BOTTOM LINE
Performance Packed Ride
RATING
3/5
CENSOR
‘A’ Certified, 214 mins.
Director of the Intelligence Bureau Ajay Sanyal (R Madhavan) is frustrated with multiple attacks on Indian soil by the neighbouring nation. He proposes a plan to tackle it, but it’s rejected for a long time. Finally, after the terror attack on the Indian Parliament, it is approved. He sends an agent, Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh), to Pakistan.
How does Hamza navigate the terrain, tackling various people and neutralising threats to India? The challenges and disappointments he faces in the process. How the decision proves to be a major asset for India is the movie’s core plot.
Performances
Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Mazari is the movie’s anchor. He is solid and holds the entire film together, even when people around him continue to steal or run the show. Ranveer comes to the party during the final hour, where we finally see the character take an active part in taking the narrative forward.
From the physique to the body language, Ranveer Singh elevates the character with subtlety. He keeps his usual overenthusiasm at bay and surrenders to the part as per the requirement. Many scenes highlight the same as the actor emotes without overdoing anything or exaggerating things than necessary. As the end suggests, there is a lot more to his role, and one can sense he could be the scene stealer in the upcoming concluding saga.
Sara Arjun has a brief role, but it is also important to the narrative. She isn’t the typical heroine, but gets enough to shine in the extraordinary ensemble cast and register amidst them.
Aditya Dhar directs Dhurandhar. It is a unique hybrid genre where the narrative is a mix of gangster and spy drama with real-life incidents thrown in equal measures.
Right from the start, one must keep in mind that Dhurandhar is a three-and-a-half-hour narrative flick. The movie is shown chapter-wise, with each one locking a theme in its block and also forming a piece that fills the overall puzzle, as a whole.
The screenplay style helps the huge length be divided into pieces and takes things forward in an episodic manner, where each chapter can be seen as an extended short, only here they are part of a larger, holistic narrative.
All this is fine and good gimmick to say. But this would work only if the actual narrative offers gripping content, and this is where Dhurandhar gets things right. The movie, from the start, offers a tense and gripping narrative. The performances, direction, and other technical aspects come together to enhance the appeal.
Having said all that, the first half of the movie is still a lag. It is mainly due to the lack of surprises and following the various genre tropes. Despite using the real-life incidents heavily, one can’t help but feel the lag due to the routine elements that the narrative goes through. The rise of Hamza, for example, which takes up a large portion, is a prime example. We can see where it’s all leading. However, the setting and the actual happening executed with great detail help avoid the pitfalls, even though not entirely.
It is almost two hours by the time one reaches the interval mark. Still, one is invested and involved in the narrative, which is the best thing about the movie.
The second half, in comparison, is not only better but racy and packed with high emotions and action moments. The 26/11 sequence, the entire pre-climax and climax stretch, the release of Rehman Dakait, etc., are some of the segments which take us on the edge of our seats and never let us feel the length.
By the time one reaches the end, the length of three and a half hours is not felt at all. One is so immersed and, in fact, looks forward to what the story has to offer in the upcoming instalment. It is a huge victory for the filmmaker in making and execution.
The other important aspect is the politics the movie represents. It is sure to divide the opinion and perspective as a result. Depending on where one stands, the level of enjoyment changes. However, one can’t deny the craft and making that went into bringing the final output.
Overall, Dhurandhar is a well-made gangster cum spy genre flick that hits the right note all the way during the movie’s second half. If one is okay with the politics and the lengthy narrative (mainly the first half), it is a film that shouldn’t be missed on the big screen.
Performances by Others Actors
Dhurandhar is one of the rare films where all characters shine, whether it’s a small one or a big. Everyone leaves an impression in the small runtime they get. However, among all, Akshaye Khanna and Rakesh Bedi easily stand out with their acts. The former is electrifying, while the latter silently walks away with scenes without putting in any extra effort. They elevate every scene they are present in.
Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal follow next. They don’t have as many scenes as the actors mentioned above. But they are fine and manage to create impact in scenes designed for them. R Madhavan is also excellent, but gets less time here. The rest of the cast is equally impressive and makes an impression in the small moments they get.
Shashwat Sachdev’s music and background score are excellent. In fact, it overpowers the narrative at times. The reimagining of classic songs and their placement is well done, but tonal inconsistencies are felt a few places. The editing is fine, overall, but one can’t help but feel that if things were trimmed further, then the proceedings could have been even sharper.
Technically, the movie is brilliant. The cinematography stands out. The locations are captured with a big screen impact without losing realism. It is a difficult task, but manageable, and the team has done a brilliant job. The set work is extraordinary. Consider this, the entire Pakistan territory has been recreated in a foreign location. The writing is neat and blends well with the proceedings.
Highlights?
Casting
Performances
Slick Execution
Music And BGM
Drawbacks?
Length
Couple Of Tracks Extension
Jarring Tone At Times
First Hour
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for its gripping narrative mixing spy and gangster genres.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, for its unique experience and holding attention despite its huge length.
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Dhurandhar Movie Review by M9
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