Telugu film Lal Salaam, directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth, the narrative unfolds in a village during the 1990s, focusing on the deep-rooted friendship between Guru (Vishnu Vishal) and Samshuddin (Vikranth), both passionate cricket players. A pivotal cricket match in their village escalates into a violent altercation, resulting in Samshuddin’s hand being severed. This incident leads to communal tensions, with Guru being blamed for the tragedy, causing a rift between the Hindu and Muslim communities. The film explores themes of friendship, communal harmony, and the impact of sports on societal dynamics.
Superstar Rajinikanth makes an extended cameo appearance as Moideen Bhai, Samshuddin’s father, who plays a crucial role in addressing the communal unrest and emphasizing the importance of unity and coexistence.
The film received mixed reviews, with critics acknowledging Rajinikanth’s impactful presence but pointing out the predictable narrative and lackluster execution. Despite the film’s shortcomings, Rajinikanth’s performance and the film’s message of communal harmony were appreciated.
Overview of Lal Salaam
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Aishwarya Rajinikanth |
| Screenplay by | Vishnu Rangasamy, Aishwarya Rajinikanth |
| Story by | Vishnu Rangasamy |
| Produced by | Subaskaran Allirajah |
| Starring | Rajinikanth, Vishnu Vishal, Vikranth |
| Cinematography | Vishnu Rangasamy |
| Edited by | B. Pravin Baaskar |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
| Production Company | Lyca Productions |
| Distributed by | Red Giant Movies |
| Release Date | 9 February 2024 |
| Running Time | 150 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹80–90 crores |
| Box Office | ₹19.76 crores |
Plot Summary
Thirunavukarasu, known as “Thiru,” and Shamsuddin are gifted cricket players from Murarbad, a village where Hindus and Muslims have long lived in harmony. Despite their religious differences, the two communities coexist peacefully. Thiru’s father, Manickam, and Shamsuddin’s father, D.G. Mohideen, also known as Mohideen Bhai, share a deep friendship, which continued even after Manickam’s passing. Since childhood, Thiru and Shamsuddin have had a competitive streak that often led to physical confrontations, but their bond remained strong.
Meanwhile, local politicians scheme to ignite communal unrest in Murarbad to gain an advantage in the upcoming elections. One of them, Raj, the son of a powerful politician, takes it upon himself to manipulate Thiru and Shamsuddin’s rivalry under the pretext of a cricket match. During the heated game, an enraged Thiru accidentally injures Shamsuddin’s right hand, triggering a violent rift between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the village.
Seizing the opportunity, Raj, who belongs to an upper-caste family, escalates tensions by oppressing lower-caste families. He disrupts the annual Thiruvizha festival and seizes the temple cart (Thayr) to further his political agenda. Meanwhile, Thiru finds himself ostracized by his fellow villagers and even his own family. Branded a traitor, he becomes a target of Mohideen’s men and is forced to flee for his life.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rajinikanth | D. G. Mohideen (Mohideen Bhai) | Shamsuddin’s father, Manickam’s friend (Extended cameo) |
| Vishnu Vishal | Thirunavukarasu | Son of Manickam and Rani |
| Vikranth | Shamsuddin | Son of Mohideen and Fathima |
| Senthil | Samikkannu | |
| Jeevitha | Rani | Manickam’s wife, Thirunavukarasu’s mother |
| K. S. Ravikumar | Ra. Sathyamoorthy | |
| Thambi Ramaiah | Kathirvelan | Thirunavukarasu’s uncle |
| Nirosha | Fathima | Mohideen’s wife, Shamsuddin’s mother |
| Ananthika Sanilkumar | Nandhini | Thirunavukarasu’s love interest |
| Vivek Prasanna | Raji | |
| Livingston | Manickam | Thirunavukarasu’s father, Mohideen’s friend (Guest appearance) |
| Thangadurai | Thirunavukarasu’s friend | |
| Akash Sahani | – | |
| Poster Nandakumar | Nandakumar | |
| Dhanya Balakrishna | Ammani | Raji’s wife (Guest appearance) |
| Adithya Menon | Rahim | Guest appearance |
| Pondy Ravi | – | |
| Amit Tiwari | – | |
| Jay Parashar | Salim | Guest appearance |
| Kapil Dev | Himself | Cameo appearance |
