Salute (2022 film)
Salute is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film, directed by Rosshan Andrrews and written by Bobby-Sanjay starring Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role as a cop. Produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his banner Wayfarer Films, the film has Aslam K. Purayil as the cinematographer while A. Sreekar Prasad handles the editing and Santhosh Narayanan was signed on to compose the original background score before being replaced by Jakes Bejoy. The film was scheduled for a theatrical release on the occasion of Sankranti in January 2022, but was indefinitely postponed later due to the rise  of Omicron cases in India. Later, It was announced that the film would be skipping the theatrical release and decided for a direct-to-streaming release on SonyLIV. It was set to have the world premiere on 18 March 2022, but premiered a day early, on 17 March 2022. The film marks Diana Penty's Malayalam debut. It received positive reviews from critics. Premise. SI Aravind Karunakaran (Dulquer Salmaan), who is in a long leave, is haunted by an old murder case he and his brother investigated and closed while he was in service by fabricating evidences. In a cinematic  universe where facial composite's are non-existent, the hero officer now gathers clues and new evidences, and only time will tell whether he is destined to crack the real story and the unsub behind the closed case. Production. Development. In May 2020, during the seven year anniversary of film "Mumbai Police", director Rosshan Andrrews announced that he would be teaming up with Dulquer Salmaan for his next film which is a thriller. The film's story and screenplay is written by his regular collaborators Bobby & Sanjay marking their sixth film together. Filming. The principal photography began on 3 February  2021, in Kollam, Kerala, India. Diana Penty joined the sets on 9 February 2021 marking her debut in Malayalam film. Manoj K Jayan joined the shooting on 12 February 2021. The major locations are Trivandrum, Kollam, Kasargode, and New Delhi. Release. "Salute" released on SonyLiv on 17 March 2022 as a Direct-to-OTT release. The film was originally planned to release in April 2021, but was postponed multiple times due to waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The premiere was rescheduled multiples times, including for October 2021, December 2021, and January 2022. Controversies. On 15 March 2022, ahead  of the film's release, the Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), banned Dulquer Salmaan's movies from releasing in theatres anymore since the lead actor, producer, makers had violated the rules and given the film out for a direct OTT release even though they had confirmed that it would have a theatrical release first. They also banned Wayfarer Films and Dulquer Salmaan projects. They said the ban would be permanent and refused to co-operate with Dulquer. Reception. Times of India gave 3.5/5 and wrote ," A cop drama with a difference." Rediff.com gave 3.5/5 and wrote, "Salute explores  narratives of police brutality and unethical practices, power-hungry politicians who will stop at nothing and the helplessness of innocent victims of crime, observes Divya Nair".The News Minute gave 3.5/5 and wrote, "Dulquer’s thriller is an engaging police procedural". [Firstpost gave 3/5 and wrote, "Dulquer Salmaan takes on an unconventional police drama". Filmibeat gave 3/5 and wrote, "Salute is a realistic, unconventional, and intriguing cop drama that dares to take a different route. This Dulquer Salmaan starrer is definitely worth a watch". The Quint gave 3/5 and wrote, "Dulquer Salmaan's Gripping Thriller Deserves a Salute, Almost". Pinkvilla  gave 3/5 and wrote, "A cold, detached character study in the guise of a crime procedural". "Janani K of "India Today" gave the film a rating of 3/5 and wrote "Dulquer Salmaan's riveting cop drama is replete with new ideas".Shilpa Nair Anand of The hindu commented "Dulquer Salmaan scores with his restrained performance as a cop". Mirchi9 gave 2.5/5 and wrote, " Dulquer’s thriller is an engaging police procedural". Indian Express Reviewed "Dulquer Salmaan shines in absorbing investigative drama".