Dhurandhar: Dhruv Rathee's comparison of Aditya Dhar to Nazi filmmaker explodes social media, 'truth teller or hypocrite?'

Dhruv Rathee slammed Dhurandhar as "dangerous propaganda," sparking debate over its blurred facts and violence. The film nears ₹1000 cr despite heavy online backlash and polarised reactions.

Dhruv Rathe; Ranveer Singh in a still from Dhurandhar

Reality of Dhurandhar Film is the name of a 29-minute video in which political journalist and renowned YouTuber Dhruv Rathee continues his vicious criticism of Dhurandhar Aditya Dhar's most recent spy thriller. He has called the Ranveer Singh film "jhootha and vahiyat propaganda" (false and ludicrous propaganda), which has sparked a huge online discussion about the morality of combining historical fact with fictional elements, as the film continues to set records, reaching ₹800 crore worldwide.

Danger of 'well-made' propaganda

Dhurandhar is unique among contentious films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Files according to Rathee's main premise. He stated that the film is particularly dangerous because it is a "good" film, unlike others that were ineffective due to their low quality.

"Well-made propaganda is more dangerous. Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Films were not dangerous, kyunki woh bakwaas films thi (because they were bad films). But Dhurandhar is an engaging film," Rathee stated. He drew parallels to Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, noting that her technical brilliance was inseparable from her role in glorifying Hitler’s ideology. "Aditya Dhar is not an idiot; he is a 'Dhurandhar' (expert) in creating a 'Bhavandar' (whirlwind) of propaganda," he remarked.

ALSO READ: Dhurandhar review: Transformational Ranveer Singh and show-stealing Akshaye Khanna drive Aditya Dhar's gripping, unflinching spy saga

Blurring lines between fact and fiction

The film's reliance on actual events like the 2001 Parliament attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to ground its fictional story was a major point of criticism. Rathee pointed out that the inclusion of real news videos featuring genuine Pakistani gangsters such as Rahman Dakait serves to deceive the audience.

"Now the question is, what is fact and what is fiction? The audience cannot tell. And viewers who are immersed in the film do not even question it. This is why it becomes gospel truth for them," Rathee argued. He specifically called out the film’s depiction of Indian intelligence agencies hiring criminals, noting that the Indian government has consistently refuted such claims.

"Aditya Dhar became so engrossed in spreading his political propaganda that he showed exactly what Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of—that India sends secret agents for subversive activities," he added.

Glamourising terror

The YouTuber went on to criticise "cool" depictions of violent offenders. Rathee raised ethical concerns about the practice of making characters like Akshaye Khanna's Rahman Dakait, who is based on the real-life mobster, "viral" on social media.

He went on to say, "Rehman Daku was a brutal criminal involved in drugs, guns, extortion, kidnapping and murder. He even killed his mother. But the film presents him with cool swagger, stylish looks and viral dance moves. Is it appropriate to stylise such terrorists in this way?"

Questioning social responsibility of lead cast

He further criticised the film's "hyperviolence", comparing the audience's enjoyment of gore to a "sadistic delight" and calling the director's approach a "blood thirst" meant to capitalise on societal frustration.

Rathee did not spare the film's star-studded cast, including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan. He accused them of abandoning social responsibility for commercial gain.

"In our country, most actors back away from social responsibility. They see themselves only as 'bhade ke tattu' (hired ponies). A hired pony doesn’t care if you load a gun or bricks on it; its only job is to carry the load without using its brain," he said verbatim.

Social media backlash

A highly polarised online environment is on full display in Rathee's violent response to his video. An overwhelming number of Redditors and X users have called Rathee a "hypocrite" on various online forums.

One person on Reddit expressed their disapproval, writing, "This man is promoting Dhurandhar... Jao Ab dekho (Go watch it now)." Some said he was taking advantage of the film's enormous popularity by "rage-baiting" to get viewers. A frequent criticism was his previous support for Gangs of Wasseypur: "He had no problem with violence when Anurag Kashyap did it."

Support for Dhruv Rathee's analysis

Conversely, several viewers were in favour of his "discipline" explanation and offered supportive feedback. One user noted, "DR exposes the gaslighting with concrete examples and does it extremely well. The uncomfortable truth is that it is nearly impossible for the average Indian to recognise it."

Some viewers have justified the film's political agenda by saying it exposes the "harsh reality" of cross-border activities; others have accused Rathee of "catering to neighbouring countries".

Warning to Aditya Dhar

Even as Dhurandhar approaches the ₹1000 crore milestone, the controversy it has sparked remains unabated. Ending his video, Rathee warned the director, Dhar: "If you do not stop inserting false propaganda into your films, your legacy will be the same as Hitler's favourite filmmaker, Leni Riefenstahl."

Neither Aditya Dhar nor the makers of the film have commented formally on the video that has gone viral.

Dhurandhar FAQs:

Q: Why did Dhruv Rathee compare Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar to Leni Riefenstahl?

A: Dhruv Rathee drew a parallel between director Aditya Dhar and Nazi-era filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl to emphasise that artistic brilliance does not excuse the promotion of harmful ideologies.

Q: Is the film Dhurandhar based on a true story?

A: While Dhurandhar includes a disclaimer stating it is a work of fiction "inspired by real events," it heavily incorporates real-life elements.

Q: What was Dhruv Rathee’s comment on Ranveer Singh and Dhurandhar cast?

A: Dhruv Rathee accused the Dhurandhar's star-studded cast, including Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan, of prioritising commercial gain over social responsibility.

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