@DeepInThought4U

Chapter 1: The movie-going experience

Due to prior horrid experiences related to popcorn prices rivalling real estate rates in Bengaluru, I rarely go to the multiplexes. As some other viewers have pointed out, theatres are still allowing children into an 'A' rated film. These children use the aisles as playgrounds, which is annoying for all. I blame the parents and the multiplex establishment for spoiling the move-going experience for others. But it was worth putting up with these issues for Dhurandhar.

Chapter 2: Why should you watch this film?

When pseudoseculars are trying their best to diss the film, one should deduce that Dhurandhar is an important event not to be missed. The subject matter is of national importance, and a welcome change from the ridiculous dolled-up versions of spy movies that pander to the superstars' chavanni audiences. The theatre that I went to, I am glad to report, was full with people of all age groups - young, middle-aged, elderly - all enjoying and reacting to the drama in a manner that suggested that they were aware of the importance of this film. 

Chapter 3: The plot

Spy infiltrating an enemy camp is not a novel concept, but Dhurandhar is based on a real person, albeit with a few additions/deletions to the story. I believe that the other characters are also based on real people. Dhurandhar is an unabashedly rousing depiction of the hatred and evil machinations that gangs and terrorists are capable of, especially towards India and Hindus. This, in itself, is a refreshing change from the pseudosecular and atheist (read anti-Hindu) drivel that kept us sedated in the 70s, 80s and 90s. 

One can see why the runtime is as long as it is, and one does not feel it as the narrative is so engaging. There is also enough scope for another part to address the back stories of the lead and other characters.

Chapter 4: The acting

This is first-rate throughout. The uncharacteristically restrained performance from Ranveer Singh, the measured approach of Madhavan who has the best one-liners, the brooding menace of Akshaye Khanna, the understated terrorist demeanour of Arjun Rampal, and the over-the-top presence of Sanjay Dutt add to the action-thriller appeal. 

Surprise packages are Gaurav Gera as a senile, serious-faced shopkeeper, a far cry from his 'Nandu' days, and Rakesh Bedi as the chameleon politician; can't believe he is the same Dilruba from Shrimaan Srimati who goes 'Dollll' with a downturned hand. Sara Arjun (whose name, I naively believed, is a composite of Sachin Tendulkar's children's names!) holds her own against the veterans. 

Dhurandhar is a career-defining event for all these actors. 

Chapter 5: The technical details

Again, everything is fantastic. Given the fact that it is unlikely the film was shot in Pakistan (which has expectedly banned the film), the set design looks authentic. The world building is amazing; cinematography, editing and sound add to it. Aditya Dhar is setting new benchmarks, and it is a joy to witness the change in the subject matter of his films from that of his contemporaries; consider Uri, Baramulla and now this. 

Chapter 6: The music

Special mention for the background music and the songs. Shashwat Sachdev is at his best with the song compositions and remakes of old songs. Each track is a banger, which is pleasantly surprising, because in a film of this nature, the drama and action speak for themselves even without songs. I absolutely loved the retro songs enlivening certain key sequences; Rambha ho! (how good Usha Uthup's voice sounds even today in a theatre!), Monica O my darling! and Hawa Hawa add a touch of nostalgia. 

Here's my wishlist for the next part: Shaan title songs (both the Usha Uthup and the Asha Bhonsle ones), Aapka kya hoga janab-e-ali from Laawaris, Mehbooba mehbooba from Sholay, and Zubi zubi from Dance Dance. 

Chapter 7: The message

Dhurandhar is a paan-juice spit on the faces of those who try to hide the truth of Pakistan's terrorist identity. We have borne the brunt of being their neighbours for a long time which the world had ignored - until now. Dhurandhar has single-handedly done what no diplomatic effort has managed so far - bring the world's attention to the fact that Pakistan is a terror haven and the epicentre of global terrorism. 

One loses count of the number of attacks perpetrated by nonstate actors from that country, of which only 3 major ones are shown in the film. Finally, the world gets to experience these; full marks to the makers for inserting real conversations from the 26/11 terrorists and their handlers.

The thing is, Pakistan is a paranoid, insecure entity whose insignificance in the larger world order compels it to draw attention through its ultra aggressive actions. As a result, one cannot say where their army ends and terrorism begins. Their agenda is ostensibly Kashmir, but really, it is ghazwa-e-hind. 

I salute all the 'unknown men' who work unsung and unrecognised to keep us safe from such agendas. 

Final chapter: The bloody pseudoseculars!

What the hell do the pseudoseculars of India want? Why are these snakes in the grass - with due respect to the snakes - up in arms each time a pro-India film comes out? What is it that they get from their anti-India, pro-terror stance? Do they want us to roll over and die each time a terror attack occurs? 

Consider these gems:

Anupama Chopra is the critic wife of a producer/director whose criticism is critically reserved for pro-India films. Apparently, she is concerned about the 'inflammatory anti-Pakistan narrative' of Dhurandhar, but is happy with the 'palatable patriotism' of the ludicrous Pathaan. Sure, film criticism is a subjective exercise, but why are her reviews biased against films that narrate our truth? Perhaps she is in need of some anti-inflammatory tablets on her palate to 'get well soon' from her critical state!

I am a major fan of Hrithik Roshan because of his looks, acting and dancing. But when he says things like 'I do not agree with the politics of the film', I have to draw the line, and ask, 'what exactly do you mean by that?' It is what it is. What we have endured over the years has been shown with a lot of reality in this film. So what exactly do you disagree with? All provocations came from them, we only responded to those provocations. Ironic coming from an actor who mouthed lines like 'India-occupied-Pakistan' in Fighter. 

Radhika Apte is apparently unhappy about brining up a child in an atmosphere of violence shown in the film. It's rich coming from an actress whose character was shot in the forehead in the ultraviolent and sexually explicit series, Sacred Games, not to mention a few other violent films she has acted in (try Rakta Charitra, Badlapur and Vikram Vedha, the last of which also starred Hrithik). For the record, the violence does not appear gratuitous in Dhurandhar. If anything, it fits the narrative; it's... apt!

Anything that blows the lid off the radical ideology behind terrorist attacks and religious conversions is dubbed a 'propaganda movie' by people across the borders, and by their pseudosecular stooges here (consider The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story). By this measure, Schindler's List should be the most propagandist movie ever - against the Nazis!

I hope Dhurandhar 2 continues to be as 'inflammatory', 'political' and 'violent' as the first one, and blows the lid off more evil acts perpetrated against India and Hinduism. 

Dhurandhar gets 10/10 on IMDb from me, and goes straight into my list of movies to watch about India. 

I am a citizen of India, living in India. I belong to neither the right wing nor the left wing. If anything, I am 'truth wing' - a concerned citizen of India who has woken up to the reality, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attacks when tourists were killed just for being Hindus. 

Consider this: out of the nearly 200 countries of the world, guess how many have Hindus as the majority of the population? Three - finger-countable on one hand! (In case you are wondering, they are India, Nepal and Mauritius.) Soon, this figure is likely to be ZERO, the way things are going.

India is the sacred geography of Hinduism. It is our last refuge. There is no other place we can go to; nobody else will accept us if we lose India. Yet, we are indifferent and apathetic to our own plight, smugly confident that we are safe. We have ignored this issue due to various reasons such as 'turning a blind eye', pseudosecularism, and misplaced notions of tolerance and nonviolence.  

One thing has become abundantly clear more than before: Hindus were, are, and will be under attack from anti-Hindu forces. Here's a breakdown of this issue based on three questions: WHAT?, WHY? & HOW?

Read on, if you do not want Hindus to become third-class citizens of the world, persecuted and converted by militant religions...

Beheaded idol in the Belur temple complex (picture by author)

🛕WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

🚩Subversive immigration and demographic change 

The recent fallout of India's war on terror revealed who stands with us not just among the nations of the world, but also within the country. Surreptitious illegal immigration from Islamic countries around us aided by pseudoseculars and leftists has burst out into the open resulting in the anti-India, anti-Modi, anti-Hindu views. There are those that help these illegal immigrants get local ID cards and even voting rights. 

🚩Criminal activities by foreigners

If you monitor the crime news in India, you will find that non-Hindus are over represented in criminal activities relative to their population level. On the other hand, if you look at the academic and economic achievements, Hindus are over represented. In other words, nothing has changed since the days of Abrahamic subjugation of our culture and plundering of our wealth. Hindus who focus on socioeconomic progress are being cheated and looted by non-Hindus, be it through criminal activities, conversions, reservations, Waqf, etc.

🚩Conversions are still going on

Of the three Abrahamic religions (Jewism, Christianity and Islam - in order of appearance), the latter two are the most problematic for Hindus. It is in the nature of these two religions to convert. Whether it is a misplaced notion of 'saving souls' or just increasing their numbers, it is ingrained in them as a sacred duty to convert as many 'heathens' as possible. In spite of the check on foreign contributions, surreptitious conversion programs continue unabated, especially in areas such as the Punjab, Odisha and East Godavari.

🚩CON-gress has not done anything to protect Hindu interests

Ram Mandir would not have been feasible under the dynastic party govt - the 'jan-nalayak' himself has said so. None of the other temples would have got a facelift. CON-gress and its allies are only concerned with one thing: passing on the prime minister's position from one family member to another like a family heirloom. This is done by appeasing minorities at the cost of Hindu interests. Take the recently concluded Mahakumbh Mela and think how many CON-gress leaders took part in it, or wished Hindus on the occasion. You will find that the number is close to nil. 

🛕WHY IS IT HAPPENING?

🚩Partition was the greatest fraud on India and Hinduism

India was expected to be a secular democratic state while our neighbours could select the theocracy of their choice. More Muslims stayed back in India than the populations of the 2 Islamic republics at that time. They continue to enter India in hordes illegally. After Pahalgam, when deportation orders finally came through, it led to the discovery of many women who have married Pakistani men, had their children and are living here in India! While the pseudoseculars will cry hoarse and say this is a shining example of the failure of Jinnah's 2 nation theory, what was the point of it anyway? If their countries were created mainly for followers of their religion, why are they coming to the land of the 'kafirs'? They are either here to drain the nation's resources or subversively alter the nation's demographics by reproducing rapidly.

🚩Worst geopolitical location for India 

Unfortunately, India is surrounded by hostile neighbours inimical to our socioeconomic and demographic security. Each of these has some grouse to pick with India. Ironically their illegal immigrants live here whereas people in their countries abuse us. Their sympathisers live amongst us, like snakes in the grass, living off our largesse while supporting them. A case in point, when the Indus water was stopped, these very snakes came out into the open to protest. We cannot expect any other country to stand for us - they mostly think of themselves. Otherwise, Pakistan would not have received billions of dollars in aid in spite of being the epicentre of terrorism. India has borne the brunt of this terrorism since long before 9/11, but still, when provoked, the other countries expect us to 'exercise restraint'. And when we retaliate, urban naxals within the country exhort us to 'de-escalate'. 

🚩Hinduism v other religions 

Don't let anyone tell you 'all religions are the same'. They are not! There is a chalk and cheese difference between Hinduism and Abrahamic religions. Hinduism developed as a fellowship of many different truth-seekers who did intense sadhana to give us the wisdom contained in the Vedas. It is philosophically diverse and calls for self inquiry and self experience of the Eternal Truth. Abrahamic religions began when their prophets apparently had visions and revelations of a 'zealous god'. These and other dictums were recorded in prescriptive books that a follower has to strictly adhere to without questioning. The ultimate goal in Hinduism is moksha - liberation from the cycle of birth and death, the highest state a human soul can achieve. The ultimate goal in Abrahamic religions is salvation on judgment day; if you are a believer you will be saved, otherwise you will burn in hellfire forever! Hinduism is a way of life that facilitates self-realisation and accepts different paths to the same goal. Abrahamic religions are cults and subcults that claim exclusive rights to salvation and employ coercive, incentive and manipulative methods to convert others.

🚩'Abrahamification' of India is the ultimate goal

They can call it being secular, 'upholding the Constitution', allege wrongdoing by the BJP government so they can oppose every good scheme, but the ultimate driving force behind any of these is only one thing: the underlying ANTI-HINDU BIAS. And this bias compels them to attack Hinduism and get away with it since they know there won't be any retaliation. This bias compels them to use any means to convert: love jihad, advertising religions on leaflets, fake healing sessions, etc. 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' and 'church planting' are  ultimately geared towards the total conversion of India to their respective religions. 

🚩Colonial hangover

The Islamic invasions resulted in temple destructions, unfair taxation and conversions. The British tried their best to convert us by giving a free hand to missionaries. The whole of the northeast is Christian today because of their efforts. The Portuguese initiated the Goan Inquisition to convert the population in the western coast, and the Dutch did the same on the eastern side. Macaulayian education system aimed to create 'brown sahibs' - Indian in appearance, but entirely European in language and cultural practices. Even today, our children continue to study in convent-run schools and colleges where Sanskrit is not even offered as an optional subject. Even today, there are missionary hospitals ostensibly working to treat the poor, but simultaneously employing their 'pastoral care' practitioners who go around wards doing bedside prayer sessions and 'ministering' to patients and their families. 

As if these were not enough, the entire entertainment industry, notably Bollywood, was flooded with Pakistanis in its early period when scripts were written in Urdu! Even today, Bollywood song lyrics are mostly Urdu-based, and you will struggle to find a decent song in Hindi, let alone Sanskrit. 

The result of all this: children who are western and pseudosecular in their outlook. Gullible patients and their families who think they got better due to the missionaries' prayers and accept conversion. Bollywood celebrities who do not utter a word against Pakistan even when they send terrorists to kill our tourists and soldiers. 

🛕HOW CAN YOU & I HELP?

🚩Target the ideology

Hinduism does not advocate the notion of 'othering' or unwarranted violence against anyone, but if our very identity is under threat, rising up to defend it is our dharma. It is important to remember that our battle is against ideologies, not individuals. The radical thought process entrenched in their minds is the driving force behind conversions and terrorist attacks. Attempt to address this rather than express hatred towards any one person or community. 

🚩Assist the government and armed forces 

The very least you can do is support those who are striving to keep you safe. This includes the government when it takes affirmative action against terrorists, the soldiers who defend us in tough conditions, gutsy intellectuals who confront radical ideologies, all at the cost of personal comfort and safety. If you cannot be proactive, at least do not create barriers in the way of those who are.

🚩Call for deporting illegal immigrants

If you can identify illegal immigrants and foreigners who indulge in criminal activities in your locality report them to the police or your MP. Try to identify the nexus of dodgy agents who get them Indian ID cards and report them.

🚩Be united!

Beware that the Abrahamics target the faultlines of societies they seek to convert. Avoid fighting with fellow Hindus over petty language, caste or cultural issues. 

🚩Educate your children on Sanatana Dharma

When was the last time you sat with your children and explained to them about the greatness and beauty of Sanatana Dharma? If you are unable to do this, find out about classes that can supplement their school education with dharmic knowledge. Shloka classes are a good way to begin. Enroll them in schools affiliated to Sanatana Dharma, or at the very least, those that offer Sanskrit as a language to learn. Try to find out more about your own religion so you can teach them. 

🚩Learn basic self defence 

It may well come to this, whether you like it or not. It is better to be prepared for a breakout of violence given the radical, volatile and militant nature of people who live with us in our communities. 

🚩Help in whatever capacity you can

If you know about the dangers to Hinduism, spread the word. Educate others who are ignorant about these issues. If you are the enterprising kind, initiate action against pseudoseculars who denigrate Hinduism thinking they can get away with it. If you are a lawyer, set aside some time to represent the cause of Sanatana Dharma.

🚩Exercise your franchise wisely

NEVER EVER vote for CON-gress or its allies. They are pseudoseculars and, frankly, anti-Hindu, because they are pro- every other religion than Hinduism. I am not suggesting that BJP is the most perfect party, but as of now there is no other party that is as sympathetic to the cause of Hinduism as the BJP. It would be utterly foolish of us and even dangerous to vote out a PM who has been working tirelessly, day and night, for the welfare of India and Hinduism, all the while facing opposition from anti-India forces.

🚩Join forces with pioneers

If you aren't familiar with the works of Rajiv Malhotra, J Sai Deepak, Anand Ranganathan and Dr David Frawley, to name a few, do so immediately. There are many books written by them on these issues that you can read. Contribute to their cause and add to the discussions already taking place. 

Finally, don't just forward this article; act on it!  As Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, taking appropriate action at the right time is the only thing that is in your hands; so do something before it's too late!

🕉️Uttishtha Bharata!🐚 🐚Dharmo rakshati rakshitah!☸️ 

🔱Har Har Mahadev!🔱Jai Mata Bhavani!🔱Jai Bajrangabali!🔱

Two things become clear when you read this book on Indian armed forces' operations.