It’s a blockbuster, at the movies and at home

“Everyone else has watched it. Except us,” Kamala declared angrily. I thought she was talking about Trump’s confusing press conferences. But the missus was having mid-life FOMO about something more predictable: Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge.

All the word-of-mouth publicity is propelling the movie to delirious box-office heights. Akshaye Khanna’s swag entry in the first installment to a Flipperachi song, has been rapidly replaced by new villains and music. Rakesh Bedi, who was last seen by the Boomers in 1981 with Chashme Buddoor, and who more recently made a spectacle of himself in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, now has a kamaal come-back as Jamaal-i for Gen Alpha. Bachcha hai tu mera – every star parent in Bollywood is now claiming his iconic line, to promote their nepo kid, while brands are jumping onto the bandwagon, to sell random products from popcorn to propaganda.

I informed Kamala that the movie lasts almost 4 hours. She replied, “You have to wait in a longer queue for a cylinder, than be seated watching Dhurandhar!” I surrendered to her impeccable logic, and booked the tickets online, paying premium rates – unlike those MLAs in Karnataka who wanted free tickets to IPL matches. After all, VIPs never need to stand in a queue with the common man – whether it be for matches, movies, or even to collect money from an ATM. Cylinders reach them with ease – whether oxygen or LPG – because the fact is that they are entitled to special privileges. 

But nobody can separate facts from fiction anymore. Certainly not in a film that begins with a long disclaimer that it is a work of fiction – but is based on true events. Leaving the field wide open for interpretation, plus for peak detailing by the director. Some unnecessary details were added by AI too, to posters, proving that “Smoking is Injurious to Health” and Harmony. Just as Hamza Ali Mazari can morph seamlessly into a Jaskirat Singh Rangi, patriotism can subtly be substituted with jingoism, while a delirious audience dances in the aisles. As for the young lady in both part 1 and part 2, she serves to underline the fact that Sara Jahan se Achcha. And finally, Kamala also got her revenge – I might claim to be Bade Sahab in public, but she is the Domestic Dhurandhar, who frowns if I even talk to the neighbours!

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