The first trailer for Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace has done what ambitious war dramas want: it has people talking. Released on November 10, the Salman Khan vehicle presents the actor as an Indian Army officer in a brutal conflict, with combat set pieces, emotional dialogue and patriotic sweep. But the early response is not the unqualified enthusiasm a star comeback would need.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is based on the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops. Salman plays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who led Indian soldiers during the confrontation. Chitrangda Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary round out the cast, with Vijay Raaz providing the narration. Previously titled Battle of Galwan, the project opens in theatres on December 4, 2026.
The stakes are unusually personal. A section of the audience has been waiting for a film that restores Salman’s box-office aura, and a retelling of a recent, emotionally charged military episode is a high-visibility attempt. That makes the first public asset—the trailer—carry more weight than usual.
What viewers are objecting to
The strongest criticism is aimed at length and revelation, not the filmmaking itself.
- Run time: At nearly four minutes, several YouTube viewers said the preview had shown the full story. Comments included “Whole movie in trailer” and “Saw full movie”; one Hindi comment said there was no suspense left.
- Performance and visual treatment: One X user called the trailer “cringe”, criticising Salman’s expressions and voice modulation. Another questioned the visual treatment and compared him to Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna.
- AI and green screens: The apparent use of AI and green-screen work became a talking point. One viewer wrote, “Maatrubhumi trailer reminds me why AI is dangerous. It’s done, bro!”
Not everyone was disappointed. Some liked the trailer overall but felt the colour grading and visuals were overdone, and still hoped the film would deliver the Salman Khan audiences have been waiting for. One viewer suggested a proper comeback might take one more film.
Why a long trailer becomes a spoiler problem
A theatrical trailer is a promise, not a summary. Its job is to establish the world, the stakes and the lead’s transformation—without closing the loop. When a four-minute cut appears to walk through the entire arc, viewers can feel they have already made the emotional journey. That lowers the urgency to buy a ticket, especially for a film that depends on opening-weekend momentum.
For Maatrubhumi, the December 4 date leaves time for the marketing to reposition the conversation: shorter cuts, character-led moments or sound-driven spots could shift focus back to tension rather than exposition. The debate itself is not fatal—attention is attention—but the scepticism around visual effects and spoilers is now part of the film’s first impression.
Source: India Today
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