Film: Daayra
Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kshitee Jog, Jitendra Joshi, Pragati Mishra, Upendra Chauhan, Trupti Khamkar and others
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Rating: 4 Moons
Storyline
‘Daayra’ revolves around a horrific crime and its aftermath, bringing two senior police officers, DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran), to opposite sides of the same case. While one believes in following the law and trusting the system, the other believes that sometimes justice cannot wait for the system to take its course. What follows is not a simple good-versus-bad story but a thought-provoking debate about justice, jurisdiction and where the line between the two should be drawn. The film keeps asking one uncomfortable question: when you believe you are doing the right thing, does that automatically make it right?
Acting
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran are the heart of ‘Daayra’, and this is very much their film. Kareena proves yet again that there is much more to her than her superstar image. As Ajooni, she is controlled, firm and deeply convincing, carrying several of the film’s strongest moments without overplaying them. Prithviraj is equally impressive as Raman, bringing intensity and conviction to a character whose choices are difficult to completely agree with or dismiss. Their contrasting approaches give the film its biggest strength, and both actors make sure neither side feels entirely black or white.
Direction
Meghna Gulzar has once again picked a sensitive and powerful subject and handled it with maturity. What works best is that she does not spoon-feed the audience or tell them which side to support. ‘Daayra’ gives space to both perspectives and lets the conflict play out naturally. Meghna has previously explored complicated questions of truth and justice in ‘Talvar’, and here she takes that conversation further by questioning the very idea of how justice should be delivered. The film stays measured even when the subject becomes disturbing, which makes its impact stronger.
Dialogues
The dialogues are one of the film’s strongest elements because they serve the argument at the heart of the story rather than simply creating dramatic moments. The conversations between Ajooni and Raman particularly stand out, as both characters have their own reasoning and conviction. The writing makes you listen to both sides, even when you may not agree with either completely.
Music
The music is used sparingly and never feels like an unnecessary interruption in the narrative. The film’s background score does more of the heavy lifting, building tension and keeping the investigative portions engaging. The use of music towards the end also adds to the emotional impact without taking away from the story.
Overall
‘Daayra’ is a thought-provoking film that makes you question the system, justice and the choices we make as a country. If you enjoy films that make you think beyond the obvious, this one deserves a watch.
