Movie Name: Dhadak 2
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Others
Director: Gowtham Tinnanuri
Produced By: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi
Release Date: 31st July 2025
Dhadak 2, a remake of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), stars Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi and releases in theaters today, August 1, 2025.
Produced by Karan Johar, the trailer for the film has sparked some concerns among fans of the original movie, who believe it strays from the original storyline. In our review, we will see if those concerns are justified or not.
Story:
The movie tells the story of Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a law student from a lower caste who falls for his classmate Vidhi (Triptii Dimri), who belongs to a higher caste. Men from Vidhi’s family mistreat and bully him to defend their so-called honor. The rest of the story is about how Neelesh overcomes the trauma of humiliation and stands tall on his feet, along with making Vidhi realize the reason for his indifference.
Performances:
Siddhant Chaturvedi gives a sincere performance as the boy torn between his ambitions and his sense of self. Triptii Dimri also leaves a good impression despite her character having room for improvement. Saurabh Sachdeva shines as the psychopath who sees himself as a divinely appointed vigilante upholding caste order. Harish Khanna, playing the girl’s lawyer father, effectively conveys the complexity and helplessness of his role. One wishes he had a more developed character arc.
Analysis:
Shazia Iqbal has kept all the original elements (Pariyerum Perumaal) in Dhadak 2; however, he fails in a few places, where the film does not translate its intentions. It turns into a fairly simple story that touches on various issues but does not evoke strong emotions except for a few hard-hitting parts.
That does not mean that the taking is not honest; Dhadak 2 features a character reminiscent of a real Dalit student who committed suicide. It also discusses the concept of honor and identity. Typically, music bridges the gaps in this kind of tale, but in this case, the soundtrack is disappointing.
The journey of the main lead, Neelesh, is mostly organic, and one feels for his struggles and wants him to achieve success. However, the female lead character, Nidhi, is not etched as perfectly as she should have been.
In an early moment in the film, Nidhi explains to Neelesh how she rejected the toxic masculinity of her last boyfriend, yet it is shown that she is unaware of her family’s casteist/horrible behavior.
Perhaps her family concealed their deep-seated disdain for lower-class individuals from her, but this should have been made clear in the narration.
Having said that, the latter part of the second half truly engages the audience as ambition finally finds its voice. The fightback of Neelesh hits the right chord, and the ending gives the hope of change.
Positives:
- Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Performance
- Striking Scenes/Dialogues
- Last Half An Hour
Negatives:
- A Few Rushed Parts
- Some Crucial Parts Miss The Mark
- Songs
Dhadak 2 Movie Review and Verdict:
Shazia Iqbal’s Dhadak 2 is an honest remake of Pariyerum Perumal. The film has several standout moments and a sincere performance from Siddhant Chaturvedi, supported by Triptii Dimri. It has some flaws, but is a watchable flick for the serious/social drama lovers.
