Starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, Dacoit’s trailer promised a dark, moody, and gritty crime drama. But at its heart lies an emotional love story. With Anurag Kashyap in a mysteriously lethal role, Dacoit sets the momentum for a suspenseful plot. But does the film live up to its brooding promise, or is it another stereotypical masala movie? Read our review of Dacoit to find out.

Dacoit movie: When love turns bitter, revenge takes over

Dacoit follows an ex-convict, Hari Das (Adivi Sesh), who actively sets out to take revenge on his ex-girlfriend, Saraswathy aka Juliet (Mrunal Thakur), after she betrays him. To do so, Hari conspires a high-stakes plan that pulls him back into the criminal world he once tried to escape. Even though he sees Saraswathy after years, battling her own serious life issues along with her daughter, Hari still stays motivated.

As Hari’s plan moves forward, Swami (Anurag Kashyap), a senior cop, steps in and begins tracking him down, turning the story into a tense chase. What starts as a clear revenge mission quickly becomes messy. It forces the characters to confront what they really want and how far they’re willing to go to get it. Will Hari escape Swami and take his revenge on Saraswathy, or will he get caught? Will their love story finally come to an end?

Dacoit movie review: A sharp and slick thriller in mainstream crime cinema

A betrayal-stricken love story. A lover seeking revenge, only to get manipulated by love. And a cop who keeps the action alive and drives the emotional plot. This makes for a classic romantic crime thriller, and that’s exactly what Dacoit looks like in the first 30 minutes until it flips the narrative to deliver a layered story. The movie features crisp storytelling that doesn’t waste time taking a predictable turn. Every confrontation reveals another engaging twist, making it a rollercoaster ride for the viewers.

While the film blends a good emotional core with action-packed sequences, Dacoit won’t easily make you shed a tear. Had it done that as well, it would easily be an instant crowd favourite. By the time Dacoit reaches its final stretch, the typical romantic dialogues of the first half reveal a deeper meaning, leaving you in both shock and awe. The crime thriller takes it up a notch with its social commentary on India’s medical system during COVID-19, politics, and the caste system. This angle also elevates the morally grey character arcs of Hari, Saraswathy, and Swami.

The characters in the spotlight

Dacoit‘s leading cast felt like a mismatch at first. But as the story progresses, there’s no one who could replace them. Adivi Sesh brings his South Indian charm to his action sequences. His controlled intensity makes Hari’s story more layered, which prevents the character from slipping into a one-note revenge arc. While Adivi steals the show, Mrunal’s Juliet is a delight to watch as well. She isn’t the regular damsel-in-distress Juliet; Saraswathy is both daring and sentimental. This makes her role emotionally unpredictable. Mrunal and Adivi add a refreshing layer to the film, but Kashyap’s Swami is the one who makes things interesting. The hero cop who strives to wipe out corruption also wears a rudraksha garland that restricts him from killing people. His twisted story keeps the tensions alive throughout.

Dacoit is now running in theatres.

Can you watch Dacoit with your family? No, the movie features intimacy and obscenity.

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