Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire Movie Review: A Grandiose Tale of Friendship and Power

Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire Movie Review: A Grandiose Tale of Friendship and Power

Rating:- 1.8/3⭐️⭐️

Runtime:-2hr 57 min

**Introduction**

Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is a 2023 Indian  Telugu-language epic action film written and directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Vijay Kiragandur. It stars Prabhas and  Prithviraj Sukumaran, with a supporting cast  that includes Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu, Bobby Simha, Tinnu Anand, Easwari Rao, Sriya Reddy and Ramachandra Raju. The film is the first part of a two-part series, and follows the friendship between Deva (Prabhas), a   tribesman, and Varadha (Prithviraj), the prince of Khansaar, a fictional dystopian city-state. When a coup d’état is planned by his father’s  ministers and his relatives, Varadha enlists Deva’s help to become Khansaar’s undisputed ruler.

**Story Summary**

The film begins in 1985, when Deva and  Varadha are inseparable companions in  Khansaar, ruled by Varadha’s father, Raja  Mannar. After Raja Mannar orders the  annihilation of the Shouryaanga tribe, a mob attacks Deva and his mother at their home, but Varadha intervenes and gives up an important territory of his in exchange for sparing their lives. Before leaving Khansaar, Deva vows to return on Varadha’s call.

In 2017, a business tycoon, Krishnakanth, learns that his daughter, Aadhya, arrived at Varanasi from New York to finish her mother’s last rites.  He sends his men to bring her back, but she  escapes and meets Deva, who is now a gang  leader. Deva protects her from Krishnakanth’s men and falls in love with herwhile, in  Khansaar, Varadha is preparing to succeed his father as the king, but faces opposition from his uncle, Rajamanaar, and his cousin, Baachi  Mannar, who plot to overthrow him with the help of Gaikwad, a powerful warlord. Varadha also has a rivalry with Garuda Ram, the leader of the Garuda tribe, who wants to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of Varadha. 

Varadha calls Deva for help, and Deva arrives in Khansaar with his gang. He reunites with Varadha and pledges his loyalty to him. Deva also meets Aadhya again, who has followed him to Khansaar. Deva and Varadha face several challenges from their enemies, who try to assassinate them, sabotage their plans, and  incite a civil war. Deva uses his cunning and courage to outsmart and defeat them, while Varadha uses his charisma and diplomacy to win the support of the people and the other  tribes. Deva and Varadha also bond over their shared love for Aadhya, who becomes a catalyst for their friendship. 

The film ends with a cliffhanger, as Varadha is about to be crowned as the king, but  Rajamanaar and Baachi Mannar launch a  surprise attack on the palace, with the help of Gaikwad and Garuda Ram. Deva fights them off, but is wounded and falls unconscious. Varadha rushes to his side, but is shot by Rajamanaar.  Aadhya screams in horror, as the screen fades to black. 

**Cast and Crew**

Prabhas as Deva, a tribesman and a gang leader

Prithviraj Sukumaran as Varadha, the prince of Khansaar 

Shruti Haasan as Aadhya, Krishnakanth’s daughter and Deva’s love interest 

Jagapathi Babu as Rajamanaar, Varadha’s uncle and the main antagonist 

Bobby Simha as Baachi Mannar, Varadha’s cousin and Rajamanaar’s son 

Tinnu Anand as Gaikwad, a warlord and Rajamanaar’s ally 

Easwari Rao as Deva’s mother 

Sriya Reddy as Jhansi Obulamma, a tribal leader and Deva’s ally 

Ramachandra Raju as Garuda Ram, the leader of the Garuda tribe and Varadha’s enemy 

Prashanth Neel as the writer and director 

Vijay Kiragandur as the producer 

Ravi Basrur as the music composer 

Bhuvan Gowda as the cinematographer 

Ujwal Kulkarni as the editor 

**The Review**

Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is a grandiose tale of friendship and power, set in a dystopian world of violence and intrigue. The film boasts of a lavish production design, stunning visuals, and spectacular action sequences, that keep the audience hooked. The film also has a strong emotional core, as it explores the bond between Deva and Varadha, who are more than brothers, and their love for Aadhya, who is more than a lover.

The film’s biggest strength is the performance of the lead actors, Prabhas and Prithviraj, who share a great chemistry and complement each other’s styles. Prabhas delivers a charismatic and powerful performance as Deva, who is fearless, loyal, and witty. He showcases his versatility and range, as he switches from being a ruthless gangster to a romantic lover to a loyal friend. Prithviraj is equally impressive as Varadha, who is noble, ambitious, and smart. He portrays the complexity and conflict of his character, who has to balance his duty as a prince and his friendship with Deva. He also displays his flair for action and dialogue delivery, as he commands the screen with his presence.

The supporting cast also does a commendable job, especially Jagapathi Babu, who plays the menacing and manipulative Rajamanaar, and Ramachandra Raju, who plays the fierce and formidable Garuda Ram. Shruti Haasan, who plays the female lead, Aadhya, has a limited role, but she adds charm and grace to the film. She also shares a good chemistry with Prabhas, and their romantic scenes are sweet and refreshing.