09/12/2025
Just watched Dhurandhar. Since the story is based on Lyari, a neighborhood in Karachi just a few kilometers from where I live, I was curious to see what version Bollywood would roll out about something we Karachiites actually witnessed during the 2008–09 era.
1. The repeated idea that whoever rules Lyari rules Karachi is absolutely wrong in the movie. They have no idea about the real political power game in Karachi during 2008–09. The Lyari gang war existed, but it was only one small part of a much bigger landscape. Lyari itself is only 0.17 percent of the entire city.
2. No one in Pakistan celebrated the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. That is an impression Bollywood keeps feeding its audience. The whole “We will destroy India” gimmick does not work in Pakistan. People do not buy it. Even political and religious parties tried selling it and failed. People here are simply not interested in that chooran.
3. Lyari gang war was an internal conflict between local gangs fighting for territory and resources, tied to local and provincial politics. Linking it to 26/11 is just ridiculous. There is not even surface-level evidence for such a claim. But since that kind of narrative works for an Indian audience, Bollywood packaged and sold it.
4. In the story, India supposedly had all the intel about 26/11 and it still happened. It actually portrays how weak and incompetent the security layers were. The way the attackers keep communicating so easily on phone devices is not possible without inside help. In their self-victimization kink, they forgot what they themselves showed on screen.
5. The Indian spy repeatedly saying “Jisne Lyari pe hukumat ki, usne puray Karachi pe hukumat ki” is the funniest part. Do some actual research and you will understand who ruled Karachi in that timeline and what kind of power he had. Next time, come to us. We will tell you better stories this city holds.
Summary:
This is just another anti-Pakistan movie strategically designed to emotionally trigger the Indian audience through 26/11 and remind them that the-then government (Congress) did nothing, while the current government (BJP) is portrayed as the savior. Two dialogues make this intent obvious. One where the Pakistani General sarcastically says, “We were expecting some reaction from India but they did nothing.” The second when the Indian minister says, “Kabhi koi sarkar to aayegi jisko desh ki chinta hogi.”
