I Am King Films International’s Dhaaak (UA) is the story of a fearless man, Surya (Mohd. Saleem Mullanavar), and how he takes on the evil men. Surya falls in love with Rani (Sheena Shahabadi), but Rani’s family is against the liaison.
Anees Barudwale has written a story which does not even pretend to be novel. The story treads the beaten path so that nothing in it engages the viewers. His screenplay is so predictable that it’s a wonder, someone actually invested money in this drama. The proceedings are so hackneyed that the audience actually feels disconnected from the drama as such dramas have been seen in umpteen earlier films. If the romance lacks sensitivity, the action is weak. Emotions are conspicuous by their absence. Nisar Akhtar’s dialogues are not one bit effective.
Mohd. Saleem Mullanavar (as Surya) is no hero material. Although he tries to perform with all the conviction at his command, the fact that he doesn’t look like a hero and also the weak script dilute the impact. Sheena Shahabadi fails to impress as Rani. Pradeep Rawat is ordinary ar Prem Kumar. Avinash Wadhawan is too subdued to create any impact. Ruslaan Mumtaz lends ordinary support. Vaishnavi Macdonald is so-so. Hemant Choudhary passes muster. Liyakat Nasir is average. Rajendra Shisatkar is okay. Others barely pass muster.
Anees Barudwale’s direction is below the mark. Music (Vardhan Singh, Meet Handa and Shahjahan Shaikh (Sagar)) is dull. Lyrics (by Sahil Sultanpuri, Rishi Azaad and Ahmed Husain Siddiqui) are nothing to shout about. Song picturisations (by Lollypop Pradhan and Imran Malgunkar) are dull. Vardhan Singh’s background music is functional. Mukesh Sharma’s camerawork is hardly worth talking about. Action and stunt scenes (choreographed by Javed Shaikh) lack thrill. Sunil Singh’s art direction is barely passable. Shadab Memon and Irfan Ishak’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Dhaaak is a poor show all the way, and it will flop at the ticket windows.
Released on 20-9-’24 at Glamour (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru August Entertainment. Publicity & opening: very poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was pathetic everywhere.