Prashant Narayanan gave a thoughtful assessment of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, describing it as a good film, though one which didn’t quite live up to all it could have been – and he questioned the film’s emotional power and how well the story worked.
Work admired, effect doubted
Narayanan said Dhurandhar was put together with care and was strong in a technical sense. He allowed that the movie was good in its use of shots and the way the story was told; filmmakers had obviously put money into how it looked and how large in scope it was. Even so, he thought the film passed up chances to make a more lasting impression. He believed the starting idea could have been more forceful in its feelings and themes, and the finished film didn’t explore some of the possible reactions it could have stirred up. Referring to his own history, Narayanan brought up his first film, Chhal, noting that it shared the same basic idea of getting inside and fooling people. This made him feel Dhurandhar should have developed its main idea more fully, to give a more satisfying result.
Ranveer Singh’s skill and willingness to take chances noted
Narayanan gave Ranveer Singh credit as a really daring actor, one who would take on all kinds of roles in all kinds of films. He recognised Ranveer’s history of taking risks, from funny parts to serious, music-filled dramas, and he was glad to see Ranveer’s readiness to change who he was as an actor. However, Narayanan also said Dhurandhar needed a more quiet, less obvious style for its character who goes undercover. He said Ranveer’s presence on screen is pulling and strong, and that sometimes went against the subtlety the role needed. The criticism wasn’t about skill, but about suitability. Narayanan stressed that blending in is vital when a character must work in secret, and an actor who naturally gets people’s attention can ruin that idea if the way they look and act draws attention to them.
Supporting actors who stood out more
Narayanan marked out a number of supporting actors as surprisingly good. He specifically mentioned actors who brought truth to small parts, saying those choices often got his eye more than the bigger, more obvious roles. He praised performances which showed detail without showiness, like a short scene with a character eating an apple, and picked out a few actors who really made their scenes their own, and who helped make the film good. For him, these things showed the film was good at choosing actors and at how scenes were done. This thought shows a common truth about cinema: small details and controlled acting can sometimes give a film its most real emotional feeling – even when the main actors get most of the publicity.
Clearing up earlier statements and discussing duty
When asked if his earlier comments about other well-known films had caused any trouble, Narayanan said there had been no angry reaction. He made clear that his criticisms are never personal attacks, and that he has respect for other actors and their work. He also stressed the idea of being an influence, saying public people have a duty. His point was that actors with large followings should think about how their words shape what the public thinks, especially when what they say goes past just judging the art. Narayanan ended by again saying he respected Ranveer, calling him one of the most daring actors there is, while still being willing to talk openly about how well a film is made and what effect it has.
Ranveer’s next work and his career path
Although Dhurandhar gets different reactions, Ranveer Singh is already on to another ambitious project, a zombie thriller set during a pandemic, called Pralay. What has been reported shows a large production, with a lot of money put into it, a great deal of planning for the visual effects, and filming in Mumbai. Pralay brings Ranveer and Kalyani Priyadarshan together and is directed by Jai Mehta. The film is also important as the actor’s first project under his own production company, showing he is taking a more active part in how the story is developed and in choices about making the film. The size and importance of Pralay shows Ranveer wants to make his range as an actor and his success in cinema wider. Whatever critics and the public think of the choices in Dhurandhar, the actor goes on looking for projects which go against what is normal and aim for cinema with a big effect.
