Dhurandhar (2025)

Dhurandhar arrives with fire and fury and won't disappoint genre fans, offering action that is inseparable from its politics.

The film commits itself in totality to its brutality. Certain scenes stand out as particularly violent, such as the systematic killing of a rival gang that had gone too far. The soundtrack is superb, matching the tone and action of the film. The action at the wedding is highly kinetic, with well-timed slow-mo shots intermingled with hectic gunplay; the music remains excellent even here, adding to the scene’s energy.

There are some very noteworthy performances, found mostly in Ranveer Singh as our lead, Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait, and Rakesh Bedi as the scheming politician. Singh's greatest moment comes when his character murders his own father and criminal competition; the physical demands of the murder method were substantial and well executed.

While many movies have cultural baggage, Dhurandhar is particularly heavily laden. The central plot revolves around an unconventional response to Pakistani terrorism. The attitude toward Pakistan is nearly universally dim; while this can be blamed on the high volume of terrorist and gang-related characters, the negative racial commentary can't be ignored. The mixture of history with the film's fictional account adds impact to Hamza’s fight. Unfortunately, certain elements are exploitative to the point of distaste, such as the splicing in of footage and audio from actual terror attacks. The non-fictional material is intermingled with high-production fiction. The effect is felt powerfully in both directions.

Reciting history on its own terms and never compromising on its cultural message, Dhurandhar arrives with action that is not only intense; it is deeply opinionated.