What does justice actually mean when the law, emotion and personal morality pull you in different directions? Daayra spends much of its runtime exploring that uncomfortable question.
At the centre are Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, playing DCP Ajooni Kohli and DCP Raman Kumar. They are both committed police officers, but their approach to a serious case is completely different.
Ajooni is patient and methodical. Kareena doesn’t try to make her character larger than life. Instead, she gives her a quiet confidence that makes the officer feel experienced and believable.
Raman is far more forceful. Prithviraj plays him as someone who has very strong views about punishment and isn’t afraid to act on them. There is anger beneath the character, but the performance remains controlled.
Meghna Gulzar, along with writers Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, keeps the screenplay focused on the larger questions surrounding the case. The film looks at the justice system, institutional responsibility and the way society reacts when cases of sexual violence enter the public conversation.
The writing doesn’t always move at the same pace, and some portions could certainly have been shorter. But the central conflict between Ajooni and Raman gives the film enough momentum.
Kareena and Prithviraj make a compelling pair precisely because their scenes aren’t built around conventional chemistry. Their connection comes from disagreement, professional respect and conflicting ideas.
Daayra is a mature crime drama that stays with you because its biggest conflict isn’t simply about solving a case. It is about deciding what justice means. Daayra is produced by Junglee Pictures and Dr Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios). It’s distributed by Pen Marudhar.. The film releases in theatres on September 18.
Stars: ★★★★½
