Based on the novel The Last Hurrah, Salaam Venky is to release on 9th December. The book is written by Shrikant Murthy. The reviews of the film have rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Directed by Revathy, the film has Kajol and Vishal Jethwa is the main lead supported by Rahul Bose, Priyamani, Aahana Kumra and Nandini. Kajol plays mother (Sujata) to Vishal Jethwa (Venky, the sick boy). Aamir Khan has a cameo in the movie.
The movie touched a serious subject of euthanasia which in simple terms means the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to end their suffering.
Kajol has proved her mettle yet again as she depicts a mother who knows that her son is going to die. Her expressions and acting leave the audience in awe. Kajol as Sujata is shattered when she learns that her son is suffering from a seriously terminal problem called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which makes him bedridden. While she fulfils her son’s wishes and challenges thrown her way bravely, she cannot bring herself to agree to his wishes of dying. Venky wants to denote his organs by opting for euthanasia.
The first half of the film focuses on Venky’s list of wishes and his relationships with other people. In the hospital Venky has various machines hooked on to him which he called decorations. When the son is hospitalised, Kajol knows his end is near and rushes to lawyers to grant her son’s wishes.
Vishal Jethwa has played his role extremely well and the audience can resonate with the emotions shown by the actor. The actor has put in life to the character of Venky. Venky’s love interest in the movie has a visual impairment and she sees the world through Venky’s eyes.
However, despite stellar performances, the movie looks like a musical and could have done well without the songs. Some parts of the movie are also overdrawn.
Aamir Khan’s cameo looks like an enforced star appearance while Prakash Raj, Kamal Sidanah, Anant Mahadevan and Parvathi T have given beautiful performances.
In direction, Revathy has done a wonderful job. The screenplay and the visual effects of the movie are hypnotic and keep the audience glued to the film.
The movie teaches the audience how to make the most of life and celebrated life and expresses the human spirits in a unique way. It teaches that if you are the low ebb, you should shake yourself out of the sad and dejected feelings. The movie is based on a true story and stands out with its intellect, beauty and spirit.
