Another Chulbul Pandey: My quick take on Dulquer Salman’s “Salute”
After watching three Dabangs of our Salman’s Chulbul Pandey, now is the chance to watch another Salman (one who can act) donning khakis and playing a cop with a difference in his new movie “Salute”. It is tipped as a “Slow burn whodunit” murder mystery. In the process of making a slow-burning movie, the plot moves literally at snails’ pace, so much slow that it will remind you of Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting, even if you go out for a quick stroll and join back, you will not miss much (maybe your beard would have grown vee bit) 😊.
It appears that the writer/s were heavily influenced by the Drishyam team, as they too attempted a convoluted plot with an unusual climax as well. I won't go into too much detail about the plot; all I can say is that Dulquer has advanced in his Kurup incarnation. He had hoodwinked lawmakers while in Kurup, while here he is an upright lawmaker who is being hoodwinked.
Dulquer has portrayed a befuddled character with great morals and ethics who is unsure of what he wants to achieve with his life. He abandons his Law studies to join the police force, then becomes engaged in the 'framing' of an innocent man in a murder case, before having a change of heart and embarking on a journey to uncover the true perpetrator. On-screen, he has masterfully conveyed this sense of befuddlement and frustration. The Malayalam cinema industry is blessed with incredible talent, which sets it apart from the rest of the country's 'woods.' All of the other characters in the plot are fantastic; they are so real and convincing (sadly, I haven't seen them before, so I can't recognize them). The cinematography of God's own Country in its natural state is breathtaking.
I saw the film in Hindi (Sony liv), and while the Hindi dubbing is adequate, they should not have changed the plot location from Kerala to Mumbai (It seems very odd to hear words and references of Borivali, Kandivali, and Nasik when one can see the lush green setting of Kerala). Second, Dulquer's love interest (played by Diana Penty), I wish this was a "penty" less narrative 😊, as Penty added no value to the plot. Third, though the climax appears to be "Zara Hatke," it leaves you with more questions than answers; I wish this had been handled better.
Lastly, I did not understand the context of the movie title “Salute”, is it a salute to a corrupt system that can frame any innocent as a culprit, or is it a salute to “kurups” of the system who remain in gumnami even after committing heinous crimes or is it a salute to some upright officers who take on the very system they are part of and fight for saving an innocent? – watch it and decide for yourself.
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