By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
Few films are such that you walk into cinema with zero expectations and when you leave the audi, you are like what a film!
Dhurandhar is such a film. Post Uri, Aditya Dhar has firmly saddled himself as a bankable film-maker, be it Article 370, recently released Baramulla or even Dhoom Dhaam - he has struck it right. With Dhurandhar he gives a master-class in film-making - the way he has used and fused the various techniques of film-making for a very compelling narrative is very, very laudable.
The film captures you with the very first frame, a very up and close of IB chief Ajay Sanyal (R. Madhavan) tense, negotiating the release of hijacked passengers.
The tone of the film is set. Sanyal comes up with Mission Dhurandhar, aim to infiltrate pakistani mafia and thwart the evil designs of paki intelligence on Indian soil.
The best part of Aditya's narrative is that in spite of many India-Pak movies, this one takes place entirely in pakistan, with the protagonists and antagonists both rooted as pakistani citizens.
While the story is very interesting on paper - it is the screenplay that is the 'hero' here; why? Such a complex story is told seamlessly; this is what is, extraordinary writing. Full marks to Aditya Dhar, and additional screenplay writers Shivkumar V. Panicker and Ojas Gautam.
The technical brilliance of the film is beautifully complemented by the act of the entire cast. Ranveer Singh is superb in the role of uncover agent, Hamza Ali Mazari (If Shahrukh can win National Award for Jawan, Ranveer Singh ought to win it for this, in 2026). Akshaye Khanna is effortless in the role of Rehman Dakait. Sanjay Dutt gets a well-crafted role after ages, and he breathes fire into it. Arjun Rampal is evil personified as ISI chief, Major Iqbal. R. Madhavan is very impressive as Ajay Sanyal. There was a lot of talk about the age-gap with the female lead, Sara Arjun; rest assured the chemistry is crackling. This is what actors do, fill in the gaps beautifully. Given the right roles Sara is a future star for sure!
The real revelation of the film is Rakesh Bedi, who would have thought this comic-actor would play the all important role of shrewd and crafty Jameel Jamali so effortlessly. It is the career-best performance of this veteran actor. Naveen Kaushik, in the role of Donga, makes a solid impression. In fact all the actors have performed brilliantly. For example, Saumya Tandon is mostly in the background, but one scene where she is in foreground, after the death of her son and her slap across Akshaye's face - what a performance. This is exactly why actors root for brilliant directors.
Dhurandhar is too intelligent a film that will be surely loved by the classes - and though it's not massy, by masses in select belts as well!
Go and book your big-screen ticket now.