Dhurandhar and the Fault Lines of Indian Society: A Mirror or a Molotov?
Dhurandhar, a recent Indian film, has ignited a fierce debate on social media, reflecting deeper societal fractures and polarization in India.
Few recent films have managed to divide Indian society as sharply as Dhurandhar. Within days of its release, the movie stopped being just a cinematic work and became a political, cultural, and moral battleground, especially on social media. Timelines were flooded with heated takes, hashtags trended in opposite directions, and positions hardened with alarming speed. What Dhurandhar revealed was not merely public opinion about a film, but the deeper fractures running through contemporary India.
A Film That Triggered More Than Entertainment
At its core, Dhurandhar addresses themes that India is already deeply concerned about. Themes like cross-border terrorism, political power, religious identity, historical interpretation, and moral authority. While cinema has always reflected society, Dhurandhar seems to have arrived at a moment when public patience for nuance is at its lowest. Instead of being viewed as art, the film was instantly categorized: patriotic or dangerous, truthful or propaganda, bold or divisive.
Social media amplified this binary reaction. Short clips, selectively edited scenes, and out-of-context dialogues circulated far more rapidly than full reviews or thoughtful critiques. As a result, many opinions were formed without watching the film in its entirety. In the attention economy of Instagram reels and X (formerly Twitter) threads, outrage traveled faster than understanding.
Polarization in the Age of Algorithms
The polarization around Dhurandhar cannot be separated from how social media platforms function. Algorithms reward strong emotions like anger, pride, and fear, instead of focusing on reflection. A measured response rarely goes viral; a fiery one almost always does. Consequently, the film became a tool for identity signaling. Supporting or opposing it was less about cinematic merit and more about declaring where one stood ideologically.
What was particularly concerning was the erosion of dialogue. Disagreement did not remain intellectual; it became personal. Labels such as “anti-national,” “blind nationalist,” “urban elite,” and “ignorant masses” were quickly assigned. The space for the middle ground collapsed. One either applauded the film uncritically or rejected it outright. In doing so, society lost an opportunity to engage in a mature conversation about the issues the film raises.
Is This Polarization New?
India has always been a country of strong opinions and passionate debates. Cinema, from Mother India to Haider, has often stirred controversy. What is new is the scale and speed of polarization. Earlier, disagreements played out in newspapers, academic forums, or public debates. Today, they erupt instantly, emotionally, and publicly, often without accountability.
Dhurandhar became less of a film and more of a Rorschach test: people saw in it what they already believed. This reflects a larger societal shift where confirmation bias dominates public discourse. We increasingly consume content that reassures us rather than challenges us.
Good or Bad for India’s Future?
Whether this polarization is good or bad depends on how India responds to it.
On the positive side, the intense reaction to Dhurandhar shows that Indians care deeply about narratives, history, and national identity. A disengaged society would not react at all. The debate proves that cinema still matters, that it has the power to provoke thought, discomfort, and discussion. In that sense, polarization can be a sign of democratic vibrancy.
However, unchecked polarization carries serious risks. When disagreement turns into dehumanization, society weakens. If every cultural product becomes a loyalty test, creative freedom shrinks. Artists may begin to self-censor, not out of responsibility, but fear. More dangerously, citizens may stop listening to one another altogether.
India’s strength has always been its ability to hold contradictions while coexisting. The reaction to Dhurandhar suggests that this ability is under strain.
The Way Forward
The real question is not whether Dhurandhar is right or wrong, but whether Indians can learn to disagree without tearing each other apart. Social media literacy, critical viewing, and a willingness to sit with discomfort are essential. Films should be debated, questioned, even criticized, but never weaponized.
Dhurandhar has polarized Indian society, yes. But it has also held up a mirror. What we see in that mirror and how we choose to respond will determine whether such moments push India towards deeper division or towards a more mature, confident democracy.
In the end, the future of India will not be decided by a film, but by the quality of conversations it inspires.
(The writer is a versatile content professional with 20+ years of experience, specializing in customized, high-impact writing across education, PR, corporate, and government sectors.)