Dhamaka (2021)

[Jule Kue]

Theadaptation was first pitched by Sunir Kheterpal of Azure Entertainment along with the producers of the original film. After Kheterpal dropped the project, Screwvala acquired the rights for the adaptation with Madhvani helming the project. An official announcement was made in November 2020, with production began in December 2020 in Mumbai, and was completed within ten days. The post-production works began simultaneously and were completed within four months, with pending visual effects and graphics process, which were resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown due to the second wave of the pandemic, in September 2021. The cinematography is handled by Manu Anand and edited by Monisha Baldawa and Amit Karia. The music and background score is composed by Vishal Khurana.

Originally scheduled for theatrical release, this decision was dropped by the producers in January 2021, in favour of a direct-to-digital release through the streaming service Netflix,[5] on 19 November 2021.[6] The film was also screened at the 52nd International Film Festival of India after the film's release.[7] The film received mixed reviews from critics, while praising Aaryan's performance and Madhvani's direction, they pointed out the cliched plot and dialogues.

Arjun Pathak was once a top news anchor, but gets demoted due to his behavior. Pulled from primetime TV news and recently divorced, he is now the jaded and bitter host of a current affairs radio program. One day during his morning show, Arjun receives a peculiar phone call threatening to blow up the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a major bridge visible from Arjun's studio building. He takes it as a prank call but watches in shock as the caller follows through and detonates explosives that cause the bridge to collapse, killing innocent people and trapping others.

Realising this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make his comeback as a newscaster, Arjun doesn't call the police. Instead, he sets up a makeshift television studio from his radio station, and negotiates with his former boss, the ratings-obsessed news producer, Ankita Malaskar, to get his position back. He strikes a dangerous deal with the terrorist to exclusively broadcast their phone conversations in real-time, as the whole nation watches.

The newsroom erupts in chaos as Arjun, Ankita, the police, other broadcasters and the government all exploit terrorism for their own agenda. The only exception is Soumya, Arjun's ex-wife, a reporter who volunteers to report from the site of the terrorist attack. As the live show progresses, Arjun gradually realises how little control he has over the situation. The terrorist, who claims to be Raghubeer Mhata, a 50-something construction worker who lost three of his co-workers in a senseless industrial accident while fixing the bridge, says the families of the victims weren't compensated and demands a public apology from Minister Jaydev Patil. With several people remaining on the bridge, the terrorist threatens a second explosion. He also reveals to Arjun alone that he put a bomb in the anchor's earphone, and that if Patil doesn't apologise, the bomb will explode in his ear, live on air.

Patil's deputy, Subhash Mathur, arrives but refuses to apologise. Arjun realises that there is a bomb in Mathur's earpiece as well, and warns him discreetly but the caller observes this through CCTV footage and detonates the bomb in Mathur's earpiece, killing him. This leaves Arjun extremely scared but Ankita orders him to keep going. The caller threatens to detonate more explosives at the bridge, which would also kill Arjun's wife Saumya. Arjun requests him to come to the studio where the minister would give him an apology. This angers Ankita, who leaks information of Arjun having accepted a bribe to cover up the news of the construction workers losing their lives while repairing the bridge, which had led to him being demoted. It is also revealed that Arjun had won the "Journalist of the Year" award for a report he'd actually stolen from Saumya, which led to their divorce. All of this is telecast by another news channel. Ankita blackmails Arjun that he can save his career if he acts as per her orders.

The ATS traces the caller's location to a nearby building but it's a trap, and the caller blows up the building, the impact of which causes the studio to also get nearly destroyed. Arjun is gravely injured and realises that the caller is actually Raghubeer's son Anand, who wants to avenge the death of his father and coworkers, and that he has been calling from his very building. Arjun summons him to the studio, while everything is still being broadcast live. The caller arrives and reveals that he has planted an explosive in the building. He is then sniped down by the ATS, instantly killing him. Arjun finds out that the bridge has collapsed and many people have lost their lives, including Saumya. When Ankita finds out that instead of informing the police, Arjun had decided to exclusively cover this news, she leaks the information. Another news channel telecasts this, adding a false story of Arjun being actively involved in planning the attack, labelling him as an anti-national. Arjun, devastated, sends a voicemail to Saumya, apologising, then detonates the explosive in his building, causing it to collapse and kill him as well.

A remake of the Korean film The Terror Live (2013) was announced by Lionsgate Films and Global Gate Entertainment in collaboration with Sunir Kheterpal's Azure Entertainment in May 2018, along with other international projects.[9][10] However, in a turn of developments, Kheterpal opted out of the project and it was later pitched by Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP Movies, with Ram Madhvani directing the film.[11] Madhvani initially planned to present the feature as a female-centric film, referencing his previous works: Neerja (2016) and the web series Aarya (2020). He initially wrote the script with Taapsee Pannu in mind, but could not approach her for the film,[12] and later Kriti Sanon was also considered for the project, who also refused the offer without giving a convincing reason.[13][14]

He then dropped the idea, changing the narrative to a male-centric project and narrated the script to Kartik Aaryan accepting his part in the film,[15] as it was his first serious role after a number of comical and romantic characters.[16][17] The film featured Aaryan as the main lead, essaying the role of a news reporter named Arjun Pathak,[18][19] who runs against time to save the city.[citation needed] Yami Gautam was initially reported to play the character of Arjun's wife,[20] but she opted out of the film citing date clashes and was replaced by Mrunal Thakur.[21] The film was officially announced on Aaryan's 30th birthday, i.e., 22 November 2020,[22] also revealing the film's title as Dhamaka.[23][24]

Ram sir had planned each scene down to the last detail, including where each actor would stand and what the camera angle would be. It saved the unit a lot of time, enabling them to shoot more than five scenes every day. While the shoot went overtime on a few occasions, they would usually call it a day after eight hours of filming.

Principal photography began on 14 December 2020 in Mumbai.[26][27][28] On 24 December 2020, it was announced that the makers wrapped the shooting of the film within 10 days.[25][29] The director Madhvani had designed a detailed storyboard and ensured the team was prepped to avoid prolonged shoot schedules.[30] 90% of the shooting was held indoors at a set erected at Renaissance Hotel in Powai, Mumbai, and the hotel was booked by the production unit, composed of more than 300 people.[30] Adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols, no outsiders were allowed inside the hotel and the entire unit was asked to stay put during the period, thus creating a bio-bubble of sorts.[25]

The soundtrack and score for the film are composed by Vishal Khurana, who previously collaborated with Ram Madhvani in Neerja (2016) and the streaming television series Aarya (2020). The film featured only one song titled "Khoya Paaya" which was sung by Amit Trivedi and Delraaz Bunshah and written by Puneet Sharma. A promotional video song of the track, shot by Ravi Varman and directed by Bejoy Nambiar, was released on 31 October 2021, where the film's team attended the sets of Bigg Boss 15 for promotional purposes.[37][38] On 12 November 2021, Zee Music Company released the full album which also had a female version of this track crooned by Jasleen Royal, spanning the duration of the album to 6 minutes.[39]

The song received positive response from music critics and listeners. Filmfare called the track "one of the best" and "most inspiring compositions of the year which sets the tone for the film".[40] A reviewer from Mid-day stated the song as "music to the ears".[41] Hindustan Times stated that "the theme of regret, helplessness, and anxiety matches with the lyrics of the track, thereby being crucial to the film's storyline. It is at the perfect length, conveying deep themes of sorrow and repentance. This song could be streamed on your playlist on loop."[42]

On 15 November 2021, the makers released the film version of the track "Kasoor" originally performed, written, and sung by singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad under licensed Warner Music India, and was picturized on Kartik and Mrunal in the film.[43] This song was earlier released as an independent single in July 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown period.[44]

The film was scheduled for release on 30 December 2020,[58] but post-production delays prompted the makers to postpone the release to September.[59] In July 2021, the makers announced that the film will be released in October 2021, during the festive season around Navratri and Dusshera,[60] but it was later revealed that the film would be released on the occasion of Diwali (5 November 2021).[61] A special teaser was unveiled at the Tudum Festival by Netflix on 25 September 2021.[62][63][64]

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