Dhurandhar

This is how I want to see a spy/espionage movie in Indian cinema. Excellent world and character building, with outstanding set pieces. Every single actor played their roles to perfection! Askhay Khanna stands out the most. However, as others mentioned, the role of Ranveer was not to stand out in the first place, and the director and actor executed that perfectly!

A spy action movie with a runtime of 3 hrs 34 minutes approx, it's engrossing without a single moment of boredom, thanks to the robust screenplay and casting of talented performers. Director Aditya Dhar has been successful in ensuring that each character leaves an indelible mark on the viewers.

It's not solely a Ranveer Singh show, as the director has ensured each character has a memorable presence. R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Akshay Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Ranveer Singh deliver performances akin to a north Indian person savoring an authentic south Indian meal, with each bite providing satisfaction. Akshay Khanna, who won hearts with Aurangzeb in Chaava, has again impressed as Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar. His swag, look, and dialogue delivery are mind-blowing. As the movie progresses, Sanjay Dutt brings a new gear, accelerating the pace with his enjoyable screen presence. R Madhavan and Arjun Rampal have limited screen time but make their presence felt. Sara Arjun delivers a decent performance as the lady love. Ranveer Singh's character development is amazing to watch, and his mass performance will be eagerly anticipated in the second part.

From a technical standpoint, Aditya Dhar's direction is astounding, perfectly capturing the essence of Dhurandhar. Sashwat Sachdev's score and music blend seamlessly with the movie's tone. The placement of old Bollywood classics in certain situations is entertaining and thrilling. Vikash Nowlakha's cinematography is commendable, and Shivkumar V Panicker's editing is sharp.

If Uri: The Surgical Strike was the roar, Dhurandhar is the bite. Aditya Dhar has returned with a spy thriller that does not just rely on loud patriotism but backs it up with grit, intelligence, and a scale that Indian cinema rarely attempts. Clocking in at over three hours, it is a marathon of a film, but one that leaves you breathless rather than exhausted.

This is the Ranveer Singh we have been waiting for. As the covert operative Hamza Ali Mazari, Singh strips away his usual high-energy flamboyance to deliver a performance of simmering intensity. He is quiet, lethal, and emotionally vulnerable. Whether he is navigating the treacherous lanes of Karachi or breaking down in a rare moment of solitude, he anchors the film with a maturity that defines the second act of his career.

While Ranveer is the soul, Akshaye Khanna is the electrifying current running through the narrative. As the antagonist Rehman Dakait, Khanna is terrifyingly calm and intellectual, proving once again why he is one of the most underutilized actors in the industry. The face-off scenes between Singh and Khanna are masterclasses in tension, relying on psychological warfare rather than just explosions.

What stands out most is the technical brilliance. The film respects the intelligence of the audience, weaving a complex web of espionage involving historical stakes without feeling like a history lesson. The hand-to-hand combat is visceral and realistic, avoiding the gravity-defying stunts often seen in the genre. Shashwat Sachdev's background score is a character in itself - pounding and relentless during the action, yet haunting during the emotional beats.

Is it long? Yes. But the runtime is justified by the depth of the world-building. Dhurandhar is a mass entertainer with class sensibilities - a rare beast that satisfies the action junkies and the cinephiles alike. It is a high-octane saga that cements Aditya Dhar as a master of the war-spy genre. A must-watch for anyone who loves grounded, intense cinema.

The film follows Hamza (Ranveer Singh), a young recruit thrust into a daring covert operation to infiltrate the ruthless underworld of Karachi. While the long runtime was a talking point ahead of the release, every minute is justified by Dhar's ambitious world-building. What begins as a strategic slow-burn expertly maps out the dangerous nexus of crime, politics, and terror, making the adrenaline-pumping payoff in the second half all the more rewarding.

Ranveer Singh delivers arguably the best performance of his career. As the feral, calculating undercover agent, he embodies raw intensity, using his eyes and body language to convey a character caught between a desperate mission and the corrosive environment he must survive in. He is the anchor, but the undisputed scene-stealer is Akshaye Khanna, who plays the gangster Rehman Dakait with a chilling blend of vulnerability and menace. The chemistry and friction between these two actors are the electric core of the film.

Technically, Dhurandhar sets a new benchmark for the genre. The action is brutal, immediate, and free of unnecessary fluff. Vikash Nowlakha's cinematography plunges the viewer directly into the gritty, dusty alleys of Lyari, while the background score by Shashwat Sachdev is a constant, pulsating heartbeat, ensuring the tension never dips.

This is a film that rewards patience with spectacle. Dhurandhar is a polished, high-voltage blockbuster that proves that when ambition meets execution, the results are explosive.

Conclusion: A must-watch theatrical experience that redefines the Indian spy thriller genre.

Since the beginning Movie pace and Story hook you that much, you'll forget about popcorn on your lap.

Background music 10/10, Highly Impressive. I was complimenting while watching itself.

Casting 10/10, every actor is fit to the role and each and everyone gives 100% Story 9/10, After a decade we are witnessing such a good story and no disturbance by any love song in switzerland.

Direction 10/10, every single shot is too notch. So impressive

Please watch this film in theatre for better experience in terms of music most. I'm filled with compliments for this film.