Ruslaan

During the last few years Bollywood experimented with the theme related to the Lives, Struggles, Dedication and Supreme Sacrifices of those who work for the Intelligence Department of India. The films of such category may be seen as Tributes to those brave people and the Department that make us proud through their endeavours for the nation., Ruslaan 2024 is a new addition in this category. But about this particular film?

Plot- The Plot is simple. The film tries to depict the desperate effort of an individual to prove his loyalty to India rising above religious affiliation.

Narrative- The way the film has been narrated is boring. The film has drastically failed to take forward the action considering the interests of the viewers. So also, as a film lacks something essential related to military adventure.

Action Sequences - The most boring part of the film is its Action Sequences. The scenes are lengthy and repetition. So also, the film has failed in making Action Sequences realistic which is one of the essential aspects to make such film successful. The film depends more on melodrama.

Co-ordination: The most challenging aspect of such film is successful and effective co-ordination of different dimensions of a film. The Film has some aspects like Romance, Friendship, Paternal love, individual apathy and other aspects. However, the problem is: these are not properly connected to the pivotal theme.

Ending: The film keeps a surprising element at the end. The role-model of the young man Ruslaan discovers his foster father Jagapathi Babu as the traitor. But throughout the film there is no indication of this so that interests of the viewers remain intact to watch that surprising element as the film lacks the most important element; suspense. As audience is not prepared for such ending, this significant aspect of the film has failed to impact as per expectation.

Cast Aayush Sharma, Sushrii Mishraa, Vidya Malvade do not seem impressive. However, Jagapathi Babu proves his genius.

Final Remarks- The Realistic Purview of Ruslaan Movie 2024: it is Old Wine in a New Bottle.

Ruslaan tells the story of "Ruslaan" portrayed by Aayush Sharma. Portraying the role of the son of a terrorist, Ruslaan works hard to overcome all obstacles and become an undercover agent.

It is a fantastic and gripping movie with great action and superlative direction. The narrative kept me engaged throughout. The climax was unanticipated and that's what made it an entertaining watch.

Aayush in the role of Ruslaan was outstanding. Jagapathi Babu and Vidya Malvade in their respective roles were absolute magic on screen. Sushri as a fresh face was nice to see and her action scene left me wanting more!

The songs are quite catchy and visually very appealing. Did miss the song Taade though. Definitely a must watch!

ATS Officer Sameer Singh (Jagapathi Babu) finds Ruslaan during an undercover mission to eliminate suspected terrorists. Sameer saves Ruslaan and eventually adopts him after seeing his state at the orphanage. The grown up Ruslaan (Aayush Sharma) is forced to prove his identity and loyalty all his life, which has made him firm in his decision to join the forces which Sameer objects. This doesn't stop Ruslaan as he willingly becomes the asset of Mantra, his handler and way for joining RAW. On his mission, he uncovers the involvement of China and eventually falls into a trap which makes him the target with his father Sameer leading the team to capture him. How does Ruslaan prove his innocence and also stop an impending attack in Mumbai, forms rest of the story.

The plus is obviously Aayush Sharma's committed performance which does feel too much considering how the film turned out in second half. The delayed production with the change of director, one can clearly notice how basic the writing is and it is designed as a star vehicle to glorify Aayush Sharma on screen. It is watchable as far as the first half goes with the only major minus being the overdose of slow motion shots and forgettable songs. It has enough melodrama and establishes the clear motive for the hero to join the forces. It's a straight forward story with predictable twists.

The problem lies in the second half entirely where the film stops taking itself seriously while Aayush remains committed. In one scene, he provides his phone, having a video and asks his partner to check the co-ordinates for which she literally zooms in the video and swipes right continuously to claim she has found the co-ordinates. The major scenes lack impact and things fall in place rather too conveniently. The final twist was again quite predictable and definitely not well handled. The actors can only do so much when the writing lacks the fizz. I am going with a lenient rating for Aayush Sharma's commitment and Ruslaan offers nothing else.

Ruslaan is like a masterclass in how not to make a movie in 2024. Aayush Sharma tries to flex his "mass hero" muscles again, but instead of delivering something entertaining, we're gifted with a mess that feels like it time-traveled from a 90s reject bin. Honestly, the filmmakers seem blissfully unaware that Indian cinema has moved on. They've also hilariously attempted to push the absurd narrative that all Muslim officers are shining examples of patriotism, while the Hindu cop? Yep, you guessed it-he's a traitor. Bold storytelling or just lazy stereotyping?

The film's plot is a worn-out cliché: a terrorist's son proving his loyalty to the country. Groundbreaking stuff, right? Wrong. If they thought the twist in the climax was something new, someone should have told them it was last seen in a Saas-Bahu serial circa 2002. The action scenes are drenched in unnecessary slow motion-seriously, how many angles of Aayush walking in slo-mo do we need? By the third one, I felt like I was stuck in a loop of boredom. The filmmakers seem to think that slow motion equals tension. Spoiler: It doesn't.

Speaking of the cast, Aayush's performance is as forgettable as the plot. The "mass avatar" they've tried to push just doesn't fit. It's like putting a superhero cape on a bored office worker and expecting him to fly. Sushrii Mishraa is there for nothing more than eye candy, because, of course, a film from the 1960s rulebook mandates a bikini scene-even in 2024. Vidya Malvade is supposed to be a tough intelligence officer, but she feels more like a cardboard cutout, and Jagapathi Babu, trying his best to add a pan-India flavor, looks painfully out of place.

The editing? Abysmal. Ruslaan manages to stretch a two-hour runtime into an experience that feels three times longer. The songs are so forgettable, you might wonder if you dreamed them. But honestly, why were they even there? It's like the editor gave up halfway through and thought, "Eh, let's just leave it all in." The production design is so low-budget it feels like the crew raided a discount store five minutes before shooting. At least that would explain why the film looks so shoddy.

Director Karan Butani seems to be living in a parallel universe where outdated masala flicks are still a thing. If this was his attempt to bring that era back, he failed. Spectacularly. Ruslaan is nothing but a torturous ride into mediocrity, and for those who manage to sit through it, congratulations-you've earned a medal for endurance.

"They prioritize flash over substance, thinking a hero's muscles suffice. Neglecting a compelling face and story, they fill screen time without depth. Balance visual appeal with narrative for genuine impact. Character development and engaging storytelling elevate a hero's physicality, investing audiences emotionally and intellectually.

Substance transcends superficiality, fostering connection and resonance. Meaningful narratives explore complexities, motivations, and growth. Investing in story enriches the cinematic experience, leaving a lasting impression.

Audiences crave authenticity, relatability, and emotional investment. Shallow storytelling alienates viewers, undermining potential. Well-crafted narratives weave themes, symbolism, and subtext, rewarding attention and reflection.

Visual spectacle complements, rather than replaces, narrative depth. Iconic films master this balance, resonating with audiences worldwide. Let's prioritize storytelling substance, crafting memorable, impactful cinematic experiences that linger long after credits roll."