‘Salute’ movie review: Dulquer Salmaan scores with his restrained performance as a cop

One of many scenes in Salute has two cops, Aravind Karunakaran (Dulquer Salmaan) and Marar (Alencier), planting proof to ‘resolve’ a homicide case. Because the motion progresses, the suspect is picked up, overwhelmed and drops of his blood positioned on the crime scene. It appears too inconceivable to be taking place, however the potential of it reels one in. 

Salute, streaming on Sony Liv, is a slow-burn so far as investigative movies go, however properly well worth the time spent. The denouement is leisurely arrived at, and the few unfastened ends are tied up and defined neatly. Director Rosshan Andrrews collaborates with scenarists Bobby-Sanjay once more for the movie, that’s produced by Dulquer Salmaan.   

The movie pivots on the homicide of a pair, its investigation, the stress from politicians on the cops to ‘shut’ the case as quickly as potential, and what occurs within the aftermath.

Dulquer Salmaan as sub-inspector Aravind Karunakaran is a riveting watch and impresses because the cop on the tail of an elusive felony whereas making an attempt to beat a ‘system’ that locations roadblocks. His restrained take because the newly-commissioned policeman reluctantly pulled right into a conspiracy by senior cops, together with his older brother Ajith Karunakaran (Manoj Ok Jayan), to border an harmless man is a diametrical reverse of his flamboyant character in Kurup.

Cops turning on one another is a well-recognized theme, however the presentation has one torn between eager to condemn them and empathising with them. 

The motion unravels after the ‘assassin’ Murali is framed and subsequently arrested. The 5 policemen, together with the Karunakaran brothers, concerned in ‘fixing’ the case are confronted with the truth that the precise killer is on the market. Their concern just isn’t the person they framed.

The cops are at some extent of no return; their lives, careers and pensions are at stake. They should look out for themselves and one another, even when it means destroying proof and never letting a colleague do his job. It boils all the way down to self-preservation and a possible whistleblower is not going to be tolerated.   

The ‘system’ — politicians, political events and ministers — is invoked many occasions in the course of the course of the movie. A guilt-ridden Aravind goes on a protracted depart unable to tolerate this technique, however returns and cracks the case with assist from the identical system. 

The non-linear narrative works properly for the easy story. The director takes his time with it, and the twist within the story is surprising given the build-up. The script ensures that there aren’t any distractions from the primary story, and themes equivalent to id theft determine solely to circle again to the case at hand. That stated, sure scenes such because the one the place Aravind returns house together with his girlfriend Dia (Diana Penty) and leaves the household questioning about their relationship appear superfluous. 

Manoj Ok Jayan and Dulquer being forged as brothers is surprising, however works properly. The supporting forged consists of veterans equivalent to Indrans, Alencier, Sudheer Karamana, Saikumar in tiny roles, however they ship what’s required, as do the youthful lot like Binu Pappu, Vinod Sagar, and Shaheen Siddique. Nonetheless, one can’t assist however marvel about what Diana Penty, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and Saniya Iyyappan are doing within the movie. 

There are many alternatives to dramatise and exaggerate, however fortunately, Rosshan Andrrews doesn’t indulge. A police process movie is all the time an fascinating watch, particularly when finished realistically, and Salute scores.  

Salute is presently streaming on SonyLIV