Tamil superstar Rajinikanth recently returned to the big screen for an extended cameo in Lal Salaam. The actor was last seen playing the lead in Jailer, which grossed millions at the box office.
Lal Salaam was released on February 9 after facing a major delay. The movie opened to positive reviews and the star’s presence is being widely appreciated. It is the film’s plot that is receiving the most appreciation, as is director Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s bold step to present such a sports drama to the audience.
The film is filled with ups and downs and is a rollercoaster of emotions. Along with the portrayal of love for sports, it also features the right amount of action. However, above all, the film teaches communal harmony.
Let’s unravel the story of Lal Salaam and learn how the Rajinikanth starrer ends.
What happens in Lal Salaam?
Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth play the two leads, Thiru and Shamsuddin, respectively. They are Murrabad’s most talented cricket players, but not friends. Murrabad is a village that has a minimum Hindu population in comparison to Muslims, but the two communities live peacefully. Livingston plays Thiru’s father, Manickam, while Rajinikanth portrays Shamsuddin’s dad, Moideen Bhai. While Manikam and Moideen Bhai are good friends, their sons do not share a similar bond.
As per The Hindu, on the other hand, local politicians plan to ignite communal riots in Murrabad ahead of the elections. According to their plan, communal riots would help them win the elections. Raj, one of the politicians’ son-in-law, takes on the responsibility of exploiting Thiru and Shamsuddin’s rivalry during their cricket match.
During the match, Thiru injures Shamsuddin’s right hand, sparking a conflict between the Hindus and Muslims of the village. From here, the film also talks about caste discrimination in rural areas.
Raj, who belongs to an upper caste, troubles the lower caste of Murrabad and disrupts the Thiruvizha. As a result, it is Thiru’s life that is the most affected by the conflict. He is disowned by his own family and villagers and he faces threats from Moideen’s men.
Thiru then plays cricket for other villages to earn money for the Thiruvizha fund. In a turn of events, Thiru moves to Mumbai and finds himself in another religious conflict. However, this time, he ends up saving Shamsuddin’s life, which ends their long-running feud.
Does Lal Salaam succeed in teaching communal harmony?
Seeing Thiru and Shamsuddin’s bond, Moideen decides to add to the fund. However, Raj does not stop there and destroys the Thiruvizha. When his wife comes to know of his evil ideas, she makes him realize his mistake. As a result, the village learns about Raj’s intentions and comes together in peace.
Finally, Muslims help fellow Hindus with their Thiruvizha and live peacefully ever after. The film righteously teaches communal harmony and is indeed a bold one that Aishwarya Rajinikanth pulled off with her direction.
Rajinikanth’s screen presence amazed the audience as they welcomed him back on the big screens with lots of love. His minimal yet satisfying screen time did not disappoint the audience because they praised the movie.
However, despite the superstar’s presence, the film is struggling at the box office. While fans were excited about the film, it was not able to mint good numbers. According to Sacnilk.com, Lal Salaam has only garnered $1.4 million at the box office. The film has been in theaters for more than four days and unlike Rajinikanth’s movies, it is not promising good numbers.
In conclusion, Lal Salaam is a sports drama with a much-needed social message that every citizen should learn about.
