‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ movie review: A loud, violent spectacle that forgets to breathe The sequel to Dhurandhar attempts to outdo its predecessor in intensity and spectacle, but at the cost of narrative depth. Ranveer Singh’s performance as undercover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi, now embedded as Hamza Ali Mazari in Karachi’s Lyari underworld, anchors the film despite its sprawling, often exhausting plot. The story picks up immediately after the first film’s climax, with Hamza rising to power following the death of gang leader Rehman Dakait. Fuelled by personal tragedy and radicalisation, he navigates a web of gang wars, shifting alliances, and threats from corrupt officials and ISI operatives. The film’s premise revolves around Hamza’s mission to dismantle terror networks, but the narrative becomes increasingly entangled in a brutal personal vendetta, blurring the line between duty and vengeance. Aditya Dhar’s direction leans heavily on visceral violence and grandiose visuals, creating a world that feels more like an extended web series than a cohesive theatrical film. The runtime of 229 minutes is dominated by indulgent action sequences that prioritize spectacle over substance, leaving little room for emotional nuance. While Ranveer Singh delivers a compelling performance, shifting seamlessly between vulnerability, cold calculation, and unhinged ferocity, the film’s reliance on gratuitous violence risks desensitizing the audience to its own brutality. The soundtrack, which includes repurposed songs like Boney M’s Rasputin and Bappi Lahiri’s Tamma Tamma, adds an anachronistic flair but feels more like a nostalgic throwback than a creative choice. The film’s political undertones are unmistakable, with its portrayal of counter-terror operations and nationalistic fervor aligning closely with government narratives.#aditya_dhar #ranveer_singh #karachi #lyari_underworld #is_i
