The Dhurandhar Effect: Can One Film Really Unite India?
The Dhurandhar Effect: Can One Film Really Unite India?
Ram Charan praises Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar for uniting the country. Can one blockbuster achieve national integrity? We break down cinema's impact on a diverse India.
Ram Charan recently called Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar a “terrific, fantastic, phenomenal” film, going so far as to suggest it “brought the country together.” Now, that’s a powerful statement, especially coming from a star of his calibre. But it begs the question: can a single film truly unite a nation as vast and diverse as India?
Charan's insights came during a discussion on declining theatre footfall. He observed that films like KGF , Pushpa 2 , Kantara , RRR , and yes, Dhurandhar , have successfully drawn audiences back to cinemas post-COVID.
He rightly points out that, for many, “the cheapest form of entertainment is still cinema,” and it's a 'great communal activity.” There's no denying the collective buzz after seeing a big release, the conversations it sparks across social circles.
And frankly, who wouldn't agree on lower popcorn rates?
What's particularly interesting is Charan's emphasis on “national integrity” and the “India first” sentiment becoming crucial in forthcoming films.
He praises Dhurandhar for exemplifying this, highlighting its massive success. The first installment hit theatres in December 2025, raking in over Rs 1300 crore worldwide.
Its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge , released in March this year, reportedly earned more than Rs 1800 crore globally, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film after Aamir Khan's Dangal .
These are staggering numbers, and as Charan puts it,
Box office number is nothing but the number of people who have accepted it and the footfall in theatres is what matters.
Indeed, these figures represent millions of individuals choosing to spend their time and money on a shared experience. When a film resonates so deeply that it breaks records and becomes a cultural phenomenon, it undoubtedly taps into a collective consciousness.
But is 'uniting the country' a direct result of these blockbusters, or do they simply reflect prevailing sentiments that are already there? Films with strong nationalist undertones or themes of heroism and resilience certainly strike a chord. They can foster a sense of shared identity and pride, bringing people together in the shared experience of cheering for a common cause on screen.
Dhurandhar seems to have done just that, riding a wave of popular appeal and tapping into a desire for stories that celebrate national pride.
Yet, India's strength lies in its incredible diversity. While a film might create a momentary, widespread sentiment of unity, true national unity is a far more complex, ongoing process, built on mutual respect and understanding across myriad cultures, languages, and beliefs. A blockbuster can be a powerful catalyst for conversation and shared emotion, a common denominator in an otherwise varied landscape.
It can, for a brief period, make us all feel part of something bigger. That's a powerful feat for any movie, and perhaps, in that shared moment, it does bring us a little closer. The Dhurandhar phenomenon is a testament to cinema's enduring power, not just as entertainment, but as a cultural unifier, even if temporarily.
