Dhurandhar review: A compelling spy thriller that keeps us enthralled
'Dhurandhar' opens with the IC-814 Kandahar hijacking on 30 December 1999, where terrorist hijackers demand the release of three Pakistani terrorists - Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, Masood Azhar, and Omar Sheikh. Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajay Sanyal (R Madhavan) agrees to their release under pressure from the Indian government. The Indian Parliament attack by terrorists in December 2001 leads Ajay Sanyal to initiate a secret programme codenamed 'Dhurandhar', deploying Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh) to Lyari, Karachi's notorious gangland. Hamza's journey as a deep-undercover spy begins as he infiltrates the gangster organisation led by Rehman Dekait (Akshaye Khanna). The viewer is introduced to Lyari's politics and underworld through Hamza's perspective. However, those expecting high-octane action sequences and stylized visuals may be disappointed, as 'Dhurandhar' presents a different narrative approach.
'Dhurandhar' is a deliberate and intricate spy and gangster drama that dedicates most of its runtime to exposing the nexus between Pakistan's gangs, politicians, and intelligence agency ISI, which collectively wield their power to unleash terror against India. Jameel Jamali (Rakesh Bedi) a politician affiliated with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), is resolute in his pursuit of winning the Lyari election.
Furthermore, ISI chief Ilyas Kashmiri (Arjun Rampal) is consumed by an unrelenting desire to bleed India with a thousand cuts, whereas suspended Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Aslam (Sanjay Dutt) harbors his own set of objectives and clandestine secrets. Consequently, the situation becomes increasingly complicated for Hamza, and by extension, the audience, as the prospect of betrayal looms large. The intricate relationships between Pakistan's gangs, politicians, and ISI serve to captivate viewers, as Aditya Dhar adeptly weaves the struggle for independence in Balochistan into the narrative. Although some plot gaps are not fully elaborated upon, they may be addressed in the forthcoming sequel, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the story.
The romantic subplot involving Hamza and Yalina Jamali (Sara Arjun), Jameel Jamali's daughter, feels drawn out, especially in the early scenes. Nevertheless, Yalina Jamali assumes a vital role in driving the plot forward in the second half, despite her brief appearance. The film's trailer is deceptive, implying a greater emphasis on action. Although violence and bloodshed are prevalent, the movie surprisingly lacks the high-energy action sequences Indian audience has gotten used to seeing in spy thrillers movies.
Ranveer Singh's introduction as an undercover agent lacks the typical heroic flair. In fact, there are few heroic moments for him, except when he attempts to gain the trust of the Rehman Dekait's gang at the beginning of the movie and during the climax. Ranveer deserves credit for trusting Aditya Dhar and the audience to avoid falling into the trap of conventional heroic moments. Aditya Dhar has crafted his character to appear stoic for the most part, except for a couple of scenes. A notable scene features Akshaye Khanna's entry song, which has gone viral, showcasing him exiting his car and entering a small event-like space, where he obliges a small dance with other dancers. Despite the video's virality, few have noticed Ranveer walking beside Akshaye Khanna. His character, Hamza, remains unseen, blending into Rehman's gang as an ordinary gangster. Throughout the movie, he rarely seeks attention from other gangsters, which is exactly what is expected from a spy.
The cast's performances are uniformly impressive, with Akshaye Khanna delivering a standout turn that expertly balances nonchalance and menace. Although Ranveer's spy character may initially seem somewhat unremarkable and cold, the plot's development gradually reveals a more complex character. The supporting cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun, all deliver strong performances. Another significant advantage of this film is Shashwat Sachdev's pulsating music and original background score. From the heart-pumping title track to the re-introduction of the classic Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai qawwali from the 1960 film Barsaat Ki Raat, all songs are skillfully integrated into the movie.
While 'Dhurandhar' is not without its strengths, it has several significant weaknesses. Certain scenes feel overly extended and oversimplified. At times, Aditya Dhar seems to assume that the audience lacks any understanding of the Pakistani government and army's overt support for terrorist organizations, resulting in a sense of being spoon-fed information, which becomes repetitive and tiresome, particularly after the initial explanations.
One of the film's major shortcomings was its lackluster climax. After being thoroughly engaged in the intense drama for over three hours, the tone unexpectedly shifted to a formulaic commercial action entertainer in the last twenty minutes. The issue was not the action scene per se, but the manner in which it was executed. Had Dhar adopted a more realistic approach to the action, it would have had a more lasting impact, but his inability to resist the urge to make it excessively dramatic diminished its impact.
Notwithstanding the propaganda elements present in 'Dhurandhar', as observed by several film critics, the movie stands out as a compelling spy thriller, thereby raising expectations for its sequel, which is slated for release in cinemas in March 2026.
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan
Writer: Aditya Dhar
Director: Aditya Dhar
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