With the rise in crimes against women, Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra sets out to raise difficult questions about justice, morality, and law, stitched into a gripping narrative. The film, inspired by real events, draws parallels to cases like the 2019 Hyderabad brutal gang rape and murder case and leaves you with the discomforting truth.
Storyline
The story follows a brutal gang rape of a 25-year-old Ragini (Pragati Mishra), after which DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran), under public pressure, serves instant justice by killing the suspect in a controversial encounter shooting. In contrast, DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan) is appointed to investigate the encounter’s legitimacy. The narrative then unfolds into a cop-vs-cop ideological battle. The film’s conclusion is deeply disturbing and exactly the impact it aims to leave, giving the audience a reality check.
Direction
Meghna Gulzar, celebrated for her realistic and socially relevant storytelling, raises the bar yet again. She captures the true emotions of the victim’s family, the public outrage, the pursuit of justice, and the grey areas of morality and the system.
Co-writing the screenplay, the director keeps you flipping through whose side you should be on, and that’s what the film wants. What really shakes is the fact that neither justice nor revenge can undo what the victim of sexual assault goes through, and that’s unsettling.
Despite the film’s gripping narrative, the second half feels stretched, which slightly dampens the pacing. While the editing was crisp, the cop-vs-cop factor could have been stronger.
Composed by Amit Trivedi and with lyrics by Meghna’s father, the legendary lyricist Gulzar, the song ‘Sach Ka Daayra’ blends with the film’s atmosphere.
Performances
While Prithviraj Sukumaran commands attention, Kareena Kapoor Khan stole the show in Daayra.
Prithviraj as DCP Raman Kumar was excellent. He portrayed the character with sincerity; his clear sense of justice makes the audience wonder.
Kareena, as DCP Ajooni, shines. The genuineness and restraint of an officer investigating the truth behind the encounter power the narrative. It stands out as one of her finest performances to date.
Kshitee Jog as the victim’s mother is impactful. Her raw performance conveys gut-wrenching pain and adds an atmospheric chill without excessive dialogue.
Trupti Khamkar, Jitendra Joshi, Kanwaljit Singh, and Achint Kaur contributed well to the storyline as supporting cast.
Though Daayra is emotionally heavy and makes you wonder with unanswered questions, it is a must-watch as it truly represents the truth of crimes against women.