The much-anticipated Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar', starring Ranveer Singh, is finally set to hit theatres across India this Friday, December 5. The film's journey to release was marked by legal scrutiny and certification challenges, which have now been resolved.
Legal Hurdles and CBFC Clearance
The project, directed by Aditya Dhar, recently faced objections from Madhur Sharma, the brother of Major Mohit Sharma. This led to the matter being brought before the Delhi High Court. The judiciary directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review the film considering these concerns.
After a thorough examination, the CBFC has granted the film an 'A' (Adults only) certificate, albeit with specific modifications. The board's statement clarified, "Several modifications and excisions were carried out by the applicant to comply with the law in force and the CBFC's requirements."
To adhere to guidelines, the producers replaced certain opening visuals deemed excessively violent and removed a few intense sequences in the second half. Additionally, a character's name was changed, a cuss word was muted, and anti-drug disclaimers were added to scenes depicting substance use.
A Cinematic Marathon: Runtime and Legacy
Following the mandated cuts and replacements, the final runtime of 'Dhurandhar' stands at approximately 214 minutes, or 3 hours and 34 minutes. This monumental length makes it the longest Hindi film to release in theatres in 17 years.
The last Hindi movie of comparable length was Ashutosh Gowariker's historical epic 'Jodhaa Akbar', released in 2008. While 'Baahubali: The Epic' had a 225-minute runtime recently, it was a re-release combining both parts of the saga. Prior to 'Jodhaa Akbar', Indian cinema saw lengthy classics like Raj Kapoor's 'Mera Naam Joker' (248 minutes) and the Oscar-nominated 'Lagaan' (233 minutes).
This also marks a career first for lead actor Ranveer Singh, as 'Dhurandhar' is the first film in his filmography to receive an 'A' certificate from the CBFC.
Fiction Clarified and Final Hurdle Cleared
In its detailed review, the CBFC upheld its decision, certifying 'Dhurandhar' as "a work of fiction". The board confirmed that the film bears "no direct or indirect resemblance" to the life of Major Mohit Sharma, thus addressing the core concern raised in court.
Furthermore, the censor board concluded that the film did not require any additional clearance from the Indian Army. This decision removed the final obstacle, green-lighting the film for its scheduled worldwide release on December 5.
Featuring an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun alongside Ranveer Singh, 'Dhurandhar' promises to be a major cinematic event, ending the long wait for audiences eager to see this ambitious project on the big screen.
