Ikkis (Hindi) stars Agastya Nanda as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the young Param Vir Chakra recipient from the 1971 Indo-Pak War, alongside veteran Dharmendra (who passed away recently), and Jaideep Ahlawat. Released in theatres on the New Year Day, the latest Bollywood film delivers an anti-war drama. Several critics have juxtaposed it against Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, which the Left views as jingoistic and anti-Pakistan.
As per most English-language critics, Dhurandhar ramps up the patriotic fervor with intense confrontations against Pakistani elements, earning an 'A' certificate for its strong violence. However, reviewers position Ikkis as a "thoughtful antidote" to Dhurandhar's noise, highlighting director Sriram Raghavan's subtle storytelling against Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar's explosive approach.
This contrast has led to direct comparisons, with Ikkis lauded for its depth, particularly late Dharmendra's "moving" performance and Nanda's chemistry with co-star Simar Bhatia.
Single-screen theaters slashed Dhurandhar's shows by 50% starting January 1 to accommodate Ikkis. In terms of commercial success, Dhurandhar will dwarf Ikkis by light years. Social media buzz, including Reddit discussions, warns that Ikkis' peace-promoting undertones might struggle against Dhurandhar's aggressive wave.
