Kashyap Defends 'Dhurandhar': Calls Film Courageous, Not Propaganda

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently commented on the success of the mainstream film Dhurandhar, offering both commendation and critique. Speaking at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival, Kashyap described Dhurandhar as a "courageous" example within contemporary cinema, highlighting its distinctive approach and narrative risks. Kashyap appreciated the film overall, but specifically identified three scenes as unnecessary.

These scenes, including a political monologue and a dialogue stating "This is the new India," were deemed superfluous by Kashyap, who felt the film's impact would remain undiminished without them. He also directly addressed and dismissed criticisms that labeled Dhurandhar as "propaganda" or "promotion," asserting that he does not believe the film serves as a vehicle for ideological messaging or marketing.

Kashyap drew a parallel to Hollywood's Marvel films, noting their propagation of American supremacy without similar criticism. His statements suggest that mainstream Indian films can be artistically commendable without necessarily aligning with every critical or viewer's ideological standpoint. Meanwhile, Kashyap's own directorial projects, including the two-part film Nishaanchi and the delayed Kennedy, are also progressing.