Salaar: Cease Fire – Part 1 (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – A gang leader tries to keep a promise made to his dying friend and takes on the other criminal gangs.

My Take – Bestowed the title of Rebel Star by his fans, Prabhas has been a popular actor in Telugu cinema ever since he wowed audience with his breakthrough role in the action romance Varsham (2004). However, it was his titular portrayal in filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli‘s epic action drama Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and its sequel, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) that plunged Prabhas into global stardom.

And though his next releases, were stupendously mounted to rake upon a similar kind of success, unfortunately for him, critically languished films like Saaho (2019), and box office bombs like Radhe Shyam (2022) and Adipurush (2023), only went on to hurt his brand.

Now pairing up with writer-director Prashanth Neel, known primarily for helming the mammoth Kannada-language K.G.F. film series, it gives Prabhas another significant opportunity to impress especially considering the scale of the film. As expected, the film allows him to once again prove his footing and is a delight to watch.

A man of few words, Prabhas looks slick in action sequences, making the film a feast for his ardent fans. Indeed, director Prashanth Neel leaves no opportunity to elevate his character, masterfully making his protagonist appear larger than life. However, though the film invests significant time in world-building, it also falls short of captivating with its narrative.

Drawing inspiration from his own 2014 Kannada film Ugramm, this one is indeed an engaging watch for those with a taste for grand and epic narratives, yet it ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own bombast, failing to connect with audiences on an emotional level.

Director Neel‘s penchant for spectacle over substance permeates the film, and while loud BGMs and flamboyant set pieces try their best to mask a predictable plot build on overused tropes, the narrative feels too familiar and lacks the thematic depth and emotional resonance that made both the K.G.F films such a riveting experiences.

Beginning in 1985 in the fictional city of Khansaar, which establishes Devaratha “Deva” Raisaar and Vardharaja “Vardha” Mannar, son of Khansaar’s king, Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu), as inseparable friends, who due to circumstances have to go their separate ways.

Forwarding to 2017, the story follows a grow-up Deva (Prabhas), known as Cutout, who now lives with his mother (Easwari Rao) in the remote village of Tinsukia in Assam and works in the local coal mines. For the last seven years, they have moved from place to place, with his mother keeping a stringent watch on Deva, shielding him from indulging in any kind of violence.

Only to find himself in a mix when he is handed the responsibility of protecting Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), who arrived from the United States, and immediately became a target of Radha Rama Mannar (Sriya Reddy) and Obulamma (Jhansi), rivals of her father and members of the Khansaar regime, seeking revenge for something that happened seven years ago.

In 2010, in the tumultuous city of Khansar, Raja Mannar’s decision to make Vardha (Prithviraj Sukumaran) his successor triggered a dangerous coup, orchestrated by Mannar’s ministers and advisors.

With each side gaining mass private armies for themselves, Vardha feeling constant existential threat calls on his childhood best friend, Deva to embark on a perilous mission to get him to the throne. What follows are multiple action sequences, and each gets better than the earlier one.

The film begins on a simple note, establishing the friendship between two boys and a promise made by Deva to his friend. The setup doesn’t feel new, and the hero’s introduction and characterization follow a dull approach, taking time to build excitement. The film mostly has a dull first half, a high-intensity interval, and better action drama in the second half.

A couple of action sequences hit it out of the park, making it worth a one-time watch for its scale. The fight scene where Deva saves a girl is well-designed, and the heroic dialogues are written effectively. It’s brutal but effective.

Earlier, director Prashanth Neel hinted at the film’s plot to be in lines with the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. True to that it introduces intriguing backdrops and characters.

Here, director Neel has meticulously created the dystopian city of Khansar with intricate details, establishing a multitude of characters with a narrative spanning between 1747 and the present times. The cinematography captures the essence of Khansar’s tumultuous atmosphere, immersing the audience in the city’s tension and drama.

The soundtrack adds a robust layer to the film’s atmosphere, complementing the tone and heightening the emotional impact of certain scenes. The special effects are effective, contributing significantly to the film’s visual appeal.

But the film has one too many characters, names, and cunning ploys that it makes us hard to remember the names and the side they belong to. Being a first installment, the film aims to introduce all the main characters in the story, but with the hurried establishment, one finds it hard to connect with the character and their game plan.

Sure, it is a decent watch, yet considering its run time of 177 minutes, it is also exhausting. The sequel promises to fill in a lot of the gaps, and we will hopefully see more of the titan that we are told Deva is.

Performances wise, Prabhas, is both electrifying and docile, delivering a performance that combines raw power with deep emotional depth. However, burdened by a stoic script, his slow-motion walks and unemotional delivery fail to inject depth into the protagonist, leaving viewers struggling to connect with him or his motivations. Prithviraj Sukumaran turns in the film’s best performance. His compelling turns adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. He is a fine blend of gentle and deadly as required. Their scenes together are the film’s highlight.

The gorgeous Shruti Haasan brings a sense of balance but is mostly limited to the first half and a few scenes in the second. In supporting roles, Tinnu Anand, Easwari Rao, Jagapathi Babu, Sriya Reddy, Jhansi, Ramachandra Raju and Mime Gopi manage to stand out. On the whole, ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire‘ is a decent action entertainer that celebrates Prabhas‘s stardom but ultimately fumbles under its own weight.