'Ruslaan' Review: Aayush Sharma shines in a wafer-thin script

‘Ruslaan’ Review: Aayush Sharma shines in a wafer-thin script

The makers of ‘Ruslaan’ were on an assignment: to project Aayush Sharma as the next action star, and they did it well. Like most of the cinematic war heroes, he is impulsive and impatient, defies protocols, yet displays remarkable courage and love for his motherland. In his third film, the actor impresses audiences with his well-sculpted body, agility, and his alpha-man attitude. While the film hails him as the ‘undefeatable hero’, it fails in its screenplay.

A police officer adopts the son of a terrorist. He grows up aspiring to overcome his tainted past and serve the nation to prove his deshbhakti (patriotism). A story like this is a potboiler missing from the screens in recent times. If only the film had been made a couple of decades back, it would have left audiences whistling and cheering for the protagonist as he fought his tumultuous life.

However, in 2024, the plot is merely about making him look heroic, without building up drama, emotions or substance. The script is quite predictable for those who have grown up watching Bollywood films, and the climax feels unsurprising.

Watch | Trailer of Aayush Sharma’s Ruslaan

Aayush Sharma has certainly come a long way since his debut film, ‘Loveyatri’, but he still has room for improvement in emotional scenes. Despite his character’s family being tragically wiped out, enduring bullying during childhood, and carrying the tag of a ‘terrorist’s son’, ‘Ruslaan’ fails to evoke any sympathy from the audience.

Also, what’s with the raised eyebrows every time you want to look intense? So not needed, young man! Aayush can dance well, fight like a champ, and looks presentable on screen too. All he needs now is a good script and a director to prove his mettle as an actor.

Newcomer Sushrii Mishraa has a delightful screen presence and can give competition to men when it comes to action. However, her character lacked depth. She didn’t get an opportunity to exhibit her acting prowess. The makers also failed to give veteran actor Jagapathi Babu a role worth biting into, as he’s reduced to being a sorrowful father and police officer. Even as the character’s dynamics change, their impact remains minimal. Vidya Malvade, as a senior RAW officer, managed to make the most of her limited screen time in the film.

Apart from the turbulent storytelling, debutant director Karan Butani has done a fair job of helming a sleek and stylish film. He was also ably supported by his action director and cinematographer. At times, ‘Ruslaan’ even resembles a commercial for world tourism, seamlessly transporting viewers from one location to another. However, the music is forgettable, ironically, given that the lead character is portrayed as a gifted musician. There are also moments when one questions how Ruslaan, an untrained aspiring agent, can fight and kill like a professional. These small details are often overlooked by the makers, but they make a significant difference.

The angle of the ‘good and bad Muslim’ is subtly played with, and ‘Ruslaan’ once again portrays Pakistan and China as sworn enemies of India. The Kashmir issue is also hinted at as the antagonist laments over his family being killed by Indian soldiers. However, the desh-bhakti in the film is abundant, and the monologues don’t sound jingoistic. But it’s rather distasteful to see the half-hearted efforts of the makers when an actor from Bhutan is cast and is repeatedly addressed as ‘Chinese’.

Recalling the story of a Punjabi agent who masqueraded as a Pakistani officer for years before getting caught, Vidya Malvade’s character says, “Ek accha agent banne ke liye ek accha actor banna bhi important hai” (to be a good agent, you have to be a good actor). This made us think that ‘ek acchi film banane ke liye, apart from all the glam, ek accha screenplay sabse important hota hai’ (To make a good film, you need a good screenplay too).

While ‘Ruslaan’ had the potential to be an engaging drama like ‘Mission Kashmir’ or a cat-and-mouse chase like ‘Tiger’ and ‘Pathaan’, it missed the mark.

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