Sikandar, released on March 30, 2025, is an action thriller movie starring Salman Khan and directed by AR Murugadoss. The film follows the storyline of the king of Rajkot as he combats an influential minister and goes out to protect the recipients of his late wife's organs with the intention of protecting her memory.
The movie's worst flaw is its uneven storytelling and lack of emotional resonance. The premise, centred on a powerful ruler dealing with political and personal struggles, had the potential to be a compelling examination of leadership, justice, and sacrifice. Alas, it fails by crafting these elements in a manner that seems shallow and contrived.
The story, in trying to balance action with emotion, tends to be unfocused. Critical scenes that ought to evoke tension or introspection come off hurried, leaving no space for the characters to really develop. Salman Khan's performance as the eponymous character, "Sikandar", appears to be hindered by the shortfalls of the script. Though he indeed delivers his typical intensity in action scenes, there is no vulnerability or development in his character development, which would have provided depth to his acting.
The supporting cast of the movie, particularly Rashmika Mandanna, does not make any lasting impression. Their characters feel like they are just tools to advance the plot and not make the emotional bulk of the story heavy with meaningful relationships and development. For a movie that aims to tackle love, loss, and redemption, its failure to provide meaningful character dynamics and development depletes its center.
What is lost as an opportunity is the potential for exploring the human side of the ruler Sikandar—his inner conflict, the cost of leadership, or the impact of his actions on the people around him. What the audience is instead presented with is an action-oriented plot that, while visually stunning, lacks the emotional resonance that would have made it memorable.
The pace also appears irregular at certain moments, where crucial plot turns are glossed over in the interests of greater set-pieces. This leaves the film presenting itself as a collection of action set-pieces more than anything else. Filmmakers must have taken more time in creating emotional tension over pyrotechnic fare.
Overall, "Sikandar" is an opportunity lost. With a stronger script, deeper character development, and tighter story, it could have been such a much stronger film. Instead, it's a forgettable experience, in which style far too often supersedes substance.
