Anurag Kashyap hails 'Dhadak 2' as throwback to golden era filmmaking: ‘What mainstream cinema was meant to be’

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has lauded Shazia Iqbal's recently released film 'Dhadak 2', drawing significant comparisons to the works of legendary directors like Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, K. A. Abbas, B. R. Chopra, and Yash Chopra. In a lengthy Instagram post shared on Saturday, Kashyap particularly commended lead actors Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, declaring that 'Dhadak 2' embodies "what mainstream cinema was meant to be."

Here's a closer look.

Anurag Kashyap gives 'Dhadak 2' a lot of praise

Anurag posted several images and posters from Dhadak 2. Shazia was praised by him for "holding a mirror to us of what India really is." "In what is the most searing mainstream debut that I have seen in a very, very long time, @shaz.3.0 holds a mirror to us of what India really is outside of our bubble that we live in. Aided by terrific performances from @tripti_dimri, @siddhantchaturvedi, @saurabhsachdeva77, @saadcasm_, @priyanktiwarii, @itsharishkhanna, @manjiripupala, and @vipin.sta and writing with #badwelkar, brilliantly shot by @sylvesterfonseca," he expressed.

Anurag Basu contrasts 'Dhadak 2' with movies starring Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt.

He went on to say that "mainstream films of social relevance" are no longer a priority for filmmakers. "The film captures the conversation that we avoid on a day-to-day basis. This is what mainstream cinema was meant to be, and this is what great filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, K. A. Abbas, B. R. Chopra, Yash Chopra, and so many used to do. We forgot to make mainstream films of social relevance. They got relegated to independent art house cinema. Anurag went on, This is what Tamizh cinema and so much of cinema from the south still does."

'Dhadak 2' is "a punch in the gut," according to Anurag Basu

'Dhadak 2' describes the humiliation and hardships that Nilesh, a Dalit law student, endures from her family after falling in love with his classmate Vidhi, who comes from an upper-caste family. Being one of the few Bollywood mainstream romances to address casteism and classism in India, the movie has received praise.

'Dhadak 2' was described by Anurag as an "extremely brave and powerful film." "A mainstream adaptation of Periyarum Perumal, without losing the essence of it, Dhadak 2 is a punch in the gut. My driver, who went with me, wept at the end of it and hasn’t stopped talking since. An extremely brave and powerful film from @dharmamovies. See it for yourself. I won’t say much. Congratulations to the whole team. @prashant316, @animeshpanwar, @sanyukta_mohta, and others that I don’t know. Well done, team. @somenmishra @karanjohar," he wrote at the end of his note.

About 'Dhadak 2'

The story of 'Dhadak 2,' which defies norms of society and examines love, was released in theaters on August 1. The movie follows Siddhant's character as he forges a romantic relationship that goes beyond social norms and social classes. The 2018 hit, which starred Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, has a spiritual follow-up. The Hindi version of the Marathi movie 'Sairat' was called 'Dhadak.'