Released internationally on November 12th, 2015.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is special. It is Salman Khan’s 4th Rajshri movie. Sooraj Barjatya presented Salman Khan as “Prem” in the 1989 blockbuster “Meine Pyar Kiya”.
Salman appeared in the role of “Prem” again in the 1994 blockbuster “Hum Aapke Hein Kaun?”. The third time, Salman played “Prem” in the super hit family drama “Hum Sath Sath Hein”. And now in “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” Salman appears in the double roles; Prem, and Vijay.
Direction: Sooraj Barjatya has done a decent job. He has directed a handful of blockbusters in the past, starring Salman Khan. Barjatya can be easily considered as the best director in Bollywood when it comes to family dramas on the silver screen.
However, in this case, there are a few loose ends that needed trimming but were left as such. Or maybe Sooraj has set the bar too high for himself through his movies that the viewers expect a lot more from him!
Cinematography and Art Direction: Excellent. One special aspect of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is the grandeur of sets used in the film. They look very convincing.
Script: Script is okay. The kind of one-liners which the viewers are used to watch in Rajshri movies are missing in this case. However, there are few strong punch lines in this film too.
Story: Sooraj Barjatya is known for the brilliant presentation of romance and family dramas on the bigger screen. Usually, these two aspects are smoothly woven into each other. Be it “Meine Pyar Kiya” where the story revolves initially around the friendship of Prem and Suman’s fathers and leads to a romantic love story; or “Hum Aap Ke Hein Kaun” where family ties appear stronger than the romantic aspects in the film, or “Hum Sath Sath Hein” where love between the siblings highlights the show although the element of romance between the lead pairs is also very strong; in each of these cases, romance and family bonds are woven very smoothly. In Prem Ratan Dhan Payo however, the story to one point revolves around family bonds, and then takes a turn and starts focusing more on the lead pair’s romance. The love of the siblings and romance of the lead pair is thus not that smoothly gelled in this case.
Acting: Good. No overacting. Mostly there is really good comedy timing by Salman Khan. Salman has carried himself very nicely in both characters. Sonam looks comfortable, but she could have done better. (Was it the perfect lead pair casting? or was it not?)
Music/Background score: Very good! The title song is beautiful! “Jaltey Diye” is the usual romantic number we get to see in each Sooraj Barjatya movie. “Aaj un se Milna Hai” is simple and innocent and has the typical Himesh Reshammiya touch. However if one rate Meine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hein Kaun, and Hum Sath Sath Hein albums at 8, this one can be rated at 7.
Sound Design: Good.
Editing: Good.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is the story of a “Raj” family where the siblings are at daggers drawn. The story revolves around how the conflicts between the siblings are resolved and around the romance between the lead pair of Sonam Kapoor and Salman Khan.
FilmPlusMovie Special: Salman looks handsome. Sonam looks beautiful. However, going back to the other three Rajshri movies starring Salman Khan in the lead, here is what we have to say. Salman’s leading ladies in these movies have always been really impressive and lovable. (Be it Bhagyashree, or Madhuri Dixit, or Sonali Bendre!). If we rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 for elegance and grace, Sonali Bendre is easily the best, with a 9/10. If it is about beauty, Madhuri Dixit tops the chart with a 9/10. If it’s innocence of expression or charm we are talking about, Bhagyashree qualifies at the top. Although Sonam Kapoor has done a good job, compared to these three leading ladies, she does not make it to the top. Arguably, Salman’s looks have been different in all four movies, and even his fourth time as Prem, he still looks good.
Rating: 6.5/10.
