultimately results in a compelling narrative. The editing is crisp and sharp with proper placements of emotional depth, which leaves the audience with a daunting experience. However, the film gives you dejavu of the KGF franchise due to its backdrop and rawness among villains. In some scenes, it will remind you of Baahubali because of Prabhas’ persona. The setting of sequences has Game Of Thrones vibe, which adds extra appeal to its narrative.

Talking about the performances, Prabhas is back and how! Finally, he did what his fans were craving for. He perfectly balances his character with raw action sequences and emotional nuances. With minimalistic dialogues, the actor makes his expressive eyes and actions do the talking and keeps you at the edge of your seat. Prithviraj Sukumaran as Vardha is simply outstanding. His intense act and camaraderie with Prabhas enhance the viewing experience. There is hardly any scope for Shruti Haasan in the movie. Maybe, we see more of her in the second part.

Jagapathi Babu, Bobby Simha, John Vijay, and Sriya Reddy contribute to the complexities of layered storytelling. The VFX and SFX departments deserve brownie points for showing Khansaar City most believably and giving a visual appeal to the viewers.

On the whole, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is a massy comeback for Prabhas and a Christmas treat for his fans.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)

Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is playing in cinemas near you

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