Lal Salaam Movie Review: In an important scene in Lal Salaam, Mohideen Bhai (thoughtfully portrayed by Rajinikanth) rebuts an oft-used line telling Muslims to ‘leave the country.’ He says his parents chose to remain, because they viewed themselves as Indian – and that is what he will be. Attired in a white Kurta and a furry headgear reminiscent of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Rajinikanth succinctly delivers a powerful vision of how the nationalist Muslim feels about India.
At the core of Lal Salaam lies the idea reaffirming how the majority of Indian Muslims truly are – peace-loving and nationalistic. Delivering some of these powerful messages are a well-chosen cast, with Rajinikanth playing the role of an aged father who wants his cricketer son to represent India in world-class cricket.
The narrative moves non-linearly, telling the story of a small town in western Tamil Nadu whacked by communal tensions stoked by a few politicians to corner vote banks. Written and directed by Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth, who returns to the craft after nine years, the movie struggles, however, with weaving a cohesive story. While the convoluted screenplay does help build suspense, it takes away any opportunity for audiences to associate with the lead characters – be it Thirunavukkarasu (Vishnu Vishal) and Samsudheen (Vikranth) who are at loggerheads, or the other peripheral actors whose lives are influenced by the conflict.
Exactly what stands out are some powerful dialogues, delivered by Mohideen. “Our religions may be different, but our blood is the same,” for example. However, these scenes are but an exception in what felt like a too-long, needlessly multi-layered and complex film. At times, the movie adopts a preachy tone, without carrying depth or nuance. Some characters add a refreshing touch – like the role of Samykannu, deftly played by comedian Senthil.
AR Rahman’s music carries semblances of his original genius but does not stand out. The camera offers novel views and surprisingly simple tones, making storytelling intimate. Performances managed to keep audiences reasonably engaged but failed to elevate the story to any meaningful level.
Lal Salaam carries a powerful, timely message of unity but does not go the distance in telling an engaging story.