A dark, unflinching tale of revenge and the futility of vengeance

Wars & Conflicts · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2015, the Indian crime thriller Badlapur explores the devastating consequences of a botched robbery. What begins as a pursuit for justice evolves into a cold, calculated cycle of violence that leaves characters grappling with the heavy cost of retribution and the ultimate emptiness of revenge.

Released on 20 February 2015 and directed by Sriram Raghavan, this Hindi-language crime thriller adapts Massimo Carlotto's Italian novel, Death's Dark Abyss. Varun Dhawan portrays Raghu Purohit, a man whose existence is destroyed after a Pune bank robbery kills his son, Robin, and wife, Misha. The incident involves two friends, Liaq and Harman, whose actions set off a fifteen-year descent into darkness. The production was backed by Dinesh Vijan and Sunil Lulla through Maddock Films and Eros International. It serves as the first collaboration for Raghavan and the composers Sachin–Jigar since the 2004 film Ek Hasina Thi.

The narrative is characterized by its grim tone and complex moral ambiguity. Raghu's quest for vengeance leads him to commit increasingly brutal acts, including the murder of Harman and his wife, Kanchan "Koko" Khatri, with a hammer. The film's portrayal of violence and its treatment of women have been subjects of critical discussion; while some critics praised its storytelling and performances, others, such as Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV, noted a pervasive and contemptful treatment of women throughout the film. The film's soundtrack features the single "Jee Karda", which debuted in December 2014. Additionally, the movie received a nomination for Best Film at the 61st Filmfare Awards.

Despite these critiques, the film achieved commercial success, grossing approximately ₹103 crore (US$11 million) worldwide. It has since been regarded as a modern classic, particularly noted for Dhawan's performance. The film's production included filming real jail scenes at Nashik Jail, where the cast worked alongside actual inmates to capture an authentic atmosphere. Ultimately, the story concludes with a reflection on the futility of revenge, as the character Liaq dies of cancer in prison, leaving Raghu to face the emptiness of his actions. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 92% rating based on eight reviews. The production also utilised various Pune locations, including the Camp area for a car chase and Cafe Columbia for a pivotal scene.

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