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Ram Madhavni's Dhamaka starring Kartik Aaryan is set out to criticize the problematic side of journalism instead it goes on to become the same.
These days whenever you switch on the TV, you're accustomed to listening to loud dramatic voices with background music on news channels. A maximum number of news channels showcases the news in a dramatic style. So when in Dhamaka, an anchor and his boss have this exchange, "Anchor kya hota hai? Anchor actor hota hai. Actor ko kya chahiye? Actor ko audience chahiye. Audience ko kya chahiye? Audience ko drama chahiye" it seems like an appropriate description of the Broadcast Journalism of today. The film is eager to criticize the pathetic state of the Indian broadcast media that works at the cost of truth and trust and only runs behind ratings. But unfortunately, this movie falls prey to the same kind of problems it wishes to shine a light on irrespective of good cinematography, and editing.
Dhamaka follows the story of an anchor, Arjun Pathak (Kartik Aaryan) who has been demoted to a position of a radio jockey and is also in the midst of a divorce with his wife, Mrunal Thakur who works as a field reporter. That's when he gets a call from a random man who confesses that he's going to blow up Mumbai's Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Instead of reporting him, Arjun sees this as an opportunity to get back to the spotlight once again and negotiates a deal with his boss aka news producer, Amruta Subash. But this opportunity from a random caller who wants justice and wants the government to apologize ultimately ends up blowing up in Arjun's face. As the film unfolds there are various truths of life that Arjun has to deal with while being walled in by cameras and a studio. He realizes the value of truth and a simple sorry, and also the fact that he's just a pawn in a system that is completely rigged.
The entire 160-minutes is filled with metaphors that are quite literal and hold a deeper meaning. From 'jo bhi kahunga sach kahunga' , the title of the film, the channel, and the larger context of the movie of being a pawn in a rigged system. And for the most part, the film is able to maintain the palpable tension with its shaky, hand-held shots, and quick cuts of editing. They also show behind the scenes of a newsroom in a very realistic manner just like they do with portraying how the media makes a crisis works in its own favor. But the film is as flawed as the journalistic system is in spite of being a remake of the 2013 South Korean film, The Terror Live. The way they go on and off-air in the film leaves you wondering how primetime really looks on TV. The characters of Amruta Subash and Vikas Kumar are imagined with the right intention but aren't worked upon enough. And the climax of the film almost ruins the whole experience that the film is taking your through till then because it doesn't go with the way the entire film has been made.
The film is not unwatchable. It has heart and shows tension in a confined space and its intentions are quite right. But it doesn't create that impact that Ram Madhvani's work usually leaves you with. It feels like the film is almost there but it isn't aware of its full potential. Though it's quite refreshing to watch Kartik Aaryan stepping out of his usual romantic hero characters and portray the tensions of Arjun Pathak quite well. There have been many recent series like Pataal Lok and Mumbai Diaries 26/11 that have dabbled into exploring the dilemmas of the news-making process and have done it quite well. But in order to represent the fast-paced and opportunistic life of journalism that ends up comprising of facts and truth, the film falls prey to the rigged system it was trying to portray and becomes the same.
But that's enough from us, here is what the janta is saying about Dhamaka!
#Dhamaka
— Yogesh (@yoyogesh_) November 21, 2021
Why you're hating her it's just a character.
The character pic.twitter.com/EMf6UO6yz0
I watch Dhamaka movie.The Dhamaka is a epic flim . In this movie the last seen was so emotional 😔😔. Dhamaka is best movie for me. The acting of @TheAaryanKartik is best acting ever.#Dhamaka pic.twitter.com/GF6qqnnsPs
— 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 (@MannyRocki) November 30, 2021
Dhamaka Entire Script#Dhamaka pic.twitter.com/JSYZZgGT62
— Shikhar Sagar (@crazy_shikhu) November 21, 2021
A must watch #Dhamaka
— Dr. Arshi (@arshi_phd) November 22, 2021
Amazing performace by @TheAaryanKartik pic.twitter.com/IDvbDe65g6
#Dhamaka is truly an engaging masterpiece that leaves you speechless. #KartikAaryan truly showcased role of #media people who sell their honesty for #TRP. Sohum Mojumdar deserves a special praise. #AmrutaSubhash can very well play a bitch & it's a compliment !! #DhamakaOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/fVxGie3BBb
— Lovable Monster (@FotographerAmol) November 21, 2021
Though disturbing/likable events are happening around us, What should be shown to the people and what people should to know, both of them are controlled by the people's of news agencies.#DhamakaOnNetflix #Dhamaka #KartikAaryan pic.twitter.com/rcRee4tb2l
— Sathish Pandiyan (@sathishpandi25) November 25, 2021
still trembling..
— Mr. Roy (@iamroysunny) November 23, 2021
WHAT A MOVIE! ❤ #Dhamaka
Hope every Journalists watch this movie and may understand the theme better. 🙏🙏
"Jimmedari sach bolne ki or isi jimmedari ko mt bhulna " Loved this line. ❤ @TheAaryanKartik 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nqoyKAVIxD
Watched #Dhamaka
— Sush 🇮🇳 (@Shy_Sushh) November 20, 2021
What a Movie!! #KartikAaryan take a Bow..
The Climax completely shook me. Was reminded of the Vulture Journalism of all the News channels in the late 2020 and early 2021 when Arnab was hounded by those hyenas for TRP & was called an anti-national..🥺💔 pic.twitter.com/S9WZb6zntG
ANCHOR kya hai - ACTOR
— ʀᴀɴᴅʜɪʀ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ☯ (@therandhir_) November 21, 2021
ACTOR ko kya Chahiye - AUDIENCE
AUDIENCE ko kya chahiye- DRAMA
These line wraps up the whole Indian Media
Hats off to the writer #Dhamaka@TheAaryanKartik @mrunal0801 👏 pic.twitter.com/cQmBcIE4kg
"इतना मुश्किल है क्या एक सॉरी कहना?"#Dhamaka is an awesome movie. @TheAaryanKartik did a wonderful job. I don't remember any female villain I hated like the character Ankita Malaskar 🙂Great acting by all. A must watch movie. #Dhamakareview pic.twitter.com/mSHMLWCbEO
— Jovy Thomas (@IslandsGarden) November 29, 2021
#Dhamaka in a nutshell! pic.twitter.com/HRgyb3tHTB
— ANMOL JAMWAL (@jammypants4) November 20, 2021
#Dhamaka is a well made thriller which exposes the dirty side of the so called TV channels who're hungry about TRP yet least concerned about the truth. #KartikAaryan was at his best. He nailed his role as a TV Anchor. #RamMadhvani has done a great job. It was a great watch. pic.twitter.com/gyeKydDwa9
— Nuski Nasih (@nuskinasih) November 20, 2021
Have you watched Dhamaka on Netflix yet? Do tell us your thoughts about the film in the comments below.
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