Ram Gopal Varma Praises ‘Dhurandhar’ for Grounded Realism, Critiques Style-Over-Substance Filmmaking
Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has once again turned the spotlight on Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, championing the film for its commitment to authentic character development. In a thought-provoking analysis shared on X, Varma argued that the film succeeds by presenting characters who feel like “living, breathing” individuals rather than the exaggerated archetypes often found in contemporary big-budget cinema.
A Masterclass in Character-Driven Storytelling
Varma highlighted that the core strength of Dhurandhar lies in its ability to build a world where supporting characters possess an existence independent of the protagonist. He praised the film for shunning the “walking poster” trope, where the hero is constantly glorified at the expense of the narrative.
“What every filmmaker should understand from #dhurandhar is that it is full of living, breathing characters who seem as real as you and me… He (the hero) can wait tables, listen instead of speaking, miscalculate, get dirty, get smaller in front of smaller characters,” Varma wrote. He compared this narrative philosophy to his own iconic 1998 crime drama, Satya, noting that even in his own work, characters like Bhiku Mhatre were defined by their humanity rather than mere screen presence.
The Problem with “Manufactured Intensity”
Without naming specific titles, Varma offered a scathing critique of modern films that lean heavily into visual aesthetics, such as fog-drenched slow-motion shots and aggressive editing, to simulate a sense of scale. He argued that when filmmakers focus on “swagger” rather than substance, the audience is left with “fake intensity” that lacks a foundation in the script.
“The camera does not observe; it advertises,” Varma noted. He contrasted this with his view of Dhurandhar, where he believes the director trusts the audience enough to prioritize immersion over artificial elevation. He further invoked James Cameron’s Titanic as a benchmark, suggesting that large budgets should be utilized to enhance realism rather than mask a lack of character depth.
Contextual Violence vs. Spectacle
A significant portion of Varma’s critique focused on the portrayal of violence. He lauded Dhurandhar for ensuring that violent acts carry emotional and narrative consequences, arguing, “In the other films, violence is just a spectacle minus context.” He maintained that in Dhurandhar, the pain felt by the characters is palpable, whereas in many other high-octane productions, violence serves only as a tool for style.
The Ongoing Debate
This latest commentary follows a series of posts from the filmmaker that have sparked intense debate across social media. Many industry observers suspect these remarks are an indirect critique of the Yash-starrer Toxic, as Varma has repeatedly praised Dhurandhar in close proximity to the release and discussion of other major cinematic spectacles.
While Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups continues its strong performance at the box office, nearing the Rs 300 crore mark, Varma’s critique has reignited a broader conversation about whether modern Indian cinema is losing its soul to the allure of style over substance. Whether or not his comments are aimed at specific projects, his call for “cinema that cuts into the flesh” serves as a stark reminder of the power of grounded, human-centric storytelling.
