Dhurandhar is the kind of film that announces its ambition from the first frame: a sprawling spy thriller, stitched to real political events, determined to be “the” benchmark for Indian espionage dramas. It largely succeeds in creating an immersive world and a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, but it does not always earn its marathon runtime or its self-serious tone.
Story and Writing
At its core, Dhurandhar follows an Indian agent who buries himself inside the criminal–political nexus of Karachi’s Lyari to dismantle terror networks from within. The screenplay smartly uses real incidents and names as reference points, which gives the narrative weight and urgency. The world-building is dense, the moral lines are blurred, and the stakes never feel abstract.
Where the writing shines is in its detailing: the internal rivalries within gangs, the power games between politicians and security agencies, and the way terror is shown as an ecosystem rather than a single villain. The flipside is indulgence. The film wants to say so much, and about so many people, that stretches of the first half feel like the director falling in love with his own material. The story remains engaging, but the narrative rhythm is inconsistent.
Performances
Ranveer Singh finally dials down his usual flamboyance and channels a controlled, bruised intensity. It is a performance that is more about eyes and silences than big “hero” moments, and that restraint serves the film well. However, he is not the most magnetic presence on screen.
The film quietly belongs to its antagonists and supporting players. The primary gangster–politician figures are written with such dark charisma that they often hijack the film, in a good way. Their scenes are where the film feels most alive: unpredictable, menacing and oddly human at the same time. A few key confrontations are staged almost like horror, and those are the moments that stay with you long after the credits.
Craft: Direction, Action, Technicals
Aditya Dhar approaches action not as a fan-service spectacle but as an extension of character and politics. The violence is brutal, frequently disturbing, and, crucially, never treated like a punchline. Gunfights, raids, and interrogations feel grounded rather than gravity-defying, which is rare for mainstream Hindi cinema.
The production design and cinematography do most of the heavy lifting in selling Lyari as a living, breathing hellscape. Dank alleys, cramped interiors, and a constant sense of surveillance create a suffocating mood. The background score is functional more than memorable, but it respects silence and does not scream at the audience.
Where the craft falters is in discipline. The edit is not ruthless enough. Several subplots and “aura-building” moments could have been sharper or shorter. At 3.5+ hours, the film demands patience, and not every beat justifies that patience.
Politics, Violence, and Emotional Impact
The film wears its politics on its sleeve and will definitely divide viewers. It is openly nationalistic, but not cartoonish; it looks at Pakistan’s internal fractures, state–terror links, and gangland politics with a cold, almost clinical eye. That choice makes the film compelling but also tonally heavy. There is almost no emotional cushioning — when the film shows terror, it wants you to feel anger and disgust, not only sympathy.
Some sequences, especially those inspired by real attacks, are emotionally draining and ethically tricky. The film walks a thin line between honest depiction and exploitation; whether it crosses that line will depend on each viewer’s threshold.
Verdict: For Whom Is Dhurandhar?
As someone who is critical about cinema and values craft and coherence over star worship, here is where Dhurandhar lands:
If you want grounded action, dense world-building, and are okay with moral greys and political discomfort, Dhurandhar is absolutely worth a big-screen watch.
If you are expecting a breezy entertainer, clean patriotism, or a tight 2–2.5 hour thriller, this runtime and tonal heaviness will test you.
Rating (Mrinal, Movie Reviews India): 3.5/5
An ambitious, often gripping espionage drama that pushes mainstream Hindi cinema into darker, riskier territory — but also a film that badly needed a tougher editor and a bit more emotional balance.
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