Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap praises Dhurandhar as a “courageous mainstream film” and argues that calling movies propaganda can be misguided, while also flagging some political dialogues he found unnecessary.
Veteran filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has offered a nuanced defence of the Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar, describing it as a “courageous mainstream film” while also addressing criticism that the movie is “propaganda”. Kashyap spoke at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival in a session titled Fearless Film Making, where he weighed in on cinema, politics and how films are perceived.
Kashyap says he liked Dhurandhar, but did not agree with its politics
Kashyap made it clear that he enjoyed Dhurandhar, praising its scale and mainstream appeal. However, he also acknowledged that certain ideological elements and political dialogues did not fully align with his views. He said, “This is a good example of a courageous mainstream film. I liked the film, but
I didn’t like some of the ideologies. The dialogue about ‘This is the new India’ and one long political monologue, among a total of three scenes, were unnecessary; even without them, the film’s impact would not have diminished.”
Dhurandhar propaganda debate and film criticism
Addressing accusations that
_Dhurandhar_ functions as propaganda, Kashyap dismissed such labels as a form of propaganda in themselves. Drawing comparisons with major Hollywood franchises, he argued that films often carry cultural or ideological weight, but branding them as propaganda shuts down open discussion. “Calling films propaganda or promotion is itself a form of propaganda,” he said, adding that audiences and critics should consider broader contexts before assigning such labels.
During the festival discussion, Kashyap also reflected on the current cinematic landscape in India, noting that films with strong political themes might be harder to make today than in the past. He urged filmmakers to continue exploring bold narratives while recognising that diverse viewpoints will always generate debate.
Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy to release soon
Meanwhile, Kashyap’s film
_Kennedy_ is all set to release on ZEE5 three years after its Cannes film festival debut. The film features Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone in the lead.
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