The Intellectual Arrogance of Dhruv Rathee: Misreading the Language of Cinema

By Akash Dubey

Image Credit: The Week / YouTube (Dhruv Rathee) / Jio Studios & B62 Studios

There is a specific kind of mistake that only very smart people can make. It is the mistake of looking at a film and trying to fact-check it like a biology textbook.

Recently, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee took to his platform to tear down Bollywood’s latest box office success, the Dhurandhar franchise, which has crossed over ₹2000 crore worldwide.

Across his videos on both parts of the Dhurandhar franchise, his critique follows a similar pattern. 

He used words like 'propaganda' and 'dangerous'. But in his rush to play the digital activist, Rathee exposed a massive flaw: he shows a misunderstanding of the language of cinema.

The ‘Fact-Check’ Fallacy

Dhruv’s biggest mistake is treating a spy thriller as a documentary. The film clearly states it is a 'fictional work inspired by real-life events'. 

When we watch a spy thriller, we are looking for a story that makes us feel something.
By calling it propaganda, commentators like Rathee are essentially telling the audience that they won't be able to tell the difference between a movie and a news report.

To judge a film’s quality based on its political alignment is a limited way of looking at cinema. Cinema is about lighting, songs, pacing and the incredible performance of actors. When a commentator ignores the art to focus on a 'hidden agenda', they aren't being deep; they are missing the point of cinema itself.

The Audience is Not Your Student

The most insulting part of Rathee’s critique is his assumption that the Indian audience is a group of clueless viewers who will be brainwashed by a three-hour movie.

The record-breaking box office of Dhurandhar franchise is the ultimate reply to this attitude. The audience isn't foolish for enjoying the film; they understand it better than the commentator. They know how to enjoy a high-octane spectacle without needing someone to explain what it means. Rathee’s failure to see this shows how out of touch he is with the heartbeat of the nation.

The Monopoly on ‘Truth’

Some digital commentators, like Dhruv Rathee, position themselves as the only source of truth.
But art is subjective. By trying to cancel a film that celebrates national pride, he isn't protecting the youth; he is trying to gatekeep what we are allowed to enjoy.

The irony? His roast of the film has only driven more people to the theatres. In his attempt to save the audience from the movie, he has become its most effective PR agent.

Bollywood is currently in a 'Golden Era' of technical brilliance. Films like Dhurandhar are proving that Indian cinema can compete with Hollywood in scale and soul.

It is time we stop letting these digital activists tell us the value of a film's art. Dhruv Rathee might be an expert on social media algorithms, but when it comes to the magic of the big screen, he is just another voice that doesn’t quite understand cinema.