Salaam Venky
{{Short description|2022 film directed by Revathi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Salaam Venky
| image = Salaam Venky.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Revathi
| writer =
| screenplay = Sammeer Arora {{infobox | decat = yes | child = yes | label1 = Dialogues by
| data1 = Kausar Munir}}
| story = Shrikant Murthy
| based_on = {{Based on|The Last Hurrah|Shrikant Murthy}}
| producer = {{Ubl|Connekkt Media|Suraj Singh|Shraddha Agrawal|Varsha Kukreja|}}
| starring = {{Ubl|Kajol|Vishal Jethwa}}
| narrator =
| cinematography = Ravi Varman
| editing = Manan Ajay Sagar
| music = Mithoon
| studio = {{Ubl|Connekkt Media |Blive Productions|RTake Studios|}}
| distributor = Sony Pictures Releasing International
| released = {{Film date|2022|12|09|df=y}}
| runtime = 136 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Salaam Venky ({{translation|Salute to you, Venky}}) is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language slice-of-life drama film directed by Revathi.{{Cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |date=11 February 2022 |title=Kajol starts shooting for Revathy's film 'Salaam Venky |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kajol-starts-shooting-for-revathys-film-salaam-venky/article38412128.ece |access-date=4 March 2022 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=4 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304190646/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kajol-starts-shooting-for-revathys-film-salaam-venky/article38412128.ece |url-status=live}} The film is produced by Connekkt Media along with Suraj Singh and Shraddha Agrawal through their banners, Blive Productions and RTake Studios, respectively. The film stars Kajol and Vishal Jethwa (as the title character) in the lead roles. It is centered around the true story of a mother who does everything she can to let her son, diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, live life to the fullest. The film is based on the book The Last Hurrah{{Cite book |last=Murthy |first=Shrikant |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/297508110 |title=The last hurrah |date=2005 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |isbn=81-7276-366-2 |edition=1st |location=Mumbai |oclc=297508110}} by Shrikanth Murthy, which is based on the real-life events of Kolavennu Venkatesh and his mother, K. Sujata from Andhra Pradesh.{{Cite web |title='Salaam Venky': Here's the true story behind the movie |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2022/12/09/salaam-venky-here-the-true-story-behind-the-movie.html |access-date=26 December 2022 |website=The Week |language=en |archive-date=26 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226060114/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2022/12/09/salaam-venky-here-the-true-story-behind-the-movie.html |url-status=live}}https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/venkatesh-is-gone-but-his-struggle-lives/articleshow/963064.cms
The film was announced on 7 October 2021 by Revathi and Kajol. Principal photography began on 11 February 2022; the first schedule took place in Mumbai.{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=Kajol, Revathy team up for Salaam Venky |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/kajol-revathy-team-up-for-salaam-venky-369236 |access-date=4 March 2022 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en |archive-date=4 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304190824/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/kajol-revathy-team-up-for-salaam-venky-369236 |url-status=live}} The film was theatrically released on 9 December 2022.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2022 |title=Kajol starrer Salaam Venky gets a release date; To hit the cinemas on 9th December 2022 |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/kajol-starrer-salaam-venky-gets-a-release-date-to-hit-the-cinemas-on-9th-december-2022-1193308 |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=PINKVILLA |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003082320/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/kajol-starrer-salaam-venky-gets-a-release-date-to-hit-the-cinemas-on-9th-december-2022-1193308 |url-status=live}}
Plot
Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Venkatesh is supposed to be sick and die by the age of 16. Instead, his zest for life, determination, and soaring human spirit surprise medical science. The ever-smiling Venkatesh wants to donate his organs before he leaves this world. At 24-years-old, he challenges the state, and the law of the country and earns his place in the hearts of people.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Kajol as Kolavennu Sujata Krishnan
- Kamal Sadanah as Karunesh Prasad, Venky's father (special appearance)
- Vishal Jethwa as Kolavennu Venkatesh "Venky" Prasad Krishnan
- Aarman Sawant as young Venkatesh (10 yrs)
- Raunak Sharma as young Venkatesh (4 yrs)
- Riddhi Kumar as Sharda Prasad Krishnan, Venky's sister
- Richi Sharma as young Sharda
- Aneet Padda as Nandini
- Prakash Raj as Judge Anupam Bhatnagar
- Rahul Bose{{Cite web |last=Movies |first=Rediff |title=Kajol Seeks Blessings From Lalbaugcha Raja |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kajol-seeks-blessings-from-lalbaugcha-raja/20220906.htm |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=Rediff |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906093534/https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kajol-seeks-blessings-from-lalbaugcha-raja/20220906.htm |url-status=live}} as Lawyer Parvez Alam
- Priyamani as Nanda Kumar, the Public Prosecutor
- Rajeev Khandelwal as Dr. Shekhar Tripathi
- Aahana Kumra as Sanjana Aggarwal, TV Journalist
- Anant Mahadevan as Guruji{{Cite web |date=8 March 2022 |title=Women's Day 2022: Upcoming movies helmed by Mollywood female filmmakers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/womens-day-2022-upcoming-movies-helmed-by-mollywood-female-filmmakers/photostory/90068869.cms |access-date=12 May 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512111131/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/womens-day-2022-upcoming-movies-helmed-by-mollywood-female-filmmakers/photostory/90068869.cms |url-status=live}}
- Maala Parvathi as Nurse
- Geeta Sodhi as Bhavani
- Jaineeraj Rajpurohit as Mohan
- Dilip Dhupia as Editor Partha Roy
- Ajit Bhure as Ravindra Kaushik
- Saurabh Sharma as Mr Bharadwaj
- Thirunavukkarasu as Ranganayak
- Aamir Khan as an illusion of Sujata (special appearance)
- Revathi as Radha Bhatnagar, Judge's wife (uncredited appearance)
}}
Production
The film was announced in October 2021, tentatively titled The Last Hurrah. The announcement consisted of a picture of the lead and the director. Later however, the name was changed to Salaam Venky when the shooting commenced.{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=7 October 2021 |title=Kajol and Revathy collaborate for a very special film titled The Last Hurrah : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |website=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/kajol-revathy-collaborate-special-film-titled-last-hurrah/ |access-date=4 March 2022 |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007041608/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/kajol-revathy-collaborate-special-film-titled-last-hurrah/ |url-status=live}}
The main parts of the film were shot from February–April 2022 in India, the remaining parts were shot later on in the year including Aamir Khan's cameo. Filming wrapped up on 3 October 2022.{{Cite web |date=22 June 2022 |title=Aamir Khan and Kajol to reunite after 16 years? |url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/aamir-khan-and-kajol-to-reunite-after-16-years-23232544 |access-date=2 September 2022 |website=Mid-day |language=en |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902092548/https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/aamir-khan-and-kajol-to-reunite-after-16-years-23232544 |url-status=live}}
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Salaam Venky
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = Mithoon
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 7 December 2022
| recorded = 2021–22
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length = 29:22
| label = Zee Music Company
| producer =
| misc = {{external music video| header = Official audio
|{{YouTube|RcHj-_vb6As|Salaam Venky - Full Album}}
}}
{{Singles
| name = Salmaam Venky
| type = soundtrack
| single1 = Dhan Te Nan Zindagi
| single1date = 23 November 2022
| single2 = Yu Tere Hue Hum
| single2date = 30 November 2022
| single3 = Jo Tum Saath Ho
| single3date = 6 December 2022
}}
}}
The music of the film is composed by Mithoon. Lyrics are penned by Mithoon, Sandeep Shrivastava and Kausar Munir.
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Jo Tum Saath Ho
| lyrics1 = Mithoon
| extra1 = Arijit Singh
| length1 = 5:49
| title2 = Dhan Te Nan Zindagi
| lyrics2 = Mithoon
| extra2 = Mohit Chauhan, Mithoon
| length2 = 4:18
| title3 = Yu Tere Hue Hum
| lyrics3 = Mithoon
| extra3 = Jubin Nautiyal, Palak Muchhal
| length3 = 3:59
| title4 = Anda Bata Paratha
| lyrics4 = Sandeep Shrivastava
| extra4 = Benny Dayal, Mithoon, Aditi Singh Sharma
| length4 = 3:18
| title5 = Jo Tum Saath Ho
| note5 = Duet
| lyrics5 = Mithoon
| extra5 = Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal
| length5 = 5:49
| title6 = Badi Zindagi
| lyrics6 = Kausar Munir
| extra6 = Shaan
| length6 = 3:13
| title7 = Jo Tum Saath Ho
| note7 = Lullaby
| lyrics7 = Mithoon
| extra7 = Shreya Ghoshal, Shambhavi Thakur, Sminit Mhatre
| length7 = 1:56
| total_length = 29:22
}}
Release
=Theatrical=
Salaam Venky was released on 9 December 2022 in cinemas.
=Home media=
The digital and satellite rights are held by ZEE5 and Zee Cinema, respectively.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title=Salaam Venky Digital Rights OTT Release Date Online Movie |url=https://www.tollywood.online/salaam-venky-digital-rights-ott-release-date-online-movie-link-details/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=Tollywood Online |language=en-US |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129201944/https://www.tollywood.online/salaam-venky-digital-rights-ott-release-date-online-movie-link-details/ |url-status=live}} The film was premiered on ZEE5 from 10 February 2023.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title='Salaam Venky' starring Kajol gets OTT release date |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/salaam-venky-starring-kajol-gets-ott-release-date-check-details/articleshow/97603674.cms |website=The Economic Times |language=en |access-date=7 February 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207054316/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/salaam-venky-starring-kajol-gets-ott-release-date-check-details/articleshow/97603674.cms |url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=25|count=8|average=5.8|consensus=|ref=yes |access-date=25 February 2024}}{{cite Rotten Tomatoes |title=Salaam Venky |id=salaam_venky |type=m |access-date=25 February 2024}}
Dhaval Roy of The Times of India rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "The heart-touching fare, replete with positivity as much as pain, is a must-watch".{{cite news |title=Salaam Venky Movie Review : A moving tale worthy of a salute |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/salaam-venky/movie-review/96113166.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=10 December 2022 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209214501/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/salaam-venky/movie-review/96113166.cms |url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|15567704}}
- [https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/salaam-venky/0-0-1z5301299 Salaam Venky] on ZEE5
- [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/salaam_venky Salaam Venky] at Rotten Tomatoes
- {{Bollywood Hungama movie|salaam-venky}}
Category:Films about women in India
Category:Indian films based on actual events
Category:Hindi-language films based on actual events
Category:2020s Hindi-language films
Category:Films directed by Revathi
Category:Indian biographical drama films
Category:Films about diseases and disorders
Category:Fiction about medicine and health
Category:Fiction about disability
Category:Films scored by Mithoon
Category:Films about disability in India