‘Prassthanam’ Movie Review: Sanjay Dutt-Ali Fazal’s guns and gore political drama isn’t for the family audiences

Directed By
Deva Katta

Produced By
Maanayata Dutt

Cast
Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Chunky Pandey, Ali Fazal, Satyajeet Dubey

Bollywood Bubble Rating
2.5/5

What’s It About:
The film revolves around Baldev Pratap Singh (Sanjay Dutt) and his political ambitions. In the way of his dreams to become a minister of state, will he be able to keep his family at bay? Or will he get intertwined in a gory battle of guns and gore with his family including the ones like Ali Fazal, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Satyajeet Dubey, and others? Well, you’ll have to watch the movie for that.

What’s Hot:
Sanjay Dutt may be the pivotal point of the movie, but it’s his sons Ali Fazal and Satyajeet Dubey who steal the show. Both the men have played their parts in this political drama to the best. Ali Fazal as the loyal elder son comes up as the rightful heir to the political throne. He is someone whom you would instantly fall in love with because of his staunch beliefs in righteousness. On the other hand, you’ve Sanjay Dutt’s younger son Satyajeet Dubey who feels left out as he feels that his father loves only Ali Fazal. He goes against his father, his brother and it’s because of him that the politics get murkier and murkier for Dutt.

Next up, the veterans Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff have also pulled off another good one under their belt. The two have come up with a commendable performance, and their onscreen camaraderie is something that seems lifted right from their real lives where either of them would take a bullet for the other. They are good. Dutt’s bearded look is something that would make women swoon all over him.

Chunky Panday seems to be getting better and better with every negative character he is playing these days. He may have a minimal screen space, but he makes the most of it by becoming the one who pours fuel into the ongoing fight in Dutt’s family. His look is villainous and the way in which he delivers his dialogues shows that he is the smooth killer who never raises a weapon himself.

The screenplay and direction by Deva Katta are also nice. There are no loose ends. The story flows smoothly right from the start and excepting the odd songs in the middle, you wouldn’t want to leave your seat for any loo breaks. The screenplay and story are tight and compels you to see it through as the political story flowing in the background is really believable, especially considering the rural heartlands of India.

What’s Not:
The women in the movie are a waste.

To be honest, Manisha Koirala as the mother whose sons and daughters are fighting with each other, let me rephrase, killing each other, is just stone cold in every situation. For Christ’s sake, her sons and daughters are dying in front of her eyes, and she is just taking it with a pinch of salt, very well knowing that it’s happening all because of Sanjay Dutt. There should have been a huge fight scene between Manisha and Dutt where the wife hits, screams or even slaps the husband for getting her sons and daughters involved in the murkiness of the political battle.

Then there is Chhahhat Khanna and Amyra Dastur who hardly have scenes in the movie.

Moving on, after ‘Chhichhore’ here’s another film where the title of the movie doesn’t seem to justify or have any relevance to the storyline.

The songs and unnecessary item numbers popping up from anywhere was a big turn off.

Lastly, there’s nothing too wrong with ‘Prassthanam’ and it’s just that films with guns and gore at the backdrop don’t usually connect with the family audiences. Despite the good screenplay, the film’s outlook of being a murky political drama will keep the family audiences away.

Verdict:
If guns, gore, murder, and bloodshed are your drug, then ‘Prassthanam’ is your poison. It’s definitely a one-time watch. I’m going with 2.5 stars.

Box-Office:
Considering that the family audiences would steer clear of this film, this will find it tough to sustain through the coming 7 days. However, with the other films releasing this week not doing well, it could be a blessing in disguise for this movie. Let’s wait and watch.

Watch Trailer:

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Prateek Sur

Born a Movie Buff, working as a Film Critique and enjoying life as a Bollywood Reporter.

Email: editor@bollywoodbubble.com Phone: +91 8355910465