Some subjects are difficult to turn into mainstream cinema because the real story is already disturbing enough. Daayra takes one such subject and attempts to explore it through the lens of a police investigation. Loosely inspired by the 2019 Hyderabad rape and murder case and the controversy surrounding the subsequent police encounter, the film brings together Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kshitee Jog, Jitendra Joshi, Kanwaljit Singh, Achint Kaur, Anuja Sathe and Pragati Mishra.
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Daayra is built more like a procedural drama than a conventional thriller. It asks questions about justice, police action and the line between law and personal morality. The intention is clear. The execution, however, is only partly successful.
Daayra Story
The story begins with the disappearance of Ragini, a young woman who goes missing while travelling on a highway. Her mother Parvati and brother Kabir approach the police, hoping that an immediate investigation can help locate her. But their complaint does not receive the urgency it deserves. Soon after, Ragini’s burnt body is discovered on a deserted stretch.
The case immediately becomes a national talking point. Media attention puts immense pressure on the Teerthana police to find the people responsible. DCP Raman Kumar, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, is given charge of the investigation. Raman is an experienced police officer with a firm belief in his own methods. He and his team manage to arrest four suspects within a few days.
But before the accused can be produced in court, they are killed in what the police describe as an encounter. According to their version, the four men attempted to escape and opened fire on the officers. The police retaliated, resulting in their deaths. The encounter is celebrated by a large section of the public. For many, it appears to be instant justice. However, questions are raised about whether the encounter was genuine or staged.
This brings DCP Ajooni Kohli into the picture. Played by Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajooni is part of the Internal Vigilance Unit and is tasked with heading a Special Investigation Team. She arrives in Suryapur with a straightforward objective. She wants to establish what actually happened.
Unlike Raman, Ajooni approaches the case without allowing public sentiment to influence her investigation. She follows the evidence and questions the official version. Her investigation gradually puts her on a collision course with Raman and his team. What follows is less about chasing a criminal and more about understanding how far the police can go in the name of justice.
Daayra Movie Review
Meghna Gulzar keeps the film controlled from the beginning. She does not spend too much time setting up the world. The disappearance and subsequent discovery of Ragini’s body happen fairly quickly, and the narrative moves into the investigation.
That approach is one of the film’s strengths. Daayra does not treat the subject like a typical commercial thriller. There are no unnecessary action sequences or forced dramatic moments. Instead, it allows the investigation to develop through conversations, questioning and conflicting versions of events.
The problem is that this measured approach does not always translate into gripping cinema. The first half is steady, but it rarely creates the kind of urgency that the subject demands. There are moments that hold your attention, particularly when Ajooni begins questioning the official account. But several portions feel too restrained. The film keeps building its questions without consistently giving the narrative enough momentum.
The writing also works better when it focuses on the central moral conflict. Raman believes in his version of justice, while Ajooni is determined to establish the truth through procedure. That contrast gives the film its strongest dramatic material. Neither character is written as a straightforward hero or villain, which makes their conflict more interesting.
However, the screenplay starts losing steam in the second half. The investigation becomes increasingly stretched, and some developments do not have the impact they should. The film asks the audience to be patient, but the eventual payoff does not completely justify that patience.
And this is where Daayra
faces its biggest problem. The climax. After spending so much time building the conflict between Ajooni and Raman, the film needed a much stronger culmination. One expects a decisive confrontation or a powerful revelation that brings the moral questions together. Instead, the film ends rather abruptly. There is no major cinematic payoff, and the conclusion leaves you wanting more. That choice may work for viewers looking for a deliberately understated procedural drama. But for a theatrical thriller, it feels underwhelming.Music And Technical Aspects
Technically, Daayra remains polished. The cinematography maintains the serious mood of the story without making the film visually flashy for the sake of it. The locations and production design help create a believable investigative environment. Editing is mostly functional, although the second half could have been tighter.
The background score by Ketan Sodha is one of the better aspects of the film. It creates tension without constantly announcing that something dramatic is happening. It adds atmosphere to the investigation and becomes particularly effective during the quieter sequences.
The film has only one song, Sach Ka Daayra, which plays towards the end. The background score makes a stronger impression overall.
Daayra Performances
Prithviraj Sukumaran is one of the major strengths of Daayra. As DCP Raman Kumar, he brings authority without turning the character into a typical larger than life police officer. There is a controlled intensity in his performance. Even when Raman is not saying much, Prithviraj manages to create a sense of uneasiness around him.
Kareena Kapoor Khan gets an equally important role as DCP Ajooni Kohli. She plays the character with restraint and conviction. Ajooni is not written as a glamorous cop, and that works in the film’s favour. Kareena looks the part and handles the serious material well. Some of her best moments come during the investigation, when her character refuses to simply accept the police version of events.
The chemistry between Kareena and Prithviraj is another interesting aspect. Their characters have completely different approaches to the same question, and both actors understand that difference.
Kshitee Jog is effective. Her character carries the emotional weight of the tragedy, although some scenes could have benefited from greater restraint.
Jitendra Joshi, Kanwaljit Singh, Achint Kaur and Anuja Sathe make their presence felt in supporting roles. Pragati Mishra also leaves an impression despite having limited screen time. The supporting cast helps make the police and family tracks feel grounded.
Final Verdict
Daayra has a strong subject and two excellent performers at its centre. Meghna Gulzar also deserves credit for avoiding unnecessary melodrama and presenting the story as a controlled investigation.
But the film never reaches the impact its premise promises. The film raises several difficult questions about justice and policing, but does not deliver a satisfying dramatic payoff.
Still, Daayra has enough substance and a compelling central conflict to keep you invested for most of its runtime. It is not the hard-hitting thriller it could have been, but it remains a reasonably engaging investigative drama.
Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
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