Sikandar = Ghajini + Kick + Jai Ho
Disclaimer
This review is from the perspective of a critic, an artist, a cinema lover, a marketing enthusiast, and an audience that is neutral. It is from somebody who is not involved in any form of fan-war or paid campaign. Read this with an open mind, with an understanding that different opinions can exist in the same world we all live in, and a criticism does not mean any hate towards any artist. Creative criticism only means feedback to make the process or the next piece of art, better. Ab aao chalte hain Rajkot se Mumbai ke safar mein.
Trailer Cut
Ye section technical and boring lag sakta hai, skip kar sakte ho. Experts, aap zarur padhna.
A lengthy trailer is looked down upon mostly because it means a lot of footage is will be shown. Another reason is that a lot of studios cut the trailer in such a way that you know the whole plot of the film. Or even if you don’t reveal the whole plot, long trailers means showing a lot of plot points, meaning when you watch the film in theatres, you know what’s coming next. That is why, it is always feared that a long trailer will mean revealing too much plot, resulting in a not so good watching experience in theatres.
But Sikandar trailer has struck a balance which is somewhat rare in today’s time. They have not revealed too much plot. It is definitely not like Singham Again or Mr and Mrs Mahi trailer where you know the full story, making the theatrical experience dull.
Apart from this, the trailer is not something that’s extraordinary. Obviously fans see everything from a different lens, but for the opening numbers a trailer needs to be something that excites the neutrals. This trailer is something that many studios do near the release to reach numbers – that is, show a lot of stuff in a hope to get audience in theatres, ki dekho itna sab hai film mein toh ticket book karlo. While this works for fans and some percentage of neutral, it does not work for the cinephiles and most of the neutral audience, who just want to watch good films.
The Good In The Trailer
Even though its a long trailer, we don’t know much about the film. The characters of Sharman Joshi, Jatin Sarna and Kajal Aggarwal are only shown in glimpses. So we don’t know much of their roles and importance in plot. Sathyaraj as the antagonist and Minister is also shown very less. We don’t know what is his tussle with Sikandar, or what his own goal is in the movie. Prateik Babbar has not been shown at all except 2-3 shots when he is getting beaten up on the plane, which can easily be missed. We don’t know anything about his character (except he is Sathyaraj’s son). What exactly happens with Rashmika’s character has also not been shown but we know that.. chalo aage baat karenge uski.
The Bad In The Trailer
There is nothing bad as such to be pointed out, but there is nothing extraordinary to be praised either. It is mostly a compilation of the footage from the film, without any creative effort on the edit. Which is fine, it is a choice that the editor makes and nothing wrong in that. Not a hundred percent, but most of the trailer is cut in linear storyline exactly how the film’s story will unfold. A good way would have been to not show anything from Rajkot and keep it to only Mumbai.
Try to recall what happens when we watch films without trailers. It feels fresh, right? Remember those times when we used to find unseen sides of the plot in theatres for the first time? Wo feel hi alag hua karti thi. Bas usi ki baat kar raha hu. Though I just mentioned in the above section what all things they have kept hidden, but if the trailer was a minute less in duration, it could have been a lot more engaging.
Music/BGM
A music should become the identity of the song. Either it is a theme like a Jawan or part of the song like the whistle part of Papa Meri Jaan from Animal. If I talk about only Salman Khan then the theme BGM of Ek The Tiger is so iconic. Songs in Sultan, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Kick are the identity of the movies even today, after more than a decade. Sikandar lacks that. All the songs and even the theme is average at best. I feel this is a disservice to the stardom of Salman Khan.
Action of Sikandar
I have mixed feeling. Somewhere the action looks massy, something that will be exciting to watch on the big scree. For example, the two big fight sequences, one being shown in the sepia tone during the day and the other one with a pink hue that takes place during the night, those would be a treat to watch. While at other points it just looks rather low effort action choreography just to entice the fans, such as the one on the aeroplane.
The aura of Salman Khan, the service of the fans, all these can also be catered to if we create some realistic and never seen before action set pieces, rather than making it relaxed and comical, which looks like it is made for kids.
Dialogues and Cinematography
Very cheesy. Can’t defend mediocre dialogues, just because I love Salman Khan. The only reason I’m saying this because I’ve seen and enjoyed many such dialogues before. We all have. But Sikandar does not offer that to us. It will only make the young fans happy. Which is not done.
Cinematography of Sikandar is quite superior as compared to other technical aspects. Most of the frames are beautiful. Whether it is the moving frames, dutch angles or tight closeups, all are masterfully done. This will definitely add to the viewing experience of the film.
Salman Khan
I have said this before as well, there was a time when Salman Khan used to become characters. Whether it was Pawan in Bajragi Bhaijaan, Devi Lal Singh in Kick, Sultan in Sultan, Tiger in the spy universe films, and many more. Now all we see is Bhai being Bhai everywhere. The dialogue delivery is same everywhere, the expression is same everywhere. He has that screen presence and aura which everyone talks about, but we are not seeing characters anymore, only Salman Khan playing Salman Khan in every film, either as lead or as cameo.
Plot and Possible Spoiler
Stop if you wish to avoid any possible spoilers, baad mein mujhe blame mat karna.
Salman Khan is Raja Saab in Rajkot, very rich, very respected, very loved. He stands for the weak, fights against injustice, has a temper, beats up the wrong doers and helps the needy. He falls in love with Rashmika Mandanna who keeps him in control, later marries her and was having a wonderful life.
Something happens and she dies. It can be either a disease, an accident, or maybe she consumed something poisonous that the Minister or his son was selling, or a negligence in the hospital owned by the Minister or the plain old killing by some local goons who work for Sathyaraj, the Minister. This makes him go after him in Mumbai with his gang/team, who are like brothers to him.
He lives with the family of Kajal Aggarwal (maybe for a reason or just as a random tenant). He helps the needy people there too, fights a few goons (possibly the ministers’) and then a fight breaks out on the same ground where he played Holi, outside Kajal Aggarwal’s house in Mumbai (the fight sequence in green/blue shirt at night). He keeps going after the Minister until the final fight outside his big mansion in Rajkot (fight sequence in black shirt during the day).
Rashmika is dead but Salman keeps seeing her just like Srk used to see Aishwarya in Mohabbatein.
Expectations
Can this film do ₹1000 Cr worldwide, ₹500Cr India nett? Personally, I doubt that after seeing the trailer. But nobody can be sure these days. It all depends on the public now and they are very unpredictable post pandemic.
If you ask me what I’m looking forward to, then it’s Zohra Jabeen for sure. And then whatever story and screenplay magic Murugadoss throws at us which blows away my theory like Bhaijaan blows away the gundas.
So fingers crossed, hope for the best, and trust in A R Murugadoss.
To The Fans
The review is about the trailer. Not about Salman Khan. There is only one paragraph about Salman the actor. The review is about the director and the producer. The criticism is about the way they work and the outcome. An actor does not decide all these things and hence the criticism here is not about the actor. Creative criticism actually means that someone wants things to be better. Not because somebody has ill-will against somebody. So please think before you react on this review. Thank you!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments either here on the website or on our Instagram.
Author: Ishan Jain
Cast – Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar, Jatin Sarna, Anjini Dhawan and others.
Directed by – A R Murugadoss
Release – 30 March 2025
Produced by – Sajid Nadiadwala
Studio – Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment
Also check out: Sikandar – Zohra Jabeen Song Review | Sikandar – Bam Bam Bhole Song Review | Sikandar Naache Song Review
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