by: Siyona Singhal
Humor Editor
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Dhurandhar the Revenge has become the highest-grossing Indian film in North America, surpassing Baahubali 2. Within just 11 days of its release on Mar. 19, the movie crossed 147.8 million dollars in box office sales. The epic sequel has changed the game for Bollywood movies and captured the hearts of Indian viewers.
Dhurandhar The Revenge follows Jaskirat Singh, a former death row convict turned into an Indian spy in Pakistan. In the first film, we saw Jaskirat take on the fake identity, Hamza Ali Mazari, and infiltrate a Pakistani gang. As Hamza climbed the political ladder, he became more and more obsessed with getting justice for India. Throughout Dhurandar The Revenge, Hamza solidifies his position in Pakistan and focuses his efforts on killing terrorists who caused major Indian deaths.
My personal favorite scene in the movie was the opening sequence. We get to observe Jaskirat’s origin story, the reason he ended up on death row. The music, visuals, and action combined to make the whole scene intense and powerful. Also, Jaskirat looked so tough in the firecracker shot; I screamed when I saw it in the theater. It was eye-opening to learn more about Jaskirat’s background. The sequence adds emotional depth by showing Jaskirat’s complicated relationship with India. Even though his family was wronged by the Indian government, he was the one chosen to risk his life and fight for the country; an ironic twist of events. We learn more about Jaskirat’s family; we see that his mother and two sisters are still alive and grieving his arrest. Most importantly, we get to watch Jaskirat’s friendship with Pinda, a bond that comes to haunt him in the end when Pinda recognizes Jaskirat in Pakistan and drops the movie’s hardest line: “You don’t miss home, Jassi?”
In addition, the film has amazing cinematography and storylining. I was not ready for the plot twist at the end when it is revealed that Jameel Jamali was an Indian spy the whole time. The whole theater went crazy when it was him in that car. The music in the movie played a larger role than just adding background noise. The iconic remixes dictate whether viewers
should feel relaxed, tense, or hype. I need Aditya Dhar to release his playlist ASAP.
Overall, Dhurandhar The Revenge delivers exactly what fans expect: explosive action, dramatic storytelling, and a larger-than-life hero. It is an important moment for Indian film and sends an important message about Indian culture and history. The film proves that Bollywood action movies can compete internationally while still maintaining their emotional and cultural identity.