Krishnan and I watched Dhurandhar at a nearby theatre last Tuesday. Was pleasantly surprised to see the hall nearly 50% full on a weekday and for the 10.15 show.
The one line review for the movie is – it deserves every credit that it’s getting. The script is tight, one never realises 3.5 hours going by and the cast is just perfect. It’s based on true incidents and it shows our neighbouring “Terroristan” in the right light.
What I cannot understand is the outrage from the expected quarters. Since they can’t fault the storyline, there are stupid comments like “too much violence”, “anti-XYZ”, “Its propaganda” etc etc etc.
Here are three incidents that the movie shows – Kandahar Hijacking, 1999; Parliament attack, 2001; and the horrific 26/11 Mumbai attack, 2008. Each of these incidents undermined Bharat’s image, and the perps got away “scot free”. As a country our response was wimpy, lukewarm and utterly underwhelming. There is one other underlying theme that Dhurandhar showcases, no one says anything, but the message is loud and clear – Bharat has been done in by the enemies within. A certain minister giving away the note printing plate… or GoI buying the paper from a banned company… or the unfortunate “diplomatic” blunders that got our RAW agents killed.
Since Independence, for 65 years Bharat had been a non-violence touting, non-alignment oriented, NON-ENTITY in geopolitics. We reared our head in 1971 and Bangladesh was born. The Shimla agreement undid all the work done by the Indian Army then :(. One bus ride later, “terroristan” was sent scurrying during the Kargil War in 1999. Still no lessons were learnt and we continued to play cricket and sing songs of peace all the while allowing “terroristan” to flood our country with fake currency, train and arm terrorists, and to keep wounds festering.
All this changed in 2014 when Modiji became the Prime Minister. Starting with the surgical strike to avenge the cowardly Uri attack to the Balakot air strike to avenge the Pulwama barbarism and the most recent decimation of terroristan after their disgusting Hindu massacre at Pahalgam, has made the world sit-up and take notice of the “new Bharat”. Dhurandhar just reminds you of what was …. hoping to see the sequel bring out “what is”.
Dhurandhar – Director and Actors
Aditya Dhar is a director to watch out for. His first directorial effort “Uri – The Surgical Strike” was phenomenal. The other two movies which were not directed by him but produced and written by him are “Article 370” and Baramulla. Both outstanding movies.
Akshaye Khanna is just brilliant … we watched him play the Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb in Chhaava and am sure Aurangzeb must have turned in his grave thinking he is born again. That’s how authentic Akshaye was. Now as Rehman Dakait, he has once again proven his brilliance as an actor.
Madhavan as Ajay Sanyal (known to all of us patriots as the original James Bond, our beloved NSA Mr. Doval) is memorable, but this is Maddy and he is always memorable. Aditya Dhar is truly gifted because he chose the right man to portray the RIGHT man.
This is the first movie of Ranveer Singh that we are watching. Have never liked him, but hats off to his acting skills. He is outstanding as Hamza Ali Mazhari. Especially the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack scene. Unbelievable. He conveyed all our feelings with just his eyes !!
Rakesh Bedi… from Chakram in Ek Duje Ke Liye to Raja in Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi to playing Jameel Jamali, a politician with a very flexible and fluid moral code, it has been a stellar journey. He reminds you of every politician that you dislike.
Nothing much to say for Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal.. their roles fit them well and they delivered.
Do watch Dhurandhar in a theatre. This movie will redefine Bollywood which has been a long time apologist for the underworld and consequently terroristan.
Suggested reading – Forget Dhurandhar’s Comic Villain — Meet The Real Javed Khanani, ISI’s Shadow Banker and Dhurandhar’s Untold Story | Chidambaram–Mayaram: The Villains the Movie Missed.