Daayra Cast/Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Biswapati Sarkar, Pragati Mishra, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh & Others
Daayra Director: Meghna Gulzar
Daayra Production House: Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios
Daayra Release Date: 18th September, 2026
Daayra Released/Available In Languages: Hindi & Malayalam
Daayra Available On: Theatrical Release (likely to be released on Netflix OTT Platform)
Daayra Runtime: 2h 23m
Daayra Movie Critic Review:
Meghna Gulzar showed her penchant for balancing two different viewpoints when she made the largely true-life Talvar (2015) with Vishal Bhardwaj as writer.
Although this time it is a medley of cases that she mixes without picking any single one, Meghna’s flair for effectively presenting contrasting opinions continues as DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) revels in public applause. Four monsters behind the grisly rape and murder of a charred body have been gunned down by the police.
Self-defence, say Raman Kumar and his team.
Let’s investigate, says DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan), introduced as a fearless cop heading a vigilance unit that keeps a check on the police. She has just busted a racket where superintendents fawn over VIP prisoners, serving them a special menu of quinoa pulao and avocado.
Ajooni smirks at Raman’s “The law has done its job,” statement to the media as she gets down to the business of investigating the death of the culprits before their case could reach a court of law.
And Meghna gets down to her business of making a taut thriller that finds Prithviraj in fine form as the crime and its detection are engagingly sketched.
Once Ajooni takes over, the pace drops a bit as there are far too many flashbacks and cuts in the re-creation of the crime scene where it’s Raman and team who are under the scanner.
On the one hand is the law where justice must be decided by the courts. Topped with human rights activists seeking answers to what they suspect are extra-judicial killings.
On the other hand, is the victim’s family and an angry public that wants instant justice. Top that with the re-emergence of a juvenile sex offender who’d got off lightly because of his age. If you’re old enough to rape and murder, aren’t you old enough to face the consequences like a criminal adult?
Questions hang in the air and Meghna efficiently asks them from both perspectives.
However, human rights and encounter deaths are not unseen territory. Rajanikanth’s Vettaiyan (2024) had cast the Tamizh superstar as an encounter specialist opposed by a human rights activist and former judge played by Amitabh Bachchan.
For sure, Meghna’s narration moves differently but similar is the core of a moral conflict of justice delivered outside a courtroom versus letting the law take its own course. Meghna writes in a sub-plot of Ajooni’s father Judge Kohli (Kanwaljeet Singh), to push the cause for placing trust in the judicial system.
Well balanced, Meghna’s sensible handling of a legal and ethical debate provides food for thought.
But an open end where the director leaves you to take sides is a bit of a letdown, carrying with it the dissatisfaction of an unresolved conflict.
Watchable, however, are all the actors especially the two leads. Kareena Kapoor looks smashing and delivers with sincerity. The natty Prithviraj Sukumaran makes an equally impressive Raman Kumar, a slight lopsided smile suiting him all the way.
Who’s better? You can take sides on that as well.
Daayra – Watch it or not?: Even if it has been debated before, the moral conflict continues to be thought-provoking with Kareena and Prithviraj providing the cherry on top.
Daayra Movie Review Score Rating: 3 out of 5 (i.e. 3/5)
Daayra Official Trailer:
Credits: Pen Movies & Junglee Pictures
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