Dhurandhar A Violent Movie with some recent history.

Dhurandhar got my attention as the 2025 highest grossing film for India (since surpassed).  It is a mammoth production with immense production efforts.  Before going any further it must be acknowledged that it is very violent.  It uses historical events, but has wrapped them in fiction. 

It starts with the end of the Kandahar kidnapping in 1999.  The Indian government agreed to free some terrorists and paid a large amount of money.  They felt humiliated, but two discussing officials  said they had no choice and rejected an idea for revenge as the moment was not right.

However, after the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament the same two officials decided to go ahead with an undercover revenge strategy.  We meet Hamza Ali Mazari who looks pretty scruffy and makes his way to Karachi through Afghanistan.  At first he just observes. 

Soon he learns of an impending gang assassination and positions himself  to save the son of gangster Rehman Dakeit who offers him a job with his gang.  They are affiliated with a politician, Jameel Jamli.  Hamza makes an impression with the Jameel's daughter, Yalina who is not turned off when he admits to being a gangster who has done a lot of despicable things.  She is not even discouraged when he revealed he was against her father, Jameel

Hamza is developing trust and his advice is accepted.  He is able to pass on information about an upcoming attack in Mumbai.  He suggests that Jameel should align with him and with his marriage to Yalina  Hamza has solidified his role.  All this has been accompanied by incredible violence and gore.  This film originally was going to be released with more material, but a decision was made to split into two parts and you will have to wait until March to find out more.  

To create the impression this film has, takes a lot of talent.  Here are some of the contributors.    

Aditya Dhar was director, writer and producer.  He is married to one of my favorite actresses, Yami Gautam who must have put up with a lot, while he was working on this film and she has been given an official THANKS in the closing credits.  He has 10 writing credits  2 for directing and 5 for producing, including "Aakrosh" (2010), "Tezz" (2012), "Uri:  The Surgical Strike" (2018), "Article 370" (2024) and "Dhoom Dhaam" (2025).  

Jyoti Despande was another producer.  She has often been put on lists for Today's Most Powerful Woman in Business.  She is the CEO at Viacom 18.  She has 53 credits as producer, including "OMG 2" (2023), "Dunki" (2023), "Article 370" (2024) and "Lapataa Ladies (2024).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/04/laapataa-ladies.html

Shashwat Sachdev composed the music.  Although born in India he started his film career in Hollywood before returning to India.  He has 18 composing credits, 8 for the music department and 1 for directing, including "Phillauri" (2017), Uri:  The Surgical Strike" (2018) and "Article 370" (2023).  

Vikash Nowlakha was the cinematographer.  He spent his youth in India, Thailand and Australia.  He received a degree in Eastern Philosophy from the University of Tasmania.  He has 17 cinematography credits, 9 for the camera and electrical department and 3 for directing, including "Black" (2005), "Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year" (2009), "The White Tiger" (2021) and "Lapataa Ladies" (2024).   See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/01/the-white-tiger.html

Shivkumar V. Panicker was the editor and a dialogue writer.  He has 19 editor credits and 3 for the editorial department, including "Kapoor & Sons" (2016),  "Budhia Singh:  Born to Run" (2016)"Uri:  The Surgical Strike" (2018), "Article 370" (2024) and "Dhoom Dhaam" (2025). 

Ranveer Singh played Hamza Ali Mazari, definitely not one of his comic roles.  He got a B.A. from Indiana University in America.  Ranveer worked as a copywriter for ad agencies.  He has 31 acting credits, 2 for the music department and 1 for producing including "Band Baaja Baaraat" (2010), "Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl" (2011), "Dil Dhadakne Do" (2015), "Bajirao Mastani" (2015) and "Gully Boy" (2019).  

 Akshaye Khanna played the gangster Rehman Dakeit.  He has 46 acting credits, including "Taal" (1999), "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001), "Gandhi, My Father" (2007), "Ittefaq" (2007), "Race" (2008), "Mom" (2017), "Drishyam 2" (2022) and "Chhavva" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/07/dil-chatha-hai-bollywood-classic.html      See also http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/drishyam-2-signifies-new-global-movie.html

 Sanjay Dutt played another gangster boss.  In reality he has spent time in jail and been called a terrorist but cleared in 2016.  He has had his own biopic done with the film "Sanju" (2018) in which he appeared in a cameo where he did a dance routine with Ranbir Kapoor who portrayed him in the film.  Sanjay has played many tough guys, but also comic roles .  He has 179 acting credits, 16 for the music department and 4 for producing, including "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S Bhai " (2003), "Parineeti" (2005),  "Lago Raho Munna Bhai" (2006), "Agneepath" (2012), "PK" (2014), "Tobaaz" (2020) and "Toolsidas Junior" (2022).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/pk.html

"Arjun Rampal" played Major Iqbal.  He was a model.  Arjun has 65 acting credits including "Don" (2006), "Aamir" (2008), "We Are Family" (2010), "Rock On" (2011), "Inkaar" (2013), "D-Day" (2013) and "Kahanni 2" (2016).

Madhavan plays Ajay Sanyal, an IB officer.  At age 18 his college entrusted him as cultural ambassador to Canada representing India.  He had won national public speaking awards and is fluent in English, Hindi and Tamil.  He has appeared in such other films as "Rang de Basanti" (2006), "Guru" (2007) and "3 Idiots" (2009) which were all exceptional movies.   Another film was the American, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" (2012).  In "Test" (2025)he played a cricket gambler.  My first awareness of him was with "Kannathil Mutthamthal" (A Peck on the Cheek) (2002), but I assumed it was a Bollywood film and much later learned it was a Tamil film, opening another door for me. See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/11/dhokha.html                       

Sara Arjun played Yalina.  She was involved in tv. commercials as young as 1 1/2 and became a child actress in Hindu, Tamil, Telegu and Malaylam films. Sara has 27 acting credits including "Sillu Karuppatti" (2019), "Ajeeb Daastaans" (2021), "Ponniyn Selvan:  Part 1" (2022), "Toolsidas Junior" (2022) and "Ponniyin Selvan Part 2" (2023).

Rakesh Bedi played Jameel Jamli.  He hosted a science program on tv.  He has 337 acting credits including "Yes Boss" (1997) and "Uri:  The Surgical Strike" (2018).

This is truly a violent movie with some historical interest and over 3 hours long.  If you can accept that, I recommend it.  Available on Netflix, subtitled and  dubbed.  

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally these are among my favorites.  If you follow the links you should be better able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.