There are no spoilers in this post. It is not a review. The previous part of the movie already revealed that Jaskirat was recruited by Sanyal. So there’s some reference to the scene where he was recruited.
Propaganda
Everyone engages with a piece of art in the context of their own lives, political leanings and aesthetic preferences. However, one must not assume that they operate in a vacuum and react to the piece of art within just one or two paradigms.
For some, one of these factors might play a larger role, but it is not in the absence of the rest. Anything can be weaponised. Art can be weaponised to promote politics, or politics can be weaponised to condemn art.
A more preachy and paternalistic elite might outrightly brand Dhurandhar: The Revenge and its prequel as propaganda movies. And the public which can’t been seen as a homogenous block might also be politically influenced by it. But that will not be the sole result of these two movies.
One can take a step back and think of Haider. If it was a true masterpiece and a propaganda movie (as political opponents of the movie maker might say), the public reaction to Article 370 should have shifted drastically.
But that has not been the case. Politics if any in great art either reinforces existing beliefs or gets ignored most often. Someone who liked Haider as a movie might still believe that Article 370 should go.
So, everything one doesn’t like from a political POV can’t be labelled as propaganda. Alternatively, every piece of communication is some form of propaganda.
Whatever be the case, the movie goer votes with his/her wallet and has their logic to watch or not watch a movie. In case of both Dhurandhar movies, the audience have voted with their wallets.
Flip Flop
I must say I was carried away by “propaganda” of the review industry. I had decided not to watch the movie as people said it had too much of PM and it just a justification for demonetisation.
I read the whole plot on Wikipedia and satisfied my curiosity. In addition, I thought I can’t survive in a theatre for four hours and felt spending more than five hundred rupees for a movie was just absurd.
But, for better or worse some of the clips related to the movie appeared on my Instagram feed and I got curious. I was obsessed with the scene where Sanyal recites the Shabad after Jaskirat says he’s a defeated man with nothing left to give.
Soora so pechaniye, jo lade deen ke het
Purja purja kat mare, kabhoo na chadde khet
Translation:
Recognize the one as truly brave who fights for for righteousness
Even if cut apart limb by limb, they do not abandon the field.
The scene can be interpreted as an Olympic level manipulative overture to a man who’s completely lost faith in the system. But still, he is expected to use his abilities to serve the same system. Sanyal finds a hook in his faith and quotes lines from the same faith.
The but the deal closing line is delivered by his assistant Bansal. The man is told that you’re gonna die anyway.
Why don’t you die in style?
And somehow this makes sense to Jaskirat whose initial ambition was to serve in the Army anyway.
Even if we think that everything has ended there is always a thread in the story that can deployed to reinvent a man (or woman). The thought eventually made me want to watch the movie as soon as possible. Preferably the next day itself.
I searched online for tickets only to realise that most of the good seats in all theatres had already been filled (in spite of my single seat requirement).
It seems I was destined to watch the movie. Someone on my Instagram feed had an extra ticket (and very good ones). I grabbed the opportunity.
The Movie Experience
When I told my friend that I had already read the plot on Wikipedia and seen spoilers on Instagram before walking into the theatre, I was asked — why, what’s the point? I just wanted to fill in the gaps and know the entire story.
To my surprise, I was stunned to know that I did not feel the passage of four hours in the theatre. And nothing changed the movie experience apart from the shock/surprise factor. I was able to focus on the narrative flow and aesthetic aspects of the story.
It gave me the space to absorb the music and appreciate the emotional layers of each character. The time I spent in the theatre helped me realise why I am drawn to Jaskirat.
Some might claim that the music was better in part one. I vaguely agree. But the music in the second part had more depth. However, it lands well only when the story is strong. Music is an accessory to the overall movie, unless it is a musical.
However, the music seems to have evolved in a certain direction. It sounds more like a DJ mix of old songs and some rap music. But the songs picked have appropriate lyrics and catalyse the mood and visuals shown to the audience. Beyond this I really don’t have any thoughts about the story, plot or politics of the movie.
People might not like the gore and violence. But one can’t deny that this violence exists in the real world. They might be triggered by Dhurandhar’s politics or any other issue from their own experience. So, any opinion they might express will be totally valid in their own universe.
No Redemption
But the whole idea of Jaskirat redeeming himself via revenge seems to be a failure. Because one can never undo the damage that was done to him or his family. The wound remains and festers.
One can only distract oneself from deep wounds under the guise of bravery, righteousness or something else that can perk up your tits. These “values” it seems are like drugs that modulate the pain of an addict. There is no way to heal the wounds.
There might be no viable path to “redemption” via revenge. It’s a problem that needs to be solved some other way. And not many of us will know how exactly.