Film Companion Critics Review Dhadak

Dhadak, the Hindi adaptation of Nagraj Manjule's 2016 Marathi film Sairat, hits theaters today. Set in a new location, with new conflicts, the film marks actress Janhvi Kapoor's debut. Here are our critics' reviews of this Shashank Khaitan-directed movie:

Anupama Chopra's review

Dhadak is the reworking of this intimate-yet-epic story for Hindi audiences. The film plays like agreeable, mid-level restaurant cuisine versus a Michelin-star meal. Those who haven't had the latter might be satisfied. But those of us who've enjoyed the richer, more gutting experience will have a hard time making peace.

Read the full review here.

Rahul Desai's review

Context is everything. A Marathi film using the tone of mainstream Bollywood to depict the irrationality of 'first love' can be considered clever and allegorical; the style becomes a narrative device. A Hindi film doing the same becomes self-defeating run-of-the-mill stuff.

Read the full review here.

Sucharita Tyagi's review

The treatment of the film is just not gritty enough for us to really buy into the heartbreak that Shashank Khaitan seems to lead us towards. It's a valiant effort, but the lighting, costumes, sets – they feel sanitised and more Badri, less Nagraj.

Watch the full review here.