Aditya Dhar's highly anticipated spy thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has finally landed, but it delivers on its ambitious promise only in sporadic flashes. The film, which clocks in at a hefty 3 hours and 34 minutes, manages a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, as per the review published on December 5, 2024.
A Sprawling Narrative of Retribution and Infiltration
The plot of Dhurandhar is rooted in a familiar premise of cross-border tension and intelligence warfare. The story is set into motion by the deeply troubled Intelligence Bureau chief Sanyal, played by R. Madhavan in a role that closely mirrors India's former National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Sanyal, disillusioned by internal politics and what he perceives as India's soft stance, devises a covert plan following a series of traumatic national events.
The film weaves together real-life tragedies like the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as the catalyst for India's aggressive response. Sanyal's lamentations about corrupt ministers and a divided nation set the stage for a mission to plant an agent deep within Pakistan's terror networks in Karachi.
Ranveer Singh's Hamza in the Heart of Lyari
The agent in question is Hamza, portrayed by a physically transformed Ranveer Singh. With long hair, a flowing beard, and a muscular frame clad in traditional Pathan attire, Singh's Hamza is tasked with infiltrating the volatile Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi by posing as a Baloch. His target is the powerful gang leader Rehman Baloch, a nuanced character brought to life by Akshaye Khanna.
Despite the film introducing a multitude of characters to flesh out the power dynamics, crime syndicates, and political machinations of Lyari, the core plot remains fairly comprehensible. Khanna delivers a standout performance as a sensitive family man slowly consumed by ambition, while Rakesh Bedi steals scenes as the slimy, opportunistic politician Jameel. Danish Pandor also impresses as Uzair, the loyal cousin and second-in-command.
High-Octane Action Amidst Narrative Flaws
Where Dhurandhar stumbles is in its execution and pacing. For a film of its length, the actual espionage and intelligence-gathering take a backseat for large portions. The narrative frequently gets sidetracked, including an unnecessary romantic subplot involving Arjun as Jameel's daughter, which feels forced and adds little to the central thriller.
The film often devolves into a showcase for its leading men—Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal as a ruthless ISI Major, and Sanjay Dutt as a brutal Karachi police encounter specialist—to compete in scenes of extreme bloodshed and gore. While the Karachi backdrop is fresh and the references to Pakistani political figures like Benazir Bhutto are intriguing, these elements are not enough to sustain the marathon runtime.
Ranveer Singh delivers his characteristic high-energy performance, but the role offers little beyond physicality and swagger. The film concludes on a cliffhanger with a 'To be continued' title card, suggesting this is merely the first chapter. However, given the mixed results of this installment, the promise of a sequel feels more exhausting than exciting.
In summary, Dhurandhar is an ambitious but uneven attempt at crafting a gritty, geopolitical spy saga. It boasts strong performances from its supporting cast and moments of raw intensity, but is ultimately bogged down by its excessive length, meandering subplots, and reliance on graphic violence over taut storytelling.
