Lal Salaam : A Nonsensical Salute

 

Movie: Lal Salaam
Rating: 2/5
Cast: Rajinikanth, Vishnu Vishal, Vikranth, KS Ravi Kumar, Senthil, Thambi Ramaiah and others
Director:  Aishwarya Rajinikanth
Produced By: Alliraja Subaskaran

Release Date: 9th February 2024

Story:

The film's story is set in the early nineties in Kasumur village. Guru (Vishnu Vishal) is a youngster with anger issues, but he plays cricket proficiently, achieving great success for his team. The movie's basic plot revolves around a single act of untimely aggression that causes a division between two families, leading to rioting in the village. Moideen Bhai (Rajinikanth) is a successful businessman in Mumbai and operates his operations in a manner that is similar to that of a don. Guru's parents form a close bond with him. 

Performances:

Vishnu Vishal delivered a good performance as Guru, and Vikrant was also well-suited for the character of Salahuddin. Rajinikanth could not show much impact in the character of Moideen Bhai except for a few dialogues. Jeevitha Rajasekhar, Tambi Ramaiah, Avantika, Nirosha, Dhanya Balakrishnan, and others were apt. 

What worked for the film:

The main intention of the film, to promote religious harmony, is evident in a few scenes. The final parts in the second half have a considerable impact as the proceedings go in a flow.

What did not work for the film:

The use of the back-and-forth technique causes a significant amount of confusion. To hide the apparent predictability in the film, the narrative uses the format mentioned above, which only helps a little. An uneven tone exists constantly in the movie, as politics, riots, betting, religious festivals, inter-village quarrels, and a brief love story co-occur with no issue getting the desired effect. 

Lal Salaam Movie Review and Verdict:

Lal Salaam Movie is a Nonsensical Salute. Despite having good intentions, the film's messy and shaky screenplay, which focuses on many issues like cricket, festivals, religion, and politics, has yet to make an impact. The much-hyped character of Rajnikanth turns out to be an insignificant element.