FILM REVIEW: DHURANDHAR

FILM REVIEW: DHURANDHAR By Suyash Pachauri

Owned Publications: DIRECTORS DAILY CLAPBOARD | GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD

Introduction

Dhurandhar is not a film that announces its intentions lightly. It arrives with a sense of weight narrative, ideological, and cinematic positioning itself as a serious, layered exploration of power, ambition, manipulation, and moral decay. The title itself signals the film’s core temperament: cunning, calculating, relentless. From its very first frame, Dhurandhar establishes that it is less interested in surface-level drama and more invested in the anatomy of influence how power is accumulated, wielded, justified, and ultimately consumed.

In an era where mainstream cinema often simplifies conflict into easily digestible binaries, Dhurandhar dares to exist in shades of grey. It is a film that thrives on ambiguity, psychological tension, and ideological confrontation. Rather than relying on spectacle or melodrama, it builds its narrative through character psychology, strategic silences, and moral negotiations that feel unsettlingly real.

At its core, Dhurandhar is not merely about a single individual or event; it is about a system a mindset that breeds manipulation and rewards ruthlessness. The film examines how intelligence, when divorced from ethics, transforms into a dangerous weapon. It asks uncomfortable questions about success, survival, and the price of ambition in a world that often celebrates results while ignoring methods.

This is not a film designed for passive viewing. Dhurandhar demands attention, interpretation, and reflection. It challenges the viewer to engage intellectually and emotionally, making it one of the more ambitious and thought-provoking cinematic efforts in recent times.

Screenplay & Script Sense

The screenplay of Dhurandhar is dense, intricate, and deliberately layered. It is written with a clear understanding that storytelling does not always require constant motion; sometimes, tension is born from anticipation rather than action. The script unfolds like a chessboard, where every move is calculated and every dialogue exchange carries subtext.

One of the screenplay’s most commendable strengths is its refusal to oversimplify its characters. There are no easy heroes or villains here only individuals driven by desire, fear, ambition, and survival instincts. The protagonist’s journey is not presented as a linear rise or fall but as a series of moral compromises that gradually reshape identity.

Dialogues are sharp, restrained, and often loaded with double meanings. Conversations rarely state intentions openly; instead, they hint, manipulate, and negotiate power subtly. This approach enhances realism and psychological tension, making even quiet scenes feel charged.

The screenplay also excels in world-building. Without excessive exposition, it constructs an environment where power dynamics feel lived-in and authentic. Institutions, hierarchies, and relationships are established through behavior rather than explanation.

However, the script’s complexity can also be demanding. Certain narrative threads require careful attention, and viewers unfamiliar with layered political or psychological dramas may find portions challenging. At times, the screenplay prioritizes thematic density over narrative accessibility, which slightly limits emotional immediacy.

Despite this, the script remains intellectually compelling, rewarding patience with depth and nuance. It is a screenplay that trusts its audience and that trust largely pays off.

Direction

The direction of Dhurandhar is confident, controlled, and unapologetically serious. The director demonstrates a firm grasp over tone, ensuring that the film never loses its thematic focus. There is a strong sense of authorship in the way scenes are staged, framed, and paced.

What stands out most is the director’s restraint. There is no unnecessary dramatization, no forced emotional cues, and no indulgence in cinematic excess. Instead, the film relies on atmosphere lingering silences, measured performances, and visual symbolism to convey meaning.

The director allows scenes to breathe, often letting tension build organically rather than pushing it through editing or music. This approach enhances realism and keeps the narrative grounded. Power struggles unfold quietly, often behind closed doors or through subtle gestures, reinforcing the film’s psychological core.

That said, the film’s deliberate pacing may not appeal to all viewers. The director consciously sacrifices speed for depth, which can test patience in certain stretches. A slightly tighter narrative rhythm could have enhanced engagement without compromising intent.

Nevertheless, the director’s vision remains consistent and courageous. Dhurandhar feels like a film made with conviction rather than compromise, and that sincerity elevates its impact.

Acting

The performances in Dhurandhar are among its greatest strengths. The lead actor delivers a commanding, layered portrayal that anchors the film emotionally and intellectually. This is a performance built on control rather than flamboyance where power is conveyed through stillness, calculated speech, and piercing observation.

The actor captures the evolution of the character with remarkable subtlety. The transformation is gradual, shaped by circumstance rather than sudden revelation. Small behavioral shifts changes in tone, posture, and gaze mark the character’s moral descent or strategic ascent.

What makes the performance particularly compelling is its refusal to seek sympathy. The character is not softened for audience approval; instead, the actor embraces moral ambiguity fully, allowing discomfort to exist.

This honesty adds credibility and weight to the portrayal.

The female lead delivers a performance defined by intelligence, emotional restraint, and quiet authority. Rather than serving as a narrative accessory, her character functions as a significant ideological counterpoint. The actor brings depth and complexity, ensuring that her presence influences the story meaningfully.

The dynamic between the leads is tense and layered, driven by power equations rather than emotional dependency. Their interactions crackle with unspoken conflict, making even ordinary conversations feel consequential.

Supporting Cast

The supporting cast of Dhurandhar plays a crucial role in enriching the film’s narrative ecosystem. Each character represents a different facet of the system the film seeks to examine loyalty, opportunism, fear, and moral compromise.

Several supporting performances stand out due to their authenticity and restraint. These characters do not exist merely to propel the plot; they serve as mirrors reflecting the protagonist’s choices and consequences.

Authority figures are portrayed with nuance, avoiding caricature. Subordinates are not simplified into blind followers but shown as individuals navigating survival within hierarchical structures.

While some supporting characters could have benefited from deeper exploration, their limited screen time is effectively utilized. Collectively, the supporting cast strengthens the film’s realism and thematic resonance.

Cinematography

The cinematography of Dhurandhar is atmospheric, controlled, and deeply intentional. The visual language reflects the film’s psychological and ideological concerns, prioritizing mood over visual spectacle.

Muted color palettes dominate the film, reinforcing themes of moral ambiguity and emotional restraint. Shadows are used extensively, both literally and metaphorically, to suggest hidden motives and ethical darkness.

The camera often maintains a measured distance, observing rather than intruding. When close-ups are employed, they are deliberate and impactful, drawing attention to moments of internal conflict or realization.

Framing plays a significant role in storytelling. Characters are frequently positioned within constrictive spaces offices, corridors, closed rooms visually reinforcing themes of confinement, control, and surveillance.

The cinematography does not seek to impress but to immerse, serving the narrative with discipline and purpose.

Music & Background Score

Music in Dhurandhar is used with remarkable restraint. The background score is minimalistic, often relying on low, ambient textures rather than melodic themes. This choice aligns perfectly with the film’s psychological tone.

Rather than guiding emotional responses overtly, the score subtly amplifies tension and unease. Silence is frequently employed as a narrative tool, allowing scenes to resonate without sonic interference.

There are no conventional songs, which reinforces the film’s serious intent. The absence of musical distractions ensures that performances and dialogues remain the primary drivers of emotional engagement.

The sound design ambient noise, echoes, and environmental sounds plays an equally important role in shaping atmosphere, enhancing realism and immersion.

Editing

The editing of Dhurandhar is precise and deliberate. Scenes transition smoothly, maintaining narrative coherence despite the screenplay’s complexity. The editor respects the film’s slow-burn approach, allowing tension to build organically.

However, the pacing is intentionally measured, and certain sequences could have been tightened for greater impact. While the extended runtime allows thematic depth, it occasionally affects narrative momentum.

Despite this, the editing remains consistent with the film’s vision, prioritizing mood and character psychology over speed.

Final Verdict

Dhurandhar is a bold, uncompromising film that challenges conventional storytelling norms. It is not designed to entertain in a superficial sense but to provoke thought, discomfort, and reflection.

The film’s strength lies in its writing, performances, and thematic ambition. While its slow pace and narrative density may limit mass appeal, it stands as a significant cinematic achievement for audiences seeking depth and seriousness.

Dhurandhar does not offer easy answers or moral comfort. Instead, it holds up a mirror to ambition and power, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about success, ethics, and human nature.

On the Plus Side

• Powerful, layered lead performance

• Intellectually rich and mature screenplay

• Controlled, confident direction

• Atmospheric cinematography

• Thought-provoking themes and moral complexity

On the Minus Side

• Slow pacing may test patience

• Dense narrative limits accessibility

• Some subplots could have been more tightly developed

Dhurandhar is not a film for everyonebut for those willing to engage with its complexity, it offers a rare, rewarding cinematic experience. It is a film that lingers, challenges, and provokes long after the credits roll.

FILM REVIEW: DHURANDHAR By Suyash Pachauri

Owned Publications: DIRECTORS DAILY CLAPBOARD | GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD