Is “Dhurandhar” just another spy movie? Cultural commentator PV Narasimha Rao argues it is much more—a “civilizational statement” that breaks Bollywood’s old rules. Here are his 5 key observations.
1. Breaking the “Post-Colonial” Mold
Rao argues that Hindi cinema often avoids direct confrontation with geopolitical realities. “Dhurandhar,” he says, rejects moral equivalence and boldly addresses asymmetrical warfare, which is why it rattled some media sections.
2. Akshaye Khanna’s “Rehman Dakait”
Rao calls Akshaye Khanna the film’s defining presence. His portrayal of the Karachi-based gangster isn’t a caricature but a mix of calculation and brutality, placing him in the lineage of iconic villains.
3. “Bond meets Godfather”
The review notes how the film fuses espionage with organized crime drama. It moves away from glossy “spectacle” toward grit, resembling a “Bond-meets-Godfather” narrative structure.
4. Real History, Fictional Lens
From the IC-814 hijacking to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Rao praises how the film weaves fiction into recognizable, sensitive moments of India’s recent history without becoming a documentary.
5. A Warning on Hero Worship
Despite the praise, Rao offers a caveat: Don’t conflate the actor with the role. He reminds audiences that on-screen patriotism is a performance, and actors’ real-life choices may differ.
Read the Full Review
Dive deeper into Rao’s analysis of the film’s craft, Ranveer Singh’s restraint, and the “civilizational” impact.
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