Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire has reportedly beaten blockbusters like Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 3, and Animal and emerged as the biggest opener of 2023. Apart from the numbers it’s clocking and the camaraderie between its lead actors Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Salaar is also making headlines for its violence quotient. The film is high on gore and while its cast members and director Prashanth Neel have defended the same, some comments on social media felt Salaar is more violent than Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal.
In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha recently, Prithviraj shared his thoughts on violent scenes in films like Animal and Salaar, and the reactions it is getting on social media. “I haven’t watched Animal yet and so, I can’t comment on it. But because I’m a filmmaker also, I’m of the opinion that as a filmmaker if you think you need to shoot graphic violence to be able to say the story the way you want to say it, you should have the liberty to do it,” he states.
Prithviraj adds that telling makers not to incorporate bloodshed and graphic and gory sequences in their films is unfair. “Ultimately, after having made the film, you’re submitting it to a regulatory authority called the Censor Board, who is going to tell you that your film is certified so and so, which means only such and such sections of the audience can watch your film. Our responsibility as a filmmaker is to make sure that we submit it to the Censor Board. How we make the film should be left to us,” he opines.
While content regulation in terms of who can watch it is important, the Kaapa and Kuruthi actor believes that artists shouldn’t have to bear any moral responsibility. He says, “The audience has already been told about a film’s certification because it has violence or nudity. Censorship should happen in the exhibition sector to keep a tab on who goes to the theatre and who gets to see it. As an artist, I’ve always believed that we should have the liberty of making what we want to. Who sees the material should be regulated as it is.”
It is due to its visual violence that Salaar received an ‘A’ certificate. But Prithviraj isn’t worried that a certain section of his audience will not be able to catch the film in theatre. He compared Salaar to Game Of Thrones, which will always be remembered for its blood-curdling depictions of merciless killings.
“The violence in Salaar is very much a character in the plot and it’s a screenplay instrument to further the drama. Without the violence, Salaar won’t be what it is. And I keep comparing it to Game Of Thrones because Salaar is very much a drama,” he tells us.
Prithviraj adds, “In spite of all the spectacular action, violence and huge production design and massive sets, Salaar is essentially about relationships. It’s a beautifully written drama with intricate character dynamics. That’s why I compared it to Game Of Thrones.”
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