It would be a challenge to encapsulate the plot of Saaho in a couple of lines, because it wouldn’t stretch that long. The Sujeeth film, reportedly made with an insane budget of Rs 350 crore, seems to have at its starting point a list of Hollywood films from which to copy action scenes; what’s the use of story, character development and coherence, when there are bones to crunch, automobiles of all sizes to crash and buildings to topple over? Obviously overwhelmed by the sheer scale of action and destruction dreamed up by the director, nobody thought to ask for a script.
There is a robbery in Mumbai, carried out by a bunch of people who are assigned a few harmless tasks by an unknown person, and they have no idea that they were used to commit a crime. The police team is told an “intelligent” undercover cop will be sent to crack the case, and Ashok (Prabhas) turns up. Mostly, he leers at expressionless, unblinking female cop Amritha (Shraddha Kapoor) and says things like, “What’s a pretty girl like you doing in the police force?” She is supposedly a cop serious about her work, but when the film takes one of its many needless and aggravating song breaks, she is dressed in either skimpy dresses or fluttery gowns with long trains. (Other under-dressed white girls writhe in the background too, and Jacqueline Fernandez gets a minute or two of dancing time.)
Everything revolves around a black box that unlocks a fortune belonging to the Roy Group led by Jackie Shroff who is killed right at the start. His place is taken by Vishwank (Arun Vijay), which is resented by Devraj (Chunky Pandey) and his cohorts. Their HQ is in the fictional computer generated city called Waaji, on the outskirts of which is a dusty brown village populated by tribals with primitive weapons. But this bridge to Mad Max territory is crossed much later, after all kinds of CGI and futuristic gizmos are displayed.
There is mistaken identity, double cross, lots of shootouts by a multi-racial cast of junior artists — including one ferocious WWF kind of guy who keeps popping up. It would take more attention than the film deserves to keep track of who is who, doing what, where and, dammit, why? By the time the film draws to a close, one wonders what was that extended action sequence in the beginning all about, in a chawl that hides a python, a panther, a slaughter house and an akhada, just so that the hero can display his considerable fighting skills.
This is Prabhas’s first outing since the Baahubali films, and, well, maybe he should leave the six-pack flaunting to Tiger Shroff and do roles where he can use his talent and undoubtedly attractive screen presence, which dwarfs all the other actors (Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mahesh Manjrekar, Tinnu Anand, Lal, Mandira Bedi, Murli Sharma are also around), who are not given much to do anyway, except stand back and let Prabhas shine.
The film is just a tragic waste of money, expertise and effort; there is also over confidence that indicates the possibility of a sequel!
While critics have panned Saaho, the audience is loving it. Here are some tweets
Finished watching #Saaho. As I said you haven’t seen this level of Indian action movie ever, even u can compare it with big Holly action movies. #Prabhas is now fav actor of Dubai city. Last 30min is mindblowing, what a thriller. 4/5 #Saahoreview
— Just a Fan (@iemRahul_)
Brilliant movie with powerful performances. Prabhas on fire. Shraddha looks too good.
That pre interval twist will shock you for sure. Don’t miss this one, best of the year for me.
#Saaho #Saahoreview
— Syed @aamirspk2
Done watching #Saaho. Mindblowing. Best ever Indian action movie I have ever watched. Top notch action sequences. Interval and pre climax action sequences murder maassssssss. BGM adhiripoindi. #SaahoFeverEverywhere #Saahoreview
— @ChandruTwitz
1st: intro is awesome with old monk, established the characters and the story in a good screenplay. interval bang twist was extraordinary, 2nd: nonstopable action starts full swing last 40 min was feast breathtaking action scenes, u guys will enjoy ??#Saaho #Saahoreview #Prabhas
— Shubham C @Shubham26383793
#SaahoReview #Saaho grips u with interesting screenplay which gets muddled in between but races to the finish line with aplomb..#Prabhas is bones breaker high flying action star, while @ShraddhaKapoor shines too. Ending arc leading to climax will ensure bang for your buck.
— Shubham C @Shubham26383793
#Saaho Action Stunts will BLOW your mind !! Totally Goosebumps ! #Prabhas Nobody can beat you ! You are Mega star of Pan India. #SaahoReview
— Umair Sandhu @UmairFilms
#Saaho is 2019 Biggest Disappointment. Plus - Prabhas Screen presence minus bad performances of too many characters, Confusing Story, Extremely boring laughable screenplay, mediocre action, terrible direction and so many bad songs. Watch at your own risk. #SaahoReview
— Sumit Kadel @Sumitkadel
