ANTIM - THE FINAL TRUTH is the story of the rivalry between a cop and a gangster. Rahul (Aayush Sharma) lives with his parents and sister in a village near Pune, Maharashtra. His father Datta Pehelwan (Sachin Khedekar) owned a land but he sold it to Shinde (Uday Tikekar) for an unreasonable price, for the lavish marriage celebration of the former's daughter, Seema (Siddhi Dalvi).

Given the current sentiment in the country where the plight of farmers has evoked extreme reactions, Antim: The Final Truth somewhat touches upon that chord and tries to makes a strong point. An official adaptation of the hit Marathi film Mulshi Pattern, this Mahesh Manjrekar directorial adds a whole lot of Bollywood masala to make it a wholesome entertainer but not without over-the-top drama and loud action sequences.

Mahesh Manjrekar's Antim: The Final Truth is an official remake of the Marathi hit Mulshi Pattern (2018). The original was a hard-hitting drama that depicted how the landless farmers either became labourers in the city or were forced to become gangsters. In the Hindi version, which feels straight out of '90s, the focus is more on gangsters and on a cop who vows to make Pune mafia-free.

First report after watching 'Antim: The Final Truth'? My ear drums have shattered. Even going by the usual loudness of background music, this one sends it through the roof. Can you sit through a masala movie without having to say that no ears were harmed during the watching of the film? Next time, remind me to pick up ear-plugs.

It's not the first time a Hindi film remake has diluted the spirit and intent of the original material. It's not the first time that a male lead has paraded his pectorals in lieu of acting skills. And it's certainly not the first time that a secondary actor has taken over the show simply because he is played by a movie star.

Rahul is an angry young man. If the opening scene of him rushing to protect his meek father from his abusive boss wasn't indicative enough, the same words are used to describe the young man with a ridiculously short temper. Ayush Sharma plays Rahul, a do no-gooder who watches his father struggle with small jobs. When they move to Pune, where they work as coolies in the market yard, Rahul suddenly develops an attitude. Violence gushes out of him.

With his very first scene, director Mahesh Manjrekar sets the stage for a rebellious gangster story when Rahulya rushes to save his poor father Satya (Sachin Khedekar), who is being beaten up by an unscrupulous land Mafioso. The same man has also usurped their ancestral farm land.

Action, comedy and drama are what you expect when someone says a Salman Khan film is on the block. Antim: The Final Truth brings all the three elements in equal measures. Lead actors Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma present an action-packed thriller that has foot-tapping festive songs, a sensuous romantic ballad and a signature song that would make you vibe to its peppy beats. Also making her debut is Mahima Makwana.

A turbaned Salman Khan comes up with a very environmentally-aware line in Antim: The Final Truth - "Iss duniya mein kuch nahi tikta sivay plastic ke (Barring plastic, nothing seems to sustain in this world)". One would expect a chuckle in response, but it was received with a kind of seriousness we never thought the line merits. "Haan toh hoon main plastic (Yes, I am plastic)", comes the retort. "Haan toh tu hai kachra", goes another response. I'm paraphrasing here, but that's the import.

One Word Review... Antim: POWER-PACKED. A gangster drama that keeps you hooked for most parts... Although it banks on an oft-repeated plot, the twists and turns + #SalmanKhan's character + #AayushSharma's act + stunning finale are aces. #AntimReview

It is only fair to say that Aayush Sharma yet again owes his career to Salman Khan. An official remake of Marathi movie Mulshi Pattern, the story set in Pune, has every aspect of a typical Salman Khan movie. From slow motion fights, to slow motion entries, and subtle yet powerful punch lines, Salman Khan carries this movie on his shoulder. Aayush Sharma also impresses in a few action sequences, but lacks the much-needed swag that is required to play the character.

It starts with Inspector Rajveer Singh's (Salman Khan) voiceover throwing light on how many farmers were forced to sell their land at cheap prices to people with influence and power. One such farmer is Sakharam Patil (Sachin Khedekar) who loses the job of working on his own farm which he sold to a rich businessman. This enrages the sense of revenge in Sakharam's son Rahul (Aayush Sharma) who then joins Pune's criminal gang led by Nanya Bhai (Upendra Limaye).