Prem Ratan Dhan Payo- Movie Review by Shoby

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo- Movie Review by Shoby

2.5 Stars out of 5

Rajhri Productions- A name associated with family dramas. This banner has given us some fabulous family sagas over a span of decades. We have laughed out loud when typical “family politics making women’s cheap tactics” have gone wrong in Hum Sath Sath hain and we have cried with the death of Pooja in Hum Aap ke hain Kaun… They have made us emotional in all possible manners by dipalying similar sort of incidents, thus making themselves a brand which is so correct to be called as a family oriented movie maker.

Prem is one name that comes to the mind when we say Rajshri films. From Salman Khan to Shahid Kapoor and from Abhishek to Hrithik Roshan, Prems have been an integral part of the story by Sooraj Barjatya. Let’s analyze the return of Prem that he made this Deewali.

PRDP starts with a brief introduction of a man with a golden heart (Prem Dilwale) who has a wish to meet the royal princess Raajkumaari (Maithili Devi). Prem happens to see the princess when she was doing some social work in a flood relief camp. Prem came to know that he can meet her in Pritampur (the royal state) where she will be having some royal traditional (engagement type) ceremony. Meanwhile, we get to know that prince of pritampur is also Salman Khan (in a duplicate role of Yuvraaj Vijay). Due to some family issues, he is attacked to death and kept away from the people by his confidant. Coincidently, Prem meets with Vijay’s reliable guard Sanjay, who asks him to pose as Vijay till he gets well and here starts a whirlpool of events.

The premise seems to be somewhat old fashioned and it’s a 1000s times tested and tried formula of duplicates. Script and Screenplay has the typical Sooraj Barjatiya’s feel and signature on it. In places, some scenes are beautifully executed. Sets are lavish and grand matching well with the primary theme of the movie. Dialogues are average but goes well with the proceedings. Background score and sound track is soothing but not up to the mark of Rajshri’s. You may feel yourself humming a couple of tunes especially Jaltey Diye (sung by VOI Chotte Ustad fame Anwesha) and Aaj Unse Milna Hai (sung by the seasoned singer Shaan in his ultimate sweet voice).

Salman Khan is as usual excellent in both the roles. Especially his performance as Prem Dilwale is a treat to watch. Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh are just OK in the roles of Raajkumaari and Chotey Rajkumaar respectively, whereas supporting cast especially Anupam Kher and Arman Kohli have given a very impressive performances.

What goes wrong with the movie here is its length. At times, you feel they are over exaggerating the happenings. Some scenes does not at all go well in this era and gives you a feel of typical 90s cinema. Especially when they arrange a football match in front of Vijay’s sister’s house. One does not expect these type of sequences in today’s cinema.

Overall, this is a feel good movie that you can digest only once. Sooraj Barjatya is no doubt a veteran in cinema and once again he has stuck to his roots but he needs to bring something more fresh in his offerings.