What Is the Story About?
Aravind (Dulquer Salmaan) is a part of a Police team who frames an innocent man, Murali in the murder of a couple – Martin and Seeba under political pressure. Aravind goes on long leave fighting the guilt and angry on his brother who is the team’s incharge. Three years after that he comes home for some marriage only to make the pain bigger. He joins the department and goes after the real culprit to do justice for Murali. What happens next forms the rest of the story.
Performances?
The entire film revolves around one man – Dulquer Salmaan. He plays a character of an upright man who is struggling to come terms to the fact that he and his role model brother were involved in framing an innocent man. In the initial portions of the film, we can see him emote very well with a face of helplessness as well as guilt.
In the second half of the film, the helplessness is replaced by determination. He performed both the shades effortlessly. It is not easy to perform a character which barely smiles.
The rest of the characters in the film only supports the lead role. Even though they do not have much to do on the screen all of them look authentic and performed their parts well. Diana Penty plays Hero’s live-in partner and barely has anything to do with the movie. Manoj K Jayan is good as hero’s brother and the visible villain of the movie.
Analysis
Salute is the story of hero’s struggle between his family relations and his inner voice constantly rapping him for doing a grave mistake. It is predominantly a crime thriller with a touch of family drama. The family drama is a small part and is dealt to the extent, it is needed. The Crime thriller is the major issue.
The first half of the film, we see a realistic portrayal of how Police closes a case just to please the political bosses and their superiors. That portion is good but the first half tests the patience of the audience with the mood of the hero being very much the mood of the film. Things do not happen much and everything is so slow. All this makes the first half a below average fare.
The second half is better with the hero starting the investigation. There are a few interesting threads which keeps the audience guessing. Every time the hero goes somewhere, the audience were set in a mood something is going to happen.
As expected for a thriller, the hero keeps on getting clues and then bumping into deadends. They are interesting and at the same time, gives us a feeling that the links are too random. For an instance, a case some where 600 kilometers from the crime scene is connected to the actual story.
If we excuse those liberties, the proceedings are interesting here and there and is fine. The actual problem arrives towards the end. The movie do not give a logical end to the whodunnit story. The ending feels so abrupt and incomplete. When we talk about a thriller, that is the most important part. There are no songs and unnecessary romance which is actually good. And then, there is no Melodrama in the family portions. After all this, Salute makes a decent watch despite the glitches. Furthermore, the feeling gets better because it is a home watch.
Music and Other Departments?
Director Rosshan Mathews directs the film while Bobby – Sanjay writes it. The director has been a success for a good part but could not cross the line, at the end.The writing is a mixed bag with some inconsistencies. Jakes Bejoy’s background score comes a major plus to the proceedings. Aslam K Purayil’s camera work is fine and apt to the mood. Sreekar Prasad’s editing work is good.
Highlights?
Blend of Thriller & Family Drama
Dulquer Salmaan
Background Score
Drawbacks?
Poor first half
Too many liberties
Incomplete ending
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes to a large extent
Will You Recommend It?
Yes But With Reservations
Salute Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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