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| Image Courtesy: RottenTomatoes |
I caught this one on Thursday, 12-21-2023, at Cinemark Totem Lake. Brace yourself, folks, because this wasn't your average first-day-first-show experience. In the US of A, we're a reserved bunch, so don't expect Bollywood-style chair-dancing at every item number. We might clap politely, maybe even mutter a "wow" under our breath, but that's about it.
Now, Salaar. Imagine Game of Thrones hopped up on Red Bull and took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. That's Khansar, a dystopian playground where warring tribes with animal totems (think Game of Thrones meets the Serengeti) squabble under the watchful eye of a dysfunctional royal family. It's like a pressure cooker full of political intrigue, ready to explode at any moment.
Prabhas, bless his ripped-shirt-wearing heart, returns to his comfort zone of action-drama as Deva. He emotes with his biceps more than his eyebrows, but hey, it works. Prashanth Neel finally unlocks the "body language = acting" cheat code that only Rajamouli had cracked before.
The first half? Let's just say Khansar's tourism board wouldn't be thrilled. It's a bit of a slog, throwing characters and plot points at you like confetti at a Telugu wedding. But then BAM! Interval block hits you harder than a rogue elephant in a china shop. Think Baahubali on steroids, and you're getting close.
The action sequences? Neel's bread and butter, baby. Explosions, flying vehicles(don't ask), Prabhas single-handedly dismantling entire armies – it's like Michael Bay took a vacation to Khansar. And the best part? We, the audience, are basically Shruti Haasan in this movie. We're just trying to figure out why everyone wants her dead and why this brooding hunk named Deva is the only one who can save her (while also having major bro issues with the king, played by the ever-so-charming Prithviraj Sukumaran).
The plot? Thicker than a Maharaja's gravy. It's like a lasagna with layers of political machinations, family feuds, and enough backstabbing to fill a Shakespearean play. Kannada fans might recognize some Ugramm vibes, but for everyone else, it's a fresh (and slightly bonkers) take on dystopian drama.
What rocked my boat:
Khansar: This place is like Mordor meets Burning Man, and I'm here for it.
Tribal swag: Those animal totems? Cooler than a pet velociraptor (although probably less cuddly).
Political intrigue: Enough twists and turns to make your head spin like a Sufi dancer.
Prabhas + Prithviraj bromance (or is it frenemy-ship?): Watching these two titans clash is like popcorn for the soul.
What made me want to throw popcorn at the screen:
Shruti Haasan's accent: It went from NRI to full-blown Jersey Shore in 0.2 seconds. Girl, dial it back!
Prabhas's one-man-army routine: We get it, you're strong. Can we give the other characters a chance to breathe (and maybe punch someone)?
Overall, Salaar is a wild ride through a Telugu Game of Thrones fever dream. It's not perfect, but it's definitely entertaining. So grab your subtitles, popcorn, and maybe a stress ball (things get intense), and prepare to be transported to Khansar. Just don't ask me to explain the plot – even the subtitles got lost in that labyrinth. See you for Part 2, Shouranga Parvam, where hopefully things get a little less bonkers (or maybe even more, who knows with Salaar?).
#Salaar, #DystopianWorld, #PrashantNeel, #Khansar
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