'Dhadak 2' Hailed as Socially Conscious Mainstream Bollywood Film

In a recent development, acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has praised the Bollywood film 'Dhadak 2' for reviving the tradition of socially conscious mainstream cinema. The film, which hit theaters last month, is a remake of the critically-acclaimed Tamil film 'Pariyerum Perumal' and explores the societal hurdles faced by a Dalit law student, Nilesh, and his romantic entanglement with Vidhi, a classmate from an upper-caste family.

Kashyap, known for his gritty and socially relevant films, has drawn comparisons between 'Dhadak 2' and the classic works of directors like Raj Kapoor and Bimal Roy. He commended the film's director, Shazia Iqbal, for creating a narrative that reflects "what mainstream cinema was meant to be," addressing deep-seated social issues that are often relegated to independent art house productions.

The filmmaker emphasized that such socially conscious storytelling has been neglected in recent years, with South Indian cinema continuing to carry the torch. He praised 'Dhadak 2' as an "extremely brave and powerful film" that "holds a mirror to us of what India really is," resonating even with his own driver, who "wept at the end of it."

As 'Dhadak 2' continues to run in cinemas, it has drawn attention not only for its compelling narrative but also for its potential to reignite the conversation around the purpose and potential of mainstream cinema in addressing significant social issues.