Plot:

Yuvraj Vijay Singh (Salman Khan) is the legal heir of Preetampur palace. But the royal dynasty is stricken with inner conflicts and coups. Yuvraj Vijay has no good terms with half sisters Chandrika (Swara Bhaskar) and Radhika who feel neglected while younger brother Ajay Singh (Niel Nitin Mukesh) experiences prolonged dominance and wants to grab his brother's power. One day the Yuvraj falls prey for a murder attempt upon him. Meanwhile, Prem Dilwale (Salman Khan) (the lookalike of Yuvraj Vijay), is a commoner who comes to Preetampur to fulfil his dream of meeting her highness Mythili, the fiancé of Yuvraj Vijay. In a series of unexpected events, Prem steps into the Royal palace in the shoes of the Yuvraj. How did Prem face the various odds in the Royal palace and refill joy and happiness forms the rest of the plot.

Performances:

Salman Khan: The Superstar was an all-round entertainer in the film. It is indeed a feast for fans to see him entertain in two versatile shades. The beloved “Prem” has spilled his magic once again.

Sonam Kapoor: She won brownie points with her regal looks and subtle performance.

Neil Nitin Mukesh: He was tailor made for this role and he gave his best too but wish his character had more scope.

Swara Bhaskar: She outshined in yet another key role in the film.

Anupam Kher: He was the key asset for the film.

The rest of the cast did their best to keep this family drama engaging.

Analysis:

Sooraj Barjatya is a trendsetting director who introduced us the lover boy in Salman Khan (with his Maine Pyar Kiya). His stories largely revolved around love and family relationships and he always won hearts tapping the emotional side of ours. His films preached the path of love and so does PRDP.

The film is a simple story trying to assert the importance of family bonding in spite of the fissures. And the iconic character Prem once again mesmerizes us with his magic wand of love. As an adorable lover and a doting brother, Prem is an absolute winner. The engaging performances, sparkling chemistry between the lead pair, the colorful sets, periodical songs, football games, Bhayya-Behen tussles, the conspiracies within the Royal family laced up with a fine love story make Prem Ratan Dhan Payo an engaging drama but the melodramatic scenes and the run time does the damage.

The first half is gripping with Salman, Sonam & Swara Bhaskar stealing the show all the way & intermission falls on an emotional note. But the unbearable lag pulls the second half down. However the much predictable pre-climax & climax episode bring back life into the film.

Merits:
- Lead performances of Salman, Sonam, Swara Bhaskar & Anupam Kher.
- Salman-Sonam chemistry.
- Engaging narration especially in the first half.
- Melodious music with colorful songs.
- Cinematography

De-merits:
- The melodramatic & dreary second half.

Music:

Songs by Himesh Reshammiya were catchy, versatile and suited the needs of the film. The score by Sanjoy Choudhary & Himesh was in sync with the mood of the film.

Others:

The production values were grand and visual effects were impressive.

Verdict:

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is a must watch for Salman Khan fans, a decent watch for daily soap lovers & a onetime watch for the rest.