Lal Salaam Movie Review: A Very Boring Experience
Rajinikanth made a triumphant return to cinema with his latest film Lal Salaam, in which he had a substantial cameo role, following his record-breaking hit “Jailer”.
A small town in the 1990s is the setting for this tale. Guru (Vishnu Vishal) and Samshi (Vikranth), who is the son of Moideen Bhai (Rajinikanth), are buddies. The state’s Ranji squad selects Samshi to play, but he must first agree to play in a match in their hometown.
A violent amputation of Samshi’s hand occurs after the competition as a fight breaks out between the opposing teams. When Muslims and Hindus in the village start blaming Guru, tensions rise.
Despite their differing religious views, Moideen manages to bring them together and resolves the matter, setting the stage for the rest of the drama.
In the film, Rajinikanth has a lengthy cameo. He conveys the impression of a long-running character. Both parts of the film feature his appearance. The story thickens with his presence in scenes where he preaches religious tolerance.
Kapil Dev makes a brief appearance as well. The performances by Vikranth and Vishnu Vishal are commendable.
Review of Lal Salaam
“Lal Salaam” is a “Red Salute.” But you don’t get the film’s title, does you? We see it as a metaphor for the universality of red blood among all people, regardless of their religion. The film does indeed centre on religious tolerance and the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims and Hindus.
The story also unfolds in the early 1990s, following the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir conflict. Consequently, I get it. Beyond that, though, the film touches on a number of topics, including Jathara (Hindu festivals), cricket, and rural politics.
However, it deals with all of the concerns it brings up in a dull way. The story’s execution is dull, formulaic, and occasionally clumsy.
The script is complicated. The video alternates between scenes that focus on the villagers’ fight to buy their theru (chariot) instead of borrowing from another village and scenes that examine the hero’s lack of ambition, inability to earn money, and responsibility. It touches on topics like religious harmony and the importance of friendship multiple times.
The picture fails to evoke strong feelings due to the inconsistency of all these aspects.
It is praiseworthy that Rajinikanth has engaged in discourse with the Muslim population in India and nationalist sentiment. On the other hand, there are moments when it becomes too didactic. After all this time, Sai Kumar finally dubbed Rajnikanth’s voice, and it sounded quite different from Mano’s.
To add more “commercial” value, Aishwarya Rajinikanth incorporates the “Kantara” part at the end after shifting topics. But it appears that they are ineffective.
In spite of its powerful message, “Lal Salaam” falls flat in every respect. The film is tedious to watch because of its slow narrator and lack of dramatic impact. Even with Rajinikanth’s star power, the directing is dull and fails to captivate.
Movie: Lal Salaam
Rating: 1/5
Cast: Superstar Rajinikanth, Vishnu Vishal, Vikranth, Senthil, Jeevitha, Thambi Ramaiah, Ananthika Sanilkumar, Vivek Prasanna, Thangadurai and others
Story: Vishnu Rangasamy
Music: A.R. Rahman
Cinematography: Vishnu Rangasamy
Editor: B. Pravin baaskar
Art: Ramu Thangaraj
Choreography: Dinesh
Stunt: Anl Arasu, Kickass Kaali, Stunt Vicky
Producer: Subaskaran
Written and Directed by: Aishwarya Rajinikanth
Release Date: Feb 09, 2024
