“Singapore Saloon” Movie Review: A Barber's Shop of Mixed Fortunes: Laughter & Preachy Lectures Collide

RJ Balaji, the multi-talented artist, steps into another genre with director Gokul's "Singapore Saloon," unveiling a unique storyline from the dream of a young boy to be a hairstylist. Starring Sathyaraj, Lal, RJ Balaji, Robo Shankar, Meenakshi Chaudhary and Kishen Das among an ensemble cast, with cameo appearances by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Jiiva, Aravind Swamy and Imman Annachi.

Gokul's narration takes interesting turns in the first half, and he depicts the journey of the protagonist very neatly with good humour and uniqueness. The friendship between RJ Balaji and Kishen Das during their childhood is shown neatly, with a little bit of a comedic touch to it. But some dialogues given for pre-teen characters look way too old for their age at times and brings in a dissonance.

Sathyaraj shines as the stingy father-in-law of RJ Balaji, giving out hilarious moments in tandem with Robo Shankar. The first half relied more on the charm of its witty dialogue and perfectly timed humour, backed by a solid ensemble of supporting cast members. Kishen Das shines as Basheer who stands by his friend through thick and thin.

The second half takes a tonal shift that actually transforms the film into an emotional drama that tries to address the complex issues of politics and rehabilitation programs. But the abrupt genre shift dilutes the impact built in the first half and lacks genuine laughter. The cameo appearances only gave us a quick “oh, he’s here” moment and failed to make an impact on the story.

The cinematography done by Sukumar, especially in the beautiful hilly regions during the early part of the movie, is good and gives good visual input to the movie. The background score by Javed Riaz is apt for the scenario. The songs in the movie are also melodious, composed by Vivek Mervin, adding to the attraction of the movie.

The drawback of the movie is the fact that the movie at some point lacks a proper balance between comedy and emotion, while performances in the engaging drama are perfectly done. It dents the coherence in an attempt to tick all the emotional quotients of a film.

"Singapore Saloon" is still witty and crisp, but falters in delivering a wholesome family entertainer, leaving its audiences with mixed feelings. RJ Balaji's attempt to foray into a more serious role seems commendable, but at the same time, the film fails to reach its purpose as a great comedy due to the genre shift.

Verdict: "Singapore Saloon" is a film with potential, but one that ultimately bites off more than it can chew.