The movie “Dhurandhar” (2025) is a high-profile and multi-layered spy-thriller that explores the dark side of cross-border terrorism, political intrigue, and undercover operations in Karachi. The movie has eight captivating parts that unfold the story uncovering one more layer of mystery, deceit and dominance. It is essentially a clandestine operation of Ajay Sanyal, Operation Dhurandhar, to eliminate the underworld and terrorist networks of Pakistan on its territory. It is based on conflict in the actual world, fuses the political drama with unrefined action, and provides a multifaceted account of spies in extreme danger, to avoid devastating violence.
The movie is also strong because of its well-developed characters and more so Hamza who is a spy who ventures into the underbelly of the dangerous gangs of Pakistan disguised as a local gangster. The way he manages to establish himself as a trusted confidant of Rehman Dakait, after being a wary outsider is an appealing story, full of moments of deceitfulness and betrayal. Cinematography has gritty streets and underworld feel of Karachi with gritty realism, whereas screen play is glued into single and suspenseful story with the help of several plot lines; gang wars, political alliances, etc. The fragmented narrative makes the audience stick to the story, alternating between the shots of blasting action and the moments of internal struggle.
The most striking was how the film depicted the tremendous personal cost, which the agents in the middle of the violence and lies underwent. Dhurandhar is not the spy movie, but a reflection on the price of peace and the gray areas between right and wrong. Its description of political corruption, religious conflicts, and shadowy warfare is haunting and it reminds me that there are times when the biggest battles occur in the background. In the end, the movie is a compelling and thought provoking experience of the darker side of South Asian geopolitical dynamics.
