For a number of reasons, Rajinikanth’s movie was one among the most eagerly awaited of 2024. In addition to directing her father, Superstar Rajinikanth, it marks director Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s return to the screen after an eight-year hiatus. The tale of Lal Salaam, which also stars Vikranth and Vishnu Vishal, centres on religion and cricket, as well as how locals in a village politicise a popular sport.
Since they were young children, Thiru (Vishnu Vishal) and Moideen bhai’s (Rajinikanth) son Shamsuddin (Vikranth) have been enemies, and this rivalry extends to their village’s cricket pitch. Thiru and Shamsu played for the Three Star squad, which Moideen bhai founded. Thiru was kicked off the team by those who were envious of his success and had other agendas. The opposing MCC squad, formed by Thiru, ends up representing the two religions in the village—Hindus and Muslims. The hamlet, which had previously lived in harmony, ends up calling the matches India versus. Pakistan.
Moideen bhai, who currently resides in Mumbai with his family, has a desire of seeing Shamsu, an outstanding cricket player, represent India at some point. However, a single match in the hamlet alters everything and marks a turning point in the lives of Thiru and Shamsu. How do the two men fare? Does Shamsu finally play for India? Does the Hindu-Muslim strife in the village and the boys’ rivalry end because of Moideen bhai?
The village, its residents, and the interactions between Muslims and Hindus there are the main topics of discussion in the first part of Lal Salaam. Additionally, it establishes the rivalry between Shamsu and Thiru. The second half is when things truly pick up and Rajinikanth gives a jaw-dropping performance.
Seeing Rajinikanth portray Muslim leader Moideen bhai on cinema is intriguing. A few of the lines he was provided blatantly show his personal views and have a lot of relevance in the modern world. In reality, those are instances that give me goosebumps.
In one scene, for instance, Moideen bhai says, “India is for Indians and I am an Indian Muslim. I was born here and I will die here. This is my home. We should not talk about caste or religion but humanity, and humanity is above all. Jai Hind.” Humanity above all is an aspect the Superstar has spoken about in real life as well.
Apart from that, Rajinikanth portrays the dual roles of a community leader who feels that all people are equal regardless of caste or religion and a parent who has goals for his son in a very moving way. He is measured in his actions and even the fight scenes are not over-the-top. Rajinikanth is the backbone of Lal Salaam.
Given that they both play cricket in real life, Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth have done a great job portraying their characters and are very natural athletes. They have performed well and their roles have a graph as well. AR Rahman’s soundtrack enhances the picture by showcasing the two distinct religions with a blend of Sufi and local influences.
Aishwarya Rajinikanth, the director, has created a film that speaks to the political and social context of today. She made a spectacular comeback to the big screen, and this film will undoubtedly be discussed. Vishnu Rangasamy might have done a better job writing the story; many plot lines are left unclear, and certain sequences could have been cut out because they detract from the overall tone of the movie.
Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s Lal Salaam is a social drama with a message. And the audience will love Rajinikanth as Moideen bhai and hopefully, they’ll take back home and to heart what he says on screen. Humanity above all.
