Maatrubhumi trailer launch: Salman Khan takes a dig at self-appointed VFX critics, “Jahaan VFX nahin daala, wahaan bhi woh bolte hain ki ‘VFX accha nahin hain’; defends Ramayana: “Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana pe hona chahiye, na ki VFX aur budget pe!”
Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi finally has a release date: December 4. After two delays — first pushed from April 17, then again, Bollywood’s Dabangg star confirmed the film’s theatrical rollout at its Mumbai trailer launch today. The event, attended by cast and crew including Chitrangda Singh, Ankur Bhatia, and child artists Azai and Ivarr Ahluwalia, was less about quiet anticipation and more about Salman taking aim at the noise around VFX in Indian cinema.
He didn’t mince words. 'Aaj kal har ek expert ho gaya hain,' he said. 'Jahaan VFX nahin daala, wahaan bhi bolte hain ki “VFX accha nahin hua.”' The line drew laughter, and applause. His point?
A film shot in Ladakh with minimal digital effects shouldn’t be judged on frames where none were used. 'We don’t want anyone zooming in on a single frame and saying it’s bad,' he added. 'The idea is to blow minds visually, without relying on tech.' That’s not just posturing. The shoot, originally planned for 45–50 days, stretched due to Chitrangda Singh’s injury and recovery.
Now, the film arrives after months of silence. And yes, it’s coming head-to-head with Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha. But the real firestorm isn’t about box office clash. It’s about Ramayana.
When asked about Ranbir Kapoor’s mythological epic, rumoured to cost ₹4,000 crore, Salman didn’t flinch. 'Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana pe hona chahiye,' he declared. 'Na ki VFX pe, na budget pe.' He dismissed the ₹4,000cr figure as inaccurate. 'It should be about Ram, Ravana, Sita, the scripture.' Then came the jab: 'I’ve watched Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana.' No mention of the current film.
Not even a view. Just a nod to the past. The audience roared. And then there was the surprise: viewers above 75 can watch Maatrubhumi for just ₹11.
Whether that’s a gimmick or a statement remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear, December 4 won’t just be a release date. It’ll be a moment. For Salman.
For VFX. For what we’re willing to call a ‘film’ these days.
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