…the film feels somewhat dated. Here a rape-and-murder, there a club dancer shimmying; here a Haji Ali song sequence, there a funeral-dressed-in-white-kurta-pajamas. Of the ensemble, in which Panday gets to wear a bad wig and vamp it up most enjoyably, Ali Fazal is the most impressive: as the young ‘waaris’ of his father’s legacy, and someone who has a head on his shoulders, Fazal holds this thing together.

Prassthanam manages to hold your interest in parts due to its fast paced developments. But it also suffers from the usual pitfalls like unwanted songs and just too many conflicts, happening all at once. In conclusion, Prassthanam is a tried and tested political potboiler with power, greed and emotions at its core.

The style of the film veers from domestic soap opera to dramatic crime and action stitched together by political drama. Structured like a Shakespearean tragedy, Prassthanam is built on countless conflicts, awash with textbook characters and dated in its story-telling.

…Sanjay Dutt in the central role.  You may have loved him as the adorable goon in the Munnabhai series or admired him in his many gangster roles (Vaastav) but here he takes on a whole new approach. Be it the confused dad in a dilemma or the ruthless politician or a caring husband and friend, Dutt’s character has many shades and the actor brings out each beautifully. He is particularly good in some of the breakdown scenes; it definitely is Dutt’s most mature performance in recent years.

Watch it for him as well as the nostalgic appeal of seeing the stars of the late 80s and 90s (Koirala, Shroff, Pandey and Dutt). You will get your money’s worth. Recommended!