Salaar bubble busted, on the downslide

"Salaar," Prabhas' much-anticipated action extravaganza helmed by Prashanth Neel, generated considerable buzz from its inception. Released in two parts, fans were initially thrilled. However, the teaser and trailer fell short of expectations, drawing parallels with Neel's earlier KGF franchise.

Despite concerns, excitement surged before the release, fueled by an interview featuring Rajamouli with the Salaar trio—Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Prashanth Neel. This heightened anticipation drove audiences to theaters. Yet, when Prashanth Neel revealed the film's inspiration from "Ugramm" and KGF, it left fans cautiously optimistic.

The first installment, "Ceasefire," made a smashing debut, raking in a staggering Rs 400 crores in three days. However, even ardent Prabhas fans voiced disappointment. Apart from hero-centric action sequences, the narrative failed to offer freshness, mirroring the predictable KGF style.

Ravi Basrur's background music, touted to enhance scenes, fell short, further dampening spirits. The absence of romantic chemistry between Prabhas and Shruti Haasan, coupled with the omission of a customary commercial item song featuring Simrat Kaur, left audiences unimpressed. The dearth of humor and entertainment, compounded by an overdose of violence, alienated family viewers.

Fans also criticized the steep hike in ticket prices, accusing the makers of exploiting the film's hype without delivering a novel storyline. Despite multiple release delays, the film retained monotonous elements, leaving audiences disgruntled.

Comparatively, Shah Rukh Khan, after consecutive hits with "Pathaan" and "Jawan," ensured affordable ticket rates for "Dunki" at Rs 150. In contrast, Salaar, with Prabhas facing recent flops, increased ticket prices, prioritizing a record-breaking initial three days over audience satisfaction.

As the weekend and Christmas fervor wane, Salaar faces dwindling occupancy in theaters, puncturing the initial hype. This underscores the importance of a robust storyline and screenplay, as even a charismatic hero and commercial elements cannot rescue a film if the narrative lacks substance.