Junglee Pictures and PEN Studios’ Daayra (A) is the story of a rape-and-murder investigation. Two DCPs, Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan), have different styles of working. While one believes in working within the constraints of law, the other believes in achieving results, even if that means achieving them by breaking the law. One DCP successfully leads the rape-murder investigation, arrests the four culprits and kills them in self-defence before their trial can even start. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the other DCP, is formed to probe the modus operandi of the DCP who investigated the rape-murder case. What happens thereafter? Do the two DCPs come on the same page?
Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar have written an engaging story about two honest and sincere DCPs whose styles of working are very different. Their screenplay is not linear so that the manner in which the probe by one DCP was conducted, and the investigation by the other DCP into the style of functioning of the first DCP unfold almost concurrently on the screen. The first half completely draws the audience into the drama right from the word ‘go’. It moves at a fast pace and keeps the viewers thoroughly engaged with not a moment to think. The ways in which both the DCPs conduct their enquiries are so interesting that the audience actually start enjoying the unfolding drama. The planning of the rape by the four culprits is so sinister that it sends chills down the spines of the viewers. The actual rape shakes the core of the viewers. However, the climax is not very gratifying and makes the viewing experience more class-appealing than mass-appealing. Frankly, the audience expect an ending in which one DCP wins over the other, but the climax does not give them the satisfaction which they expect. Why the audience don’t experience that gratification is not being revealed here but suffice it to say that the ending will not at all be liked by the masses, at least. Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar’s dialogues are wonderful.
Prithviraj Sukumaran shines in the role of DCP Raman Kumar. He performs brilliantly and looks very handsome. Kareena Kapoor Khan delivers a supremely mature performance as DCP Ajooni Kohli. She looks beautiful and acts with aplomb. Jitendra Joshi lends decent support as inspector Karad. Kshitee Jog is remarkable as Parvati Pujari, mother of the rape victim. Pragati Mishra is terrific as rape victim Ragini Pujari. Bhavesh Babbani lends perfect support as Kabir Pujari, brother of the rape victim. Brij Bhushan Shukla is outstanding as inspector Bala. Ram Diwakar (as rapist Raju), Ashutosh Kumar Gupta (as rapist Bablu), Aditya Kumar (as rapist Mastan) and Abdul Mani (as rapist Mani) make their marks. Anuja Sathe makes her presence felt in a brief role as DCP Raman Kumar’s wife. Biswapati Sarkar (as Commissioner Anand), Sandesh Kulkarni (as head constable Vasu), Trupti Khamkar (as senior inspector Jyoti), Upendra Chavan (as inspector Vishal), Ujjwal Chopra (as Joint Commissioner Abhinav Rao), Ajit Singh (as inspector Shekhar), Saksham Dayma (as inspector Ibrahim), Ipshita Singh (as inspector Aarti) and Manoj Sharma (as constable Prasad) provide excellent support. Kanwaljit Singh (in special appearance as Ajooni Kohli’s father), Achint Kaur (in special appearance as Gomti Thakur), Seema Azmi (as SP Indra Pandey) and the others make their marks.
Meghna Gulzar’s direction is superb. Her handling of the subject is deft. However, the climax is unsatisfactory. Amit Trivedi’s music is good, given that the scope for songs in the film is minimal. Gulzar’s lyrics are weighty. Ketan Sodha’s background music is phenomenal. Saurabh Goswami’s cinematography is excellent. Parvez Shaikh’s action and stunt scenes afford thrill, excitement and the necessary repulsiveness, where required. Production designing (by Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray) is of a fine standard. Charushree Roy and Meghna Gulzar’s editing is very sharp.
On the whole, Daayra is a loss-making enterprise. It is a well-made film but one with more class appeal than universal appeal. It will win more critical acclaim than box-office rewards. It will do well in very few big cities on the strength of class audience. But that just won’t be enough to even cover its cost!
Released on 18-9-’26 at Inox (daily 4 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: quite good. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark at many places.
