New Delhi, December 05, 2025: The review of Dhurandhar movies has been written by Deepak Dua (National Awardee Film Critic)
Watch the trailer of this film ‘Dhurandhar’ and you’ll see that a young man (who could be an Indian agent) reaches Lyari Town in Pakistan, after which immense bloodshed begins because a senior officer of India’s intelligence bureau says—‘To break a mouth, you need a clenched fist.’ But have you ever heard of Lyari before…?
In fact, Lyari is a very old and historic area of Karachi, which is often called the commercial capital of Pakistan. The significance of this area is such that it is even referred to as the ‘Mother of Karachi.’ It is a place where many communities like Pashtuns, Baloch, Saraikis, Sindhis, Kachhis, and Muhajirs live together. There was a time when swords were always drawn between the Baloch and the Pashtuns (Pathans) here. Each had their own gangs that often clashed with one another. Each of them had the backing of their respective political parties. The Baloch gang leader, Rehman Daku (yes, that was his name), was supported by a major political party in Pakistan, for which Rehman arranged votes in Lyari while running his illegal operations in return. Then a time came when even the President of Pakistan (yes, you read that right, the President himself) blessed Rehman Daku and had a separate political party formed for him. Gradually, the terror of these gangster individuals increased so much that in 2012 and then in 2013, the Pakistani government waged a war against them, which was called ‘Operation Lyari.’ This film ‘Dhurandhar’ shows the story behind that operation, and the next part of the story will be shown in the next part of this film, which will be released in March 2026.
This film ‘Dhurandhar’ shows that after the 1999 Kandahar plane hijacking and then the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, Indian intelligence officer Ajay Sanyal (a character inspired by the current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval) established an agent in Pakistan who infiltrated the Lyari Baloch gang and gained influence. Sanyal believed that Pakistani terrorists obtain weapons and other resources with the help of these criminals, and the local politics also operated under their influence, so it was necessary to destroy them. The film depicts how this agent gets close to the gang, how he infiltrates it, and while gaining power day by day…!!!
This film ‘Dhurandhar’ carries the essence of a spy thriller, the vibes of a gang-war movie, the shades of a political thriller, and the best part is that all these elements blend together to give the film a fantastic and lively look, making it stand out boldly in the realm of Hindi masala films. Aditya Dhar has crafted this six-to-seven-hour story (this one is about three and a half hours, and the next one will probably be similar) with such tight writing that it sets a benchmark for scriptwriting. Different parts of the story run on multiple tracks simultaneously, featuring a variety of characters, yet there’s no mess, no slack. Most of the characters being based on real people adds a sharper edge to the film’s tone. The dialogues are not just striking but also impactful and timely, reflecting glimpses of that era and the times that followed. The incredible blend of imagination and facts that Aditya Dhar has weaved into the story around the events of that time deserves praise for his writing.
This film ‘Dhurandhar’ carries the essence of a spy thriller, the vibes of a gang-war movie, the shades of a political thriller, and the best part is that all these elements blend together to give the film a fantastic and lively look, making it stand out boldly in the realm of Hindi masala films. Aditya Dhar has crafted this six-to-seven-hour story (this one is about three and a half hours, and the next one will probably be similar) with such tight writing that it sets a benchmark for scriptwriting. Different parts of the story run on multiple tracks simultaneously, featuring a variety of characters, yet there’s no mess, no slack. Most of the characters being based on real people adds a sharper edge to the film’s tone. The dialogues are not just striking but also impactful and timely, reflecting glimpses of that era and the times that followed. The incredible blend of imagination and facts that Aditya Dhar has weaved into the story around the events of that time deserves praise for his writing.
The look that Aditya Dhar has given as the director of this film ‘Dhurandhar’ is unparalleled. The streets of Lyari Town, the people there, their language, lifestyle are all impressive, and the film’s action is unique, filled with immense violence. Several scenes are so gruesome that people with a weak heart won’t be able to watch them. In particular, a scene where an agent is tortured (which is also in the trailer) is extremely disturbing. But the truth is that when an agent falls into the hands of an enemy country, what happens to them cannot even be shown on the cinema screen.
The film is technically very advanced. The camera almost mesmerizes you. As soon as the film starts, the screen takes over you. The locations, sets, and special effects are extremely impressive. The use of colors, costumes, and makeup is done very skillfully. The background music enhances the life of the film. The editing is so seamless that you can’t even blink. Yes, in one or two places, it feels like a few seconds of a scene could have been cut. In the end, the twist reminiscent of Subhash Ghai’s ‘Karma’ feels slightly ‘filmy’ as well. The songs fit well with the film overall. The important thing is that despite being three and a half hours long, and divided into eight chapters, the film ‘Dhurandhar’ does not feel dragging, and even with the announcement of its next part, it stands as a complete film on its own. The film has an ‘A’ certificate, so minors should not watch it.
Every artist has worked with full dedication. Ranveer Singh stayed quiet, whether he got beaten or beat others, he continued winning hearts. Akshay Khanna has become an old lion; when he raises his paw, people are intimidated. R. Madhavan seems like a school of acting. Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Saumya Tandon, Danish Pandor, Manav Gohil, Naveen Kaushik, Gaurav Gera, for a moment Madhujit Sarggi, Akash Khurana, Sanjay Mehndiratta, and many other artists kept breathing life into their characters. Sara Arjun looked very sweet, innocent, and when given the chance, she showed that she can also act powerfully. Rakesh Bedi will always be remembered for the impact he left in his quirky role of a self-serving leader.
In the film ‘Dhurandhar’, when the scenes of wounds inflicted on India’s chest appear on screen, all you can do is rub your sweaty palms together. This film not only reminds us of those wounds but also makes us realize that as long as some brave and determined people are present to sacrifice themselves for the country, we are safe. The film pays tribute to those unknown individuals who selflessly dedicate their entire lives for the nation, and we not only fail to know their names, but we don’t even acknowledge their sacrifices.
Release Date – 5 December 2025 in theaters
(Deepak Dua is one of the leading Hindi film critics and journalists of country since 1993, based in Delhi. Awarded with the National Award for ‘Best Film Critic’. A voyager by nature, he also writes travel-based articles and travelogues.)
