PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO MOVIE REVIEW

After the much-loved Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman is back to cater to his massive audience base with his trusted Sooraj Barjatya. This combo has already delivered memorable blockbusters for the whole family, such as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Maine Pyaar Kiya. Unfortunately in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, the director seems to have been stuck in a time warp, with a really old fashioned story and goody-goody, melodramatic treatment.

 

The film is set in a place called Pritampur with a fractured royal family comprising two brothers and their two step sisters. Salman and Neil Nitin play the princes / brothers and the latter schemes to get rid of the former on the eve of the elder one’s coronation function. But things don’t go as per plan and another Salman (playing a large hearted do-gooder named Prem) incidentally enters the scheme of things. In the end, you guessed it right, Prem lives up to his name and unites the family for the quintessential mushy, happy ending.

 

We have the usual drama featuring lookalikes, and of course the love interest played very artificially by Sonam Kapoor. There is a song which pops up every now and then, and the film takes its own sweet time to get going. At close to 3 hours, PRDP is a true test of patience and endurance.

 

The logic behind the prince Salman getting back on his feet and indulging in heavy stunt sequences in the climax is highly questionable, given what is shown earlier in the film. This further pulls down the movie, and then we have the elongated sentimental finale!

 

If there is one reason to catch the film, it is Salman Khan who provides quite a bit of humor and makes the film watchable in parts despite its dated premise. The veteran superstar still looks young, handsome, energetic, fit as ever and is quite the charmer. But the artificial mustache that he sports is odd, to put it mildly. What is it with Bollywood heroes and these fake mustaches? 

 

Other than Salman, Anupam Kher is bankable as ever as a loyal employee of the royal household. Neil Nitin is more like a good-looking puppet, Deepak Dobriyal is free-spirited as usual and gets some good moments, while the talented Swara Bhaskar earnestly plays the stereotypical step sister who frustratedly longs for acceptance and affection.

 

The other plus points of PRDP are the extravagant production values, grand set design, rich interiors, nice costumes and the overall gloss in the product. Manikandan takes care of the visuals and it’s a fine job indeed. 

 

The film may appeal more to senior citizens and middle aged people who are now hooked to TV soaps. Sooraj Barjatya may succeed in pulling these folks back to the cinema hall as PRDP follows the typical template that is shown in family soaps nowadays and is a throwback to Indian films of the 70s and 80s.