Freedom At Midnight web series review: A brilliant exploration of events leading up to the partition

Director Nikhil Advani skillfully captures the political turmoil of the time, which ideally should have been the celebration of free India but ended as a harrowing experience with the religious conflicts. 
Freedom At Midnight (Hindi), 14-11-2024, Historical drama ,7 episodes, 13+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, Malishka Mendonsa, and Rajesh Kumar
  • Director: Nikhil Advani
  • Producer: Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani
  • Music Director: Ashutosh Patak
  • Cinematography: Malay Prakash
  • Rating: 4/5

Starting from Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Salaam- E- Ishq (2007) director and producer Nikhil Advani has had a fascinating career so far.

He has dabbled in various genres whether it is the action dramas Batla House (2019) and D-Day (2013) or the two seasons of Mumbai Diaries— a medical thriller.

This year Nikhil further proved his versatility with the movie Vedaa—a gritty social drama with hardcore action.

Synopsis

The web series Freedom At Midnight, streaming on Sony Liv, though has to be the biggest risk taken by the director. Given the complexity of the events and also the probability of being accused of aligning to a particular political spectrum.

The series is based on the book “Freedom at Midnight” by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins.

Fortunately, Nikhil has passed the test with flying colours. He has succeeded in not only making a gripping series but at no point does the show take sides blaming a particular person or party. Instead, it places the viewers amidst the powerful leaders who have fought for India’s independence letting the audiences make their own judgments.

At the heart of Freedom At Midnight are the complex political scenarios represented by the numerous leaders. The main ones are Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (Sidhant Gupta), Sardar Vallabhai Patel (Rajendra Chawla), Mahatma Gandhi (Chirag Vohra), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Arif Zakaria) and Lord Louis Mountbatten (Luke Mc Gibney).

Through the seven episodes, Nikhil Advani along with writers Gundeep Kaur, Ethan Taylor, Divy Nidhi Sharma, and Revantha Sarabai, gives a strong insight into the political machinations and the numerous differences of opinions leading to clashes.

Analysis

A still from the series Freedom At Midnight
A still from the series ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

As already mentioned, Freedom At Midnight doesn’t take sides at any point, instead, it presents the viewers with various perspectives.

Whether it is Gandhiji’s unwavering idealism in spite of the clash of opinions between Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel, or Jinnah’s uncompromising attitude on wanting Pakistan among others.

The series presents the leaders with their flaws, fears and contradictions. The best examples of this are the portions involving Jinnah’s calculated decisions or Nehru’s quiet torment.

The scenes of religious discord leading to incidents of communal violence give the show some of its best emotional scenes. Although these scenes are set in a particular time period, there is contemporariness to them, as religious discord, is still a major issue in the present time.

Technical brilliance

Freedom At Midnight is a historical drama
‘Freedom At Midnight’ is a historical drama. (X)

Freedom At Midnight immerses the viewers from the first frame and a major reason for this is Malay Prakash’s cinematography.

The close-up shots of the emotional upheavals faced by Nehru, and Gandhi in particular transports the viewers into those turbulent times making them feel that they are watching the happenings from up close.

Both the cinematography and the production design are the main pillars of this web show.

Talking about the production design, the scenes of the Viceroy’s house along with the portions showcasing the riot-torn neighbourhoods serve as a perfect masterclass in creating an authentic world in an era where VFX is dominating mainstream cinema.

Ashutosh Patak’s music is equally poignant enhancing the series’ emotional scenes significantly. There is a haunting quality to the tunes in perfect sync with the nature of the show.

Performances

Sidhant Gupta as Nehru in ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

The performances of the entire cast are brilliant starting from Sidhant Gupta. The young actor successfully takes off from his fantastic performance in Jubilee (2023).

As Jawaharlal Nehru, he perfectly portrays the inner conflicts of a leader who is torn between his ideals and the grim pragmatism that was the need of the hour, his scenes with Chirag Vohra’s Gandhi in particular are very impressive.

The scenes of the unfortunate discord and how he portrays a quiet resolve are truly brilliant.

Arif Zakaria is also terrific making sure that Mohammad Ali Jinnah never becomes a caricature. He portrays him as a complex personality with shades of frailty, ambition and conviction.

Jinnah is someone who is both formidable and tragically flawed. Both the writing and Arif Zakaria’s performance bring out these nuances wonderfully.

Chirag Vohra as Gandhi plays his part with lots of grace. His performance particularly in the scenes of anguish is praiseworthy.

Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Patel portrays both the grit and the gentleness of the leader in a perfect manner. Special mention must also be made of Rajesh Kumar playing Liaquat Ali Khan. The actor makes for a perfect partner in crime for Jinnah.

The women characters though needed better etching. Both Ira Dubey’s Fatima and also the actress playing Lady Mountbatten are introduced with great promise but end up mostly relegated to the background.

Final take

Keeping aside this small niggle, Freedom At Midnight is a moving emotional tale of how freedom came at a heavy price.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

Jai Mahendran: A fun political satire on the functioning of government offices

Jai Mahendran web series banner

Director Srikanth Mohan successfully feeds upon the general impression that a common man has about the working system in government offices. While not outstanding, the show is a breezy watch if you are looking for some fun

Starcast: Saiju Kurup, Suhasini Maniratnam, Rahul Riji Nair, Miya George and others

Director: Srikanth Mohan

Writer: Rahul Riji Nair

Music: Siddarth Pradeep

Cinematography: Prashanth Raveendran

Streaming site: Sony Liv

No of episodes: 6

As the title suggests the story of Jai Mahendran focuses on the journey of a Deputy Tahsildar Mahendran (Saiju Kurup). Mahendran is the go-to man for any problems that department faces. By hook or crook, he always comes up with a successful idea. Often times he alternates between a miscreant and a helpful officer. However, his helpful nature is only restricted to those in power or the ones with connections. Writer Rahul Riji Nair plays Mahendran’s right-hand man Balu. Balu is the perfect accomplice to Mahendran. Soon Mahendran faces a major opposition in the form of Shoba (Suhasini Maniratnam). Shoba is the new sitting Tahsildar; unlike Mahendran she is a more honest officer. His life takes a drastic turn with her entry, he is no longer the all-powerful entity. This is the story in brief.

Saiju Kurup as Jai Mahendran and Suhasini Maniratnam as Shoba.

A strong aspect of Jai Mahendran are the fun dialogues coupled with the believable scenarios. Writer Rahul Riji Nair does a wonderful job in using satire to talk about what happens in a normal government office. Sure, the situations are stereotypical. You have officers who are both corrupt and lazy. They spend more time in having tea and indulging in activities that are not related to work. Files are passed on endlessly from one desk to another. The applicants come and go fully frustrated. Still the tight writing makes it an enjoyable show.

Regarding the functioning of the government offices two segments need to be mentioned here. One scene involves a young woman flirting on a phone while someone asks her to give an application form. Instead of cutting the call she gets annoyed. In another one an employee is busy munching o unni appams, when a person comes to find out where his government allocated land is. But this employee instead of answering the question asks the man to have one unni appam because they are tasty. Both these scenes may present an exaggerated picture, yet the lethargic nature of these employees comes across strongly.

The show also does a fine job in showcasing the dangers of office politics driven by differing political leanings.

What also makes the show engaging is the on-screen camaraderie between Saiju and Rahul Riji. The chemistry is absolutely spot on, as an actor Rahul Riji does a fine job in evoking comedy thorough his expressions more so in the scenes where he follows Mahendran blindly.

Another strong point for Jai Mahendran is the dynamics between Shobha and Mahendran. Both of them are polar opposites in their functioning resulting in an underlying tension. The tussle between these two give the show some of its best moments. At one point an unlikely friendship happens too when both their careers are at a dead end.

Saiju Kurup in the role of Mahendran aces the various shades of his role starting off as a corrupt tahsildar to underdoing a major transformation. From the initial haughtiness to a sense of despair the actor does a very fine job. Having said that the characterization would have had a stronger impact if Srikanth Mohan had dwelled deeper into his moral compass. Suhasini Mainiratnam is also powerful as the superior officer bringing in the required authority. But even her characterization could have done with little more meat.

Technically there isn’t much to rave about. The title song is a perfect upbeat number, but the background score becomes very repetitive. Prasanth Raveendran’s visuals go well with the realistic setting.

Brinda: A gripping police procedural which examines the side effects of extremism both religious and otherwise

Writer and director Surya Manoj Vangala does an effective job in exploring multiple societal aspects

  • Starcast: Trisha, Ravindra Vijay, Aamani, Indrajith Sukumaran, Anand Sami and others
  • Writer and director: Surya Manoj Vangala
  • Screenplay: Jay Krishna and Padmavathi Malladi
  • Producer: Kolla Ashish
  • Production Company: Adding Advertising LLP
  • Cinematography: Dinesh K Babu
  • Music: Shakti Kanth Karthik
  • No of episodes: 8
  • Streaming site: Sony LIV

Tense investigative dramas are always a treat to watch provided audiences are on tenterhooks. Trisha’s OTT debut not only ticks the required boxes of a suspense thriller/drama, but it also ventures into topics that are tricky in nature. Thankfully Suraj Manoj Vangala along with the screenplay writers do a good job.

Brinda begins with a prologue that is hugely disturbing. A young girl in mid-1990’s becomes a scapegoat in satisfying a goddess, the goddess is said to be very angry with the villagers. This girl wails loudly seeking for help but they fall on deaf ears. No one in the village including the mother and brother question this ritual murder. Brinda web series is peppered with numerous scenes showcasing how even in contemporary society these acts continue in the name of god.

The main plot of Brinda focuses on a newly appointed sub inspector. Trisha’s character is mostly confined to desk related work, she is a victim of casual sexism. Fellow cop Sarathi (Ravindra Vijay) is the only one who treats her with some respect. Later on, they form an unlikely bond that develops into a strong friendship. Brinda is a brooding police officer suffering from anxiety issues, constantly taking pills. Things take a turn when Brinda goes against her superiors when they try to close a murder case as suicide. She starts digging deeper with some help from Sarathi. Soon multiple murders start taking place. The rest of the story is about who is behind these murders while blending the personal and professional lives of Brinda and Sarathi.

Trisha as a newly appointed sub inspector
Ravindra Vijay as Sarathi

A strong aspect of Brinda is its world building. Although Trisha is the central pivot most of the other characters too have been written with lot of care. A very good example of this is the roles played by Anandasami and Ravindra Vijay. Sarathi is someone who is desperately waiting for a better turn in both his professional and personal life. In spite of a brewing inner turmoil Sarathi never loses his humanness. A scene deserving particular mention is Ravindra Vijay’s breakdown, this happens when Sarathi’s personal life takes a crucial turn. The writing coupled with the actor’s performance is simply terrific. Anand Sami as Thakur also chews the scenery with a spine-chilling act. His back story is very touching and in spite of him being an evil person the viewers feel sympathy. In the title role Trisha successfully sheds her glamorous image delivering a nuanced performance. She is successful in portraying both the vulnerabilities and resilience of Brinda.

Indrajith Sukumaran also excels in portraying the charming and calculative nature Dr. Satya/prof. Kabir Anand. The track of sibling’s rivalry though sticks out like a sore thumb. The teenage rebellion of Brinda’s sister Chutki feels like more of an unnecessary add on. Also, the process of an important character stealing someone else’s identity is not so convincing. However, these are just minor blips.

Indrajith Sukumaran excels in portraying the charming and calculative nature

As mentioned previously Brinda is a web series that tackles multiple societal aspects. For example, there is the track of gender discrimination. How Brinda is looked upon in a condescending manner is touched upon in a subtle yet impactful way. The series also highlights the importance of child care in juvenile prisons.

The power of religion in shaping lives and the dangers of blind faith is also an integral aspect of Brinda. These are just some of the numerous themes that the series examines. Surya Manoj Vangala along with the screenplay writers deserve distinction marks for the treatment.

There isn’t much scope for music in a story like Brinda, but Shakthi Kanth Karthick delivers a powerful opening song.

Undekhi Season 3: Watch it for the performances and the visuals

Despite its flaws, ‘Undekhi Season 3’ has some strong performances and interesting twists that make it worth watching.
Undekhi: Season 3 (Hindi), 11-05-2024, Crime drama/Thriller, 8 Episodes, 18+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Surya Sharma, Harsh Chhaya, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Ankur Rathee, Shivangi Shah, Varun Badola
  • Director: Ashish R Shukla
  • Producer: Applause Entertainment, Banijay Asia and Edgestorm Ventures
  • Music Director: Anuj Danait
  • Cinematography: Murzy Pagdiwala
  • Rating: 3/5

For those who missed the first two seasons of Undekhi, the murder of a young girl, who loved dancing was at the center of the show’s premise, which was based on a true story.

A dancer was shot and killed after turning down an influential man’s advances during a marriage.

Considering how well-connected the family patriarch is, nobody speaks forward to reveal the truth.

Intermingled with this story was the track of the DSP in search of a tribal girl.

Previous seasons

It was widely appreciated that the first two seasons of Undekhi exposed how easily corruption sneaks into our society and how powerful and wealthy people can get away with crimes by abusing their power.

The series equally addressed women’s difficulties, especially underprivileged ones, by using the character of a runaway tribal girl.

The performances of the actors; Harsh Chhaya and Surya Sharma as the utterly despicable father and son Jodi also worked wonders.

There are definite expectations for the third season for fans of socially conscious crime series.

There are a little too many new characters and subplots in the third season. However, there are some excellent moments in the show.

Synopsis

The third season begins with the reopening of the dancer’s death case. DCP Ghosh (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) has found an important video. He is hopeful about getting justice for the deceased girl, along with putting an end to the crimes of the Atwal family headed by Papaji (Harsh Chhaya) and Rinku (Surya Sharma).

On the other hand, Rinku is hell-bent on reviving the illegal drug business. He, along with the cronies, is searching big time for Samrat (Nandish Singh Sandu) to take revenge.

Papaji’s younger son Daman (Ankur Rathee) and daughter-in-law Teji (Aanchal Singh) are searching for a buyer for the resort at the same time, intending to move there. The plot takes numerous unexpected turns as it goes along, with certain secrets coming to light.

An aspect that works strongly for Undekhi Season 3 is the characterization of Rinku.

Unlike the previous seasons, the viewers see an emotional side of Rinku beneath the toughness.

This comes out well in the husband and wife-related scenes. Surya Sharma’s scenes with Muskaan (Shivanghi Singh) bring out a delicate side, that is refreshing to watch.

A scene depicting Muskaan’s death during her pregnancy follows. It’s heartwarming to see Rinku remember the good times he had with her before breaking down.

Engaging moments

The face-off between Rinku and DCP Ghosh also gives the show some of its best moments. The banter between them and the constant tussle keep the viewers engaged.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya adds a lot of colour to the show with his quirky one-liners.

He does a wonderful job of showcasing the determination of a man who wants to bring justice.

Harsh Chhaya as Papaji continues to ace his role. He takes off from the first two seasons without any hiccups. Yes; the antics are repetitive, but the swag with which he plays, is remarkable.

The juxtaposition of Manali’s scenic beauty with the darkness of the character’s deeds also enhances the atmosphere.

Cinematographer Murzy Pagdiwala does a first-rate job of capturing this distinction through the lens of his camera.

Undekhi Season 3 comes with twists that catch the viewers unaware.

The best example of this is a key revelation about Rinku’s actual father.

Despite Rinku being a horrible person, it is hard to not feel for him emotionally.

Verdict

One big problem with Undekhi Season 3 is some of the underdeveloped characters.

Key characters from the previous seasons, Ankur Rathee and Aanchal Singh, have been largely wasted.

In a similar vein, there are times when it gets hard for the audience to follow the plot.

Lesser subplots would have contributed to making the show more cohesive.

Undekhi Season 3 has its problems, but there is enough intrigue that will hold your attention.

My Short Take on Bramayugam

Yesterday watched a Malayalam movie Bramayugam on Sonyliv directed by Rahul Sadhasivan. Without giving much away Bramayugam is set in 17th century of Kerala. A Dalit singer Thevan (Arjun Ashokan) loses his way in the forest and ends up finding a dilapidated mansion where only two men stay Kodumon Poti (Mammootty) and the cook played by Sidharth Bharathan. Keeping in the tradition of the horror movie genre this is a mansion with many secrets. Initially Thevan’s stay is pleasant but things start going tipsy turvy soon.

One of the aspects that I liked about Bramayugam was how Rahul Sadhasivan mixed elements of folklore and religion. The movie also gets into a political zone about dialogues regarding oppression of lower caste and how the desire for power corrupts anyone whether you are rich or poor.

Technically Bramayugam is a solid product. The cinematography and sound design in particular deserve praise. Shehnad Jalal’s black and white cinematography is a treat to watch and the sound design enhances the horror.

Lastly the performances are also fine. Mammootty has shown the passion to constantly reinvent himself and Bramayugam is another fine example of that. The actor chews the scenery and terrifies the viewers with just his body language. Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharatan are also fine in their respective parts.

A major problem with the movie are its post interval portions after the big reveal. The screenplay starts stagnating without much to look forward to. Rahul Sadhasivan’s Bhoothakaalam kept the viewers thoroughly engaged till the end but this doesn’t. Another issue with the film are the logical loopholes particularly regarding the character of the cook. This cook uses Thevan for his own purpose. Why he waits for such a long time is not clear.

Also we are shown that Kodumon Poti is someone who knows everything but when it comes to the cook’s background Kodumon Poti is shown to be surprised when his lineage is revealed. At the beginning of the film we have a Yakshi played by Amalda Liz but her purpose of seducing and killing men is an absolute blur

To sum it up Bramayugam has some strong points but it leaves it with you more questions than answers.

Rocket Boys Season 2: A Worthy Follow-Up to The First Season

Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh takes the center stage

Rocket Boys Season 2

Cast: Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh, Regina Cassandra, Saba Azad etc.

Screenplay, Dialogues and Direction: Abhay Pannu

Story: Abhay Koranne

Additional dialogues: Kausar Munir

Genre: Biographical drama

Producers: Siddarth Roy Kapoor, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani

Number of episodes: 8

OTT: SonyLiv

Season 2 of Rocket Boys is a worthy follow-up to the first season. It mainly looks at the decisions that shaped the nation’s space and nuclear programmes under the leadership of Jim Sarbh’s Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh’s Vikram Sarabhai.

There is also a major subplot of how their decisions ended up creating geopolitical ripples across the subcontinent.

Strong women characters

Much like the first season, the new season also has strong women characters.

Mrinalini Sarabhai played by Regina Cassandra is one example of this. She is the wife of Vikram Sarabhai and also a classical dancer. Her presence is significant both at home and also in the outside world.

Saba Azad who played Pipsi, a close friend of Homi Bhabha, has less to do in comparison to the first season, but she also gets her moments at a critical juncture.

The biggest strength of Rocket Boys Season 2 is the humane touch that director Abhay Pannu brings to the table. One example of this is how the director deals with the political undertones of the plot.

For instance, there are scenes showcasing the struggle of Indira Gandhi (Charu Shankar) post the death of her father Jawaharlal Nehru.

The entire process of Indira Gandhi coming to terms with her father’s death has been portrayed with a lot of sensitivity. Charu Shankar is impressive in capturing the spirit of Indira Gandhi. She brings in the required authority.

Humane touch in characters

The arguments between Ishwak and Jim Sarbh, though fierce, never get into the shrill territory.

The turbulent interpersonal relationship between them has been brought out well by the director. In spite of their great scientific achievements, they don’t come across as superheroes at any point.

On certain occasions, we see them vulnerable to provocations and also not shying away from their weaknesses.

The scenes between Vikram and Mrinalini Sarabhai are another major highlight of the series.

Their marriage is under severe strain because of Sarabhai’s long absences from home and his other attractions.

Still, Mrinalini doesn’t come across as a nagging wife at any point. She has her own ambitions of becoming a classical dancer.

There is certain assertiveness to the character which is refreshing to watch. Regina does a fantastic job of capturing the feistiness of Mrinalini. She has effectively portrayed the vulnerable moments of the character.

Impressive technical team

Season 2 also benefits from a very impressive technical team.

The cinematography by Harshvir Oberoi is successful in transporting the viewers back to that era with the frames being perfectly in sync with the nature of the story without overriding the content.

The sound design by Subhash Sahoo is also top-notch. A special mention must also be made of the show’s theme music, which is an absolute winner.

Falters at some places

The positive being told, there are certain areas where the series falters.

Primarily, the characterisation of the young Dr APJ Abdul Kalam could have been better written.

Also, some of the supporting characters come across as more of TV serial villains which are not in sync with the tonality of the show.

Particularly those played by Namit Das and KC Shankar.

Jim Sarbh, Ishwak take centrestage

The performances by Jim Sarbh and Ishwak are simply terrific.

There is no dull moment whenever Jim is on screen. He gets ample opportunities to be a charmer which Jim pulls off with ease. He is equally good in the more intense bits.
The scene leading to the death of Homi Bhabha has an emotional poignancy that stays with the audience for a long time.

Ishwak Singh’s part is less colourful but the young actor makes his presence felt.

He is particularly good in the vulnerable bits with his wife. He is successful in bringing out the zen-like attitude of Vikram Sarabhai.

Saba Azad enters pretty late but she does hold her own in the few scenes that she has got.

A special mention must be made of the intense scene where she questions the futility of war.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya is also in form, as a misunderstood scientist who has to prove his innocence.

Verdict

In a nutshell Rocket Boys Season 2 is a worthy tribute to the two great scientists. What elevates this underdog story is the humane touch that the director brings.

Salute: A Gripping Police Procedural

Salute is a cocktail of a suspense drama, murder mystery and a whodunit rolled into one. This cocktail works in spite of some familiarities
Salute (Malayalam). 3.5 out of 5

Starcast: Dulqer Salmaan, Manoj K Jayan, Diana Penty and others
Director: Roshan Andrews
Writer: Bobby- Sanjay
Producer: Dulqer Salmaan
Production Company: Wayfarer Films
Music : Jakes Bejoy
Genre: Thriller/drama
Running time: 2 hours and 23 minutes

Streaming site: Sony LIV

The genre of police procedurals isn’t something new. Earlier also we have seen films which look at the inner workings of the police department. Salute directed by Roshan Andrews is a suspense drama, a murder mystery and a whodunit all rolled into one. It is a cocktail which works in spite of some familiarities. You can see the influence of last year’s critically acclaimed Nayattu. What makes Salute work is the tight script and also Dulquer Salman’s performance.

Salute tells the story of sub-inspector Aravind Karunakaran. He belongs to a family of police officers. His role model to join the force is his own brother Ajith Karunakaran (Manoj K Jayan). Aravind takes pride in working with his brother. Things take a turn when the police nab an innocent auto-driver Murali on a double murder case. An upcoming election and political pressure leads to Murali being implicated.

At the start of the film we come to know that Aravind has taken a sabbatical after realizing that his brothers had done wrong. The difference between the brothers comes out clearly from the beginning. Aravind wants to pursue the truth, his brother Ajith on the other hand mocks him and constantly says this is how the system works. The reason for Aravind reopening the case is the accidental interaction with the sister of Murali. Diana Penty plays Aravind’s girlfriend. She looks pretty but nothing more can be said about her character or performance.

Salute works best when the focus is on Dulquer and Manoj. The cat and mouse game between the brothers while living under the same roof is a delight to watch, you can see that they are keeping up appearances for the sake of the family. But at the same time they are trying to outwit each other. These scenes work really well.

The pace of the film is deliberately slow. There is no hurry to make the police catch the criminal. More often than not the film plays out as a battle between a hero who is haunted by his own conscience and a faceless villain.

Just when you think that Aravind has caught the criminal the story takes a turn every time, the best thing about Aravind’s characterization is that he is not shown to be invincible. He is as vulnerable as anyone.

The background music by Jakes Bejoy also adds to the impact. It adds a layer of intrigue and threat.

One of the areas where Salute fumbles is its last stretch. The finale of the film doesn’t quite live up to the buildup. Also none of the female characters adds much value to the film.

Dulquer Salman and Manoj K Jayan are in perfect sync with each other. Dulquer makes you empathize with Aravind’s moral dilemmas. There are no traditional hero antics but Dulquer shows that he is equally adept at serious roles. In a nutshell Salute is a gripping investigative drama that deserves to be seen.