I walked into Dhurandar genuinely curious, given the massive hype and near-universal praise. I walked out puzzled after an ordeal of 3 days - I watched 1 hr per day on OTT!
Despite its slick execution, catchy music, and reasonably effective albeit gory visuals, the film left me uneasy, not because of its violence or dark themes, but because of what those elements were ultimately used to convey.
The film leans heavily on loud nationalism, stylised brutality, and exaggerated bravado to project an image of a “New India” that is supposedly tougher and more decisive than before and prepared to wipe off terrorism and crimes from the face of India. Like seriously ?!!
Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of nuance. What could have been a layered spy thriller, often felt more like a glorified gang or mafia war wrapped in the language of patriotism.
Violence is provocative and almost nauseous. While cinema has every right to explore brutality, here it felt excessive and unnecessary. Certain scenes were so graphic that I found myself closing my eyes. They are tough to watch and added so little to the narrative.
Akshay Khanna’s performance deserves a mention. He brings restraint and some nuance to the role, aided by his accent and dialogue delivery, but the character never feels truly intimidating or powerful. Hence the hype for his role of Rehman Dakait - I didn't get it at all.
Considering his body of work - negative roles like Humraaz, intense performances in Drishyam, patriotic films such as Border, and softer roles in Taal and Dil Chahta Hai - this portrayal does not rank among his best. The character may appear dangerous on paper, but that impact doesn’t fully translate on screen.
What troubled me most was how the film quietly fuels hatred in the name of nationalism. It doesn’t rely on loud slogans, but it constantly pushes an us versus them narrative through its visuals and storytelling. The emotions are engineered to provoke rather than to reflect, and that subtle manipulation is where Dhurandar completely lost me.
Films like Roja (not a spy movie), Raazi, Mission Majnu, or even Kamal Haasan’s not so greatly made Vishwaroopam ( all espionage thrillers) manage to evoke patriotism without political chest-thumping. The love for the country in those movies feels organic and sincere. In contrast, Dhurandar often feels like a platform to glorify the present while discrediting the past, a framing that felt simplistic and immature.
In the end, what stayed with me wasn’t a gripping spy narrative but the sense that the film prioritised spectacle and validation over storytelling. Strip away the music, muscular imagery of Ranveer or others, real footage, and stylish execution, and what remains is a film more interested in ideological messaging than cinematic depth.
I understand why many people connected with Dhurandar. But for me, it wasn’t a spy thriller -it was a loud, violent spectacle, and that’s where it lost me.
It saddens me that some of my fav actors are sold to this narrative :( !
This tweet I am sharing here,
Thanks for reading!
PS: If you want to watch a good espionage thriller, go for the series TEHRAN - streaming on Apple TV. Gives a fair idea about the Iran's demographic, current living situations and about all the unrest. Done in a balanced manner and will keep you on edge!
Nicely written review, Afshan. I doubt I will watch this because of two reasons: looks like there is too much of violence; and two, it's hypernationalistic. I haven't watched any of the similar moview that had come out. Had this been a pure spythriller, I would have probably watched.
ReplyDelete