Dhoom
2004 · Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi
Original language: Hindi
- action
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
A gang of bikers headed by the cool-headed and arrogant Kabir is on a robbing spree in Mumbai. ACP Jai Dixit is put in charge of the case and he recruits a bumbling bike mechanic and racer to help Jai nab them.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached Mumbai streets, saturated colour and bright daylight, with motorbikes slicing through traffic in wide, fluid tracking shots that make the city feel like a racetrack. Glossy, high-contrast 2004 digital cinematography gives the chases a sleek, overcharged shine, and the score runs on thumping beats, electric guitar and bursts of upbeat song-and-dance numbers that break the tension on purpose. The mood is brash, playful and fizzy, a crime caper with a light romance and a lot of showing-off, more breezy adrenaline than dread. Pacing is brisk, with stunts and jokes arriving in quick succession and the leads' rivalry and grudging respect carrying the middle. Violence is mostly stylised action: crashes, scuffles and gunfire with little blood and no gore, though a few scenes are tense. It suits a Friday night with friends, a fast-paced watch when you want spectacle and music, and people who enjoy big, unashamedly cheerful action with a dash of swagger.
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