Saagar Kote
Directed by Aditya Dhar, ‘Dhurandhar’ is the tale of Hamza Ali Mazari (Ranveer Singh), a strange man who enters the town of Lyari in Karachi, Pakistan. He crosses paths with a dangerous gangster named Rehman Dakait (Akshaye Khanna), who wields significant influence in the region. While Hamza tries to forge his own path in the underworld, his destiny is also linked to events being monitored by Indian intelligence chief Ajay Sanyal (R. Madhavan), who wishes to infiltrate the very core of terrorism in Pakistan.
In the Indian Hindi language movie, the involvement of ISI officer Major Iqbal (Arjun Rampal) and the dreaded cop Choudhary Aslam (Sanjay Dutt) makes Hamza’s journey more difficult. Hamza strives to complete a mission that may have larger geopolitical consequences and involves the interconnected lives of powerful players in a deceptive strategic game. Similar to ‘Dhurandhar,’ these movies reflect the themes and visual tone of the political spy thriller film, which will surely keep you hooked.
8. Body of Lies (2008)
‘Body of Lies,’ a thriller film directed by Ridley Scott and based on David Ignatius’ eponymous novel, centers on CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio). Operating in Amman, he collaborates with Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), the head of Jordanian security, to track down a mysterious religious figure who may have been responsible for planning deadly attacks against Europe and posing a significant threat to US strategic positions in the region.
While Hani has his own morals and style, Roger and his superior, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), secretly develop a plan to capture the cleric after Hani rejects Ed’s proposed strategy. With the mission growing dangerous by the second, the complexities of alliances come to the fore, and the line between friend and foe disappears. The difficult journey of secrecy and combat undertaken by Roger in the film reflects the equally dangerous path taken by Hamza in ‘Dhurandhar.’
7. The Kingdom (2007)
‘The Kingdom,’ helmed by Peter Berg, follows the actions of the FBI’s special agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx), who convinces the Saudi Arabian consul to let him and his team pursue an investigation in the foreign country. He takes his team of fellow agents, including Grant Sykes, Janet Mayes, and Adam Leavitt, to learn more about a recent terrorist strike on an American facility in Saudi Arabia. However, the main goal of the foreign mission is to identify and capture the individuals responsible for the violence against America. The elements of violence, danger, terrorism, and secret missions in foreign soil connect the action thriller film to ‘Dhurandhar’ and its complex world.
6. Vishwaroopam (2013)
‘Vishwaroopam’ or ‘Vishwaroop’ is the story of a dance teacher named Vishwanathan (Kamal Haasan) who lives a seemingly unassuming life in New York City. He faces a tumultuous marriage with his spouse, Nirupama (Pooja Kumar), a nuclear oncologist. Their lives become chaotic when sudden developments in other parts of the world threaten to affect them. As Nirupama attempts to uncover the truth about her husband’s identity, she discovers that his reality is far more complex than she had imagined. The Indian spy movie, directed by Kamal Haasan, tests the couple as they traverse various threats that could have larger geopolitical implications. The Tamil and Hindi language film, akin to ‘Dhurandhar,’ is a haunting depiction of dual identities, spycraft, and the lives of individuals in the shadow of international conflicts.
5. Baby (2015)
Directed by Neeraj Pandey, ‘Baby’ is a Hindi-language film that chronicles the struggles of a team of Indian intelligence officers, led by Ajay Singh Rajput (Akshay Kumar), as they undertake a perilous mission across various parts of the world. They must push their limits to counter the threat posed by the terrorist Maulana Mohammed Rahman (Rasheed Naz), a man who openly challenges India’s power and independence through inflammatory speeches and terrifying attacks. With the world against them, Ajay’s team, including Jai (Rana Daggubati) and others, must take extreme measures to ensure justice. The Indian action thriller film bears a resemblance to ‘Dhurandhar’ due to its portrayal of complex bilateral tensions, secret identities, and missions in a world of deception.
4. Sicario (2015)
‘Sicario’ delves into the life of an FBI agent named Kate Macer (Emily Blunt). She finds herself in a dangerous zone between the US and Mexico, where a world of brutal drug cartel operations reigns. When Kate joins a raid on a drug dealer’s facility, she is exposed to a reality far more violent than she could have imagined. Her involvement intensifies as she is sent across the border into Mexico with Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro).
As the members of the American team attempt to complete a dangerous mission on foreign soil without the traditional strategic advantages, they encounter twists and turns that endanger their lives. As the mystery deepens in the Denis Villeneuve directorial, Kate must do everything she can to achieve her objective. The crime thriller drama film, like ‘Dhurandhar,’ involves infiltration, gangs, bilateral relations, and discreet tasks that put the characters’ lives in danger.
3. Phantom (2015)
‘Phantom’, a Hindi-language movie, focuses on the ups and downs in the life of a disgraced Indian soldier named Daniyal Khan (Saif Ali Khan). He spends his life in an American prison, calculating his next moves. When he is assigned to capture and kill the individuals responsible for the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, he must team up with agent Nawaz Mistry (Katrina Kaif) to infiltrate Pakistani territory and ensure justice to the victims of terror. As he enters hostile regions, he encounters multiple webs of deception that may compromise his mission. Helmed by Kabir Khan and based on Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mumbai Avengers,’ it deals with bilateral relations. The intense threats and secrets faced by Daniyal in the Indian action thriller film reflect the challenges that Hamza encounters in ‘Dhurandhar.’
2. New World (2013)
‘New World’ or ‘Sinsegye’ is the tale of undercover cop Lee Ja-seong (Lee Jung-jae), who is tasked with a significantly risky and secret mission by his superior Kang (Choi Min-sik). The superior officer targets a dangerous criminal network called Goldmoon, which wreaks havoc through its powerful presence. As Lee becomes embedded in the criminal organization, he finds it difficult to reconcile his dual identity.
On the one hand, he is a cop with a responsibility, and on the other hand, he is also a gangster working for Jung Chung (Hwang Jung-min), the ganglord. As the situation gets complicated, Lee must make a difficult choice that may alter his life forever. Directed by Park Hoon-jung, the South Korean crime drama film is a poignant navigation of loyalty and survival. It is spiritually connected to ‘Dhurandhar’ due to its focus on dual identities, secret missions, difficult moral choices, and political angles.
1. D-Day (2013)
‘D-Day’ is an Indian Hindi-language film that centers on a devastating manhunt with bilateral implications for India and Pakistan. RAW Chief Ashwini Rao (Nassar) assigns Wali Khan (Irrfan Khan) to travel to Pakistan to monitor Goldman (Rishi Kapoor), a notorious fugitive who has eluded the Indian authorities for decades. Wali is joined by Rudra Pratap Singh (Arjun Rampal) and other agents, as they hustle and bustle through enemy territory to execute a seemingly impossible mission.
They intend to capture Goldman, who enjoys tremendous security, and bring him back to India to face justice for his crimes. As the team plans to nab him from a family wedding, they face unexpected challenges, familial struggles, and a sense of isolation in a strange place. Directed by Nikkhil Advani, the action thriller movie is a nuanced exploration of identity, spycraft, patriotism, and loyalty that makes it complementary to ‘Dhurandhar.’ The visual elements, action sequences, and character motives connect the films on a spiritual level.
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