Salaam Venky Review: Mediocre life of slice drama raises an important issue but fail to leave a strong impact.
Salaam Venky Movie Rating: 2 Stars
Just watched Salaam Venky movie on Zee5 Premium. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Kajol, Vishal Jethwa, Aahana Kumra, Rajeev Khandelwal, Aahana Kumra and Prakash Raj
Director: Revathy
Release Date: 9th February 2022 release in cinemas & Digital premiere from 10th February on Zee5 Premium
Story: Based on Shrikant Murthy’s book The Last Hurrah, Salaam Venky is a true story about the inspiring Kolavennu Venkatesh, the young chess player diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who fought a bitter legal battle over his last wish for euthanasia in order to donate his organs, before it was too late.
Movie revolves around Venkatesh Krishnan aka Venky (Vishal Jethwa) is in his early 20s and full of life but suffers from a rare disorder, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which worsens rapidly. In the present day, Venky can no longer walk and is wheelchair-bound. Her mother Sujata (Kajol) is a single parent and has single-handedly taken care of Venky. He was at home when suddenly, his condition got serious.
He’s rushed to the hospital where Dr Shekhar (Rajeev Khandelwal), who has been treating him for years, realizes that Venky’s end is near. Even Venky is aware of it and he asks her mother to fulfil his last wish. He wants to go for euthanasia and then donate his organs to those in need. In case he dies naturally, some of his organs will not be worth donating.
His mother opposes it at first but comes around and joins him in his legal battle. Devastated at the prospect of losing her son, Sujata, nevertheless knocks the doors of the court for seeking the granting of permission to Venky to die so that his organs can give a new lease of life to the recipients. Time is ticking, and one doesn’t know if the court will entertain the case. What happens next is all about this movie.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Story
3. Direction
Negatives
1. Music
2. Length
3. Screenplay
4. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to skip theatrical release and watch on digital release as looks good in parts only and inspired by true events.
A terminally ill 24-year-old, Venky, wishes to donate his organs. With the support of his mother, he starts a battle to legalize euthanasia. Will the mother-son duo convince the court to grant Venky his last wish?
Salaam Venky is based on the book ‘The Last Hurrah’ by Shrikant Murthy. It raises an important issue, but screenplay is plain boring in the first half, but it gets better in the second half but still fails to impress due to certain loose ends. Sujata’s backstory is unconvincing. Viewers never come to know what Sujata does for a living and how she is able to bear the hospital expenses. Lastly, the character of Aamir Khan will leave viewers puzzled as the director failed to give an explanation about him.
There are very few happy moments in the screenplay, and even those few simply fail to gladden the heart if only because the audience is told right in the beginning that Venky is about to die. Once the courtroom drama starts, the focus seems to shift completely from the grief associated with the impending death to winning the case. This dilutes the impact of the impending tragedy so much that all seems to be lost in the second half. The performances also save the film to some extent. Everyone performs their part with perfection.
Overall, movie has some touching moments and bravura performances, the film fails to impress due to a very boring first half and an insipid script. Inspite of its many obvious flaws, it tends to work its charm thanks to Kajol, Vishal Jethwa and the carefully curated supporting cast’s authenticity. The heart-touching fare, replete with positivity as much as pain can be a good watch if you have time. My view on this movie Time Pass
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