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Saaho backdrop

Saaho

30 August 2019HindiorigTamilTelugu2h 51m
out of 10
Unfavorablemost critics didn't like it
Monk Score · 12 scored reviews · 6 not rated

A bloated, twist-riddled spectacle that loses the plot long before the credits roll.

Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Prabhas's occasional star presence
  • Criticised: Incoherent, twist-heavy screenplay

Audience

User score 5.2 out of 10 from 6 ratings, Unfavorable
Read 2 audience reviews ↓

Critic consensus

What 17 critics are saying

Critical reception for Saaho is overwhelmingly negative, with reviewers broadly characterizing it as a missed opportunity given its large budget, established cast, and the goodwill generated by Prabhas's previous work. No aspect of the film received consistent praise across reviews, though a handful of critics acknowledged Prabhas's star presence in isolated moments. The most pervasive criticisms center on an incoherent, twist-laden screenplay that prioritizes action spectacle over coherent storytelling and character development. Several critics also flagged the film's excessive runtime and lack of narrative substance as major liabilities.

How the 12 scores spread

6 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 17 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (18)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    The impressively staged but ultimately exhausting action sequences take up the bulk of screen time, but they can't salvage this soulless film that has all the depth and emotional wallop of a video game.
  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Everything a thriller needs is in here, and you settle down, fully prepared for a non-stop, breathless, firing-from-all-cylinders ride. But Saaho turns out to be a damp squib.
  3. Top critic

    NDTV

    Film review ·

    Saaho may, like so many other shrill, gory actioners of the recent past, end up make pots of money. But that will not take away from the fact that it is egregiously turgid. A Telugu superstar attempting to break into Hindi cinema should have chosen better.
  4. Sify

    Film review ·

    Saaho is a missed opportunity for director Sujeeth who failed despite getting a perfect technical team, talented actors and massive investment.
  5. IBNLive

    Film review ·

    Unfortunately, despite its glitzy packaging, Saaho, because of a choppy, underwritten screenplay and excessive gorefest is a bit of a letdown even for those who love their Hindi movies served with a generous dose of masala. Sigh.
  6. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    'Saaho' attempts at being a potboiler that fires in all directions to entertain the audience. There are so many twists and turns that it leaves you more exhausted than excited.
  7. Firstpost

    Film review ·

    At a runtime of just short of three hours, Saaho is a bloated action drama which never realises its full potential. No amount of stunts and gun fights help the film to camouflage its flaws, and the screenplay itself is so boring that you are never engrossed. The drama is non-existent. All we get is a black box which we wish had never opened. Because the anticipation to watch Saaho was more worth the effort than the film itself. A big thumbs down.
  8. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor's action epic is made at a massive budget but it somewhere misses the plot.
  9. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    Given the amount of time devoted to action sequences in Saaho, Prabhas' moves have no smoothness or finesse. As he lumbers, his thighs thunder. And when he's not fighting, he looks pasty, his body is droopy and language languid. Much like I was at the end of Saaho.
  10. India Today

    Film review ·

    Saaho had promise. It had the cast. That's the disappointing part. Yet, the makers got so carried away with crafting action scenes and Prabhas's starry presence that they forgot about the story and character development midway. The ending of Saaho hints at a sequel. If that's the case, please pray that it is better written and more cohesive. How will we saaho that otherwise? Apologies for the bad joke but that's all you're left with at the end of the film.
  11. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    Saaho is an attempt to blow your brains out with a series of non-stop, high-octane action scenes, between a bunch of music videos, with a strange mix of Punjabi pop and wannabe-Rahman peppiness.
  12. DNA India

    Film review ·

    Saaho is a rank disappointment and an opportunity missed. Watch it for Prabhas's patches of brilliance but you will need loads of patience!
  13. LiveMint

    Film review ·

    Saaho seems to be aiming for Mission: Impossible. But there's no wit to the proceedings, just an endless series of twists that make no sense, accompanied by the dull pounding that is Prabhas onscreen.
  14. Reuters

    Film review ·

    At 179 minutes, "Saaho" drags on and on. Director and writer Sujeeth throws in countless plot twists, intent on distracting viewers with action, blood, gore and romance over substance. At one point, when a character says, "I've concocted so many false stories, you think I can't come up with one more" – it is as if he is talking about the script.
  15. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    Saaho was an opportunity to follow up on Baahubali, which had both scale and imagination, and blur the boundaries between regional and national cinema once again. Sadly, it ends up as a missed opportunity.

From our readers

Audience reviews (2)

6 ratings · user score 5.2

  1. Sai Nadh ChinthaAug 2019
    10/10

    Saahois mind blowing movie and there are many twists and fights and it was Hollywood range movie so,it was a blockbuster

  2. 1/10

    With awful one liners, an unrealistic script, no-logic lobe story and god-knows-how-much-else, 'Saaho' is an incapable entertainer which is too silly to be called even an entertainer. It is stunningly silly, and nothing about the film except a little, little sincere Neil Nitin Mukesh can be called even bit compelling. Above anything else, this bad Prabhas-starrer is 2 Fast 2 Furious meets Race 3, and beyond breaks bad. I am going with 0.5 out of 5 for 'Saaho'. It's as bad as we imagined it will be good.

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