Prem is back this Diwali! The Salman Khan – Sooraj R. Barjatya duo are back with the much awaited Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP). The iconic Salman-Sooraj actor-director duo won the hearts of cinema goers with Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hai Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hai (1999), which are all family-orientated films created under the prestigious Rajshri banner which was founded by the late Tarachand Barjatya who was known to create the best family-orientated films. Sooraj has kept the tradition alive, making films about the Indian ways of life, traditions and values.
PRDP is the fourth film by Sooraj R. Barjatya starring Salman Khan since his last directorial venture with the star in 1999 with Salman Khan playing dual characters in this film. PRDP is opulent, grand and luxurious; the beautiful sets truthfully make this film a majestic fairy-tale. The movie has everything you will find in a Rajshri film and hence it will appeal to you only if you are a fan of their films which are all about values, traditions and love for one’s family.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo begins in the city of Ayodhya with the devotional track ‘Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo’ which is something we related to the film since its inception. We meet Prem Dilwala (Salman Khan), a happy-go-lucky ‘Ram Devotee’ who performs for the Ram Leela shows. He is besotted by Princess Maithili (Sonam Kapoor) whom he first meets at a flood relief camp and since then makes sure to send donations to her NGO.
Prem learns that Princess Maithili will be travelling to a close by town, Pritampura for her fiance’s ‘Tilak’ ceremony and decides to travel all the way to meet her. We learn about Yuvraaj Vijay Singh (Salman Khan) who is the prince, Maithilli is getting married to. He is a short tempered and a man of fewer words. His family is going through a strenuous time as his younger brother Aajay Singh (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and his sisters Chandrika (Swara Bhaskar) and Radhika are fighting over property with him.
Ajay Singh plans to get his brother out of his way and plans his accident. Vijay Singh gets brutally injured and is kept in an undisclosed facility by Diwan Saab (Anupam Kher) who is a loyal worker of the King. To save Vijay, Diwan plans to present Prem in disguise as the would-be-King. Will Prem solve all the issues faced by Vijay and bring his family together? Will Maithili fall in love with Prem or Vijay? Watch PRDP to find out.
Salman Khan succeeds in his comeback as Prem. His character of Prem Dilwala is superbly entertaining as he is funny yet expressive. We rarely see Salman express emotions like this and well, that’s when you are reminded that this is a Rajshri film. As Prince Vijay SIngh too, he shows a decent transition and his stern look with the moustache is certainly impressive. The film is indeed a treat for any Salman Khan fan.
Sonam Kapoor is an absolute treat. She fits perfectly into the role of royalty with a heart of gold. She looks stunning, but notably, she carries her part effortlessly. Initially, her pairing opposite Salman did raise eyebrows, but when you watch them together, you realise that Salman and Sonam do make a lovely on-screen couple. Anupam Kher is superb; his performance doesn’t miss a beat. Cast in a negative role, Neil Nitin Mukesh underplays his part very well. Armaan Kohli does a fine job. Swara Bhaskar is another talent who impresses with a power-packed portrayal. Deepak Dobriyal is fantastic.
Sooraj Barjatya is back after many years, it is great to see that even though PRDP is like his previous films that are excessively loaded sugary content. Even as he brings to life Salman’s most loved character Prem back. In terms of direction, Barjatya deserves the utmost respect for keeping his signature style of direction. The sets look stunning all thanks to the production and art direction team for making the impact of royalty extremely well. The presence of horse carriages and the beautiful costumes are quite a treat to the eyes. The film could have been shorter but it wouldn’t be a Rajshri film if it’s not almost 3 hours of cinematic brilliance! There were way too many songs in this film. The title track, Prem Leela and the beautiful highlight Jalte Diye stand out! The dialogues are apt and wholesome.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is a classic Rajshri entertainer. It is larger than life and lavish. It brings the magic of the 90s family orientated entertainers to a younger audience. It is a family film to be watched with family. This is a perfect Diwali release!
Rating 8/10 | 4 Stars
