Daayra in cinemas today: Meghna Gulzar’s new thriller reviewed

Meghna Gulzar’s new film Daayra released in cinemas today, bringing together Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran on screen for the first time.

The film centers on the investigation of a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, questioning where justice ends and vigilantism begins.

Kareena Kapoor Khan’s portrayal of police officer Ajooni has been singled out for its restraint, avoiding the over-the-top cop archetype seen in many Hindi crime dramas.

Running 143 minutes, the film has received largely positive reviews, with critics rating it between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Reviewer Ramesh Bala called it a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural,’ highlighting the performances of both lead actors.

The film marks the first time Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran have starred together on screen.

The story follows investigations into a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, examining questions of justice and morality.

Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a police officer named Ajooni, with reviewers noting her performance leans into quiet authority rather than the aggressive cop archetype common in Hindi crime dramas.

The film runs 143 minutes and maintains tension through a police-procedural structure rather than dramatic excess.

Reviewers have rated the film between 3.5 and 4 stars, with critic Ramesh Bala calling it a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural.’

The film does not shy away from the harsh realities surrounding its central crime, examining the question of justice from multiple perspectives.

Both lead actors have been praised for holding the film together through restraint, with the story avoiding easy answers about who is right in a cop-versus-cop conflict.

Meghna Gulzar’s earlier film Raazi, also a tense thriller, was a major commercial and critical success and is often cited as a reference point for her directorial style.

Regal Cinema, Mumbai (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0