Adipurush Movie Review: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan Starrer Falls Short Due to Weak Screenplay

Title: Adipurush

Director: Om Raut

Cast: Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh

Rating: 2/5

When it comes to bringing an epic like Ramayana to the big screen, audience expectations are understandably high. Director Om Raut takes on this monumental challenge with Adipurush, featuring a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Singh, and Devdatta Nage. While the film deserves credit for its ambition, it ultimately falls short due to a flawed execution and a disappointing screenplay.

Plot

Adipurush begins with a powerful introduction to Raavan, also known as Lankesh, establishing his might and dominance. The story then moves ahead several years to depict Raghav and Janaki's exile in the forest and their daily struggles. Their hardships escalate when Shurpanakha urges Raavan to seek revenge from Ram by abducting Sita. Raghav joins forces with Bajrang and Sugriv to rescue his wife from the clutches of the demon king.

What Works?

To give credit where it's due, director Om Raut and the screenplay writer have made a sincere effort to narrate the entire Ramayana story within the 179-minute runtime of Adipurush. They have incorporated numerous significant elements from the original text, which is commendable. However, this ambitious undertaking comes at a cost. The rushed screenplay fails to allow the audience to truly connect with the emotions of the characters.

The background music, composed by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara, breathes life into the narrative and manages to uplift sequences that suffer from weak writing and execution. Cinematographer Palani Karthik captures some beautiful shots, particularly those set in the woods. The visual effects are above average, and the music by Ajay-Atul leaves a lasting impact.

What Falls Short?

As mentioned earlier, the screenplay and dialogues penned by Manoj Muntashir Shukla have ample room for improvement. Certain lines trivialize the dignity of the story and characters, compromising their integrity. The editing by Ashish Mhatre and Apurva Motiwale Sahai could have collaborated with Om Raut to improve the pacing of the film. This would have allowed for a more emotionally engaging narrative, especially in the rushed second half, which leads to an underwhelming climax. Even the much-anticipated fight sequence between Ram and Raavan, choreographed by action directors Ramazan Bulut and Pradyumna Kumar Swain (PK), fails to impress.

Another disappointment lies in the portrayal of Raavan, reduced to a mere demon king without due respect for his intellect and skills. The character lacks the depth and intensity that would have made him more well-rounded. Additionally, the depiction of a dark and brooding Lanka falls flat. Costume designer Nachiket Barve could have done more justice to all the characters, especially Raavan.

Performances

Prabhas, as Raghav, delivers a restrained performance, limited by the script's restrictive expressions. However, he shines in a couple of sequences where he motivates his army. Kriti Sanon, as Janaki, does justice to her role and delivers a balanced performance, although her screen time could have been more substantial. Saif Ali Khan impresses