Dishkiyaoon
- Director
- Sanamjit Singh Talwar
- Studio
- Essential SportsMediaEssential Sports & Media
- Release Date
- 27 March 2014
- Running Time
- 119 min
- Language
- Hindi
- Country
- India
- Budget
- ₹3.90 Cr
- Box Office
- ₹6.88 Cr
Review
Rajat Kapoor's *Dishkiyaoon* attempts to chart familiar underworld territory through the lens of mentorship and moral corruption, but stumbles in execution despite its compelling central premise. The film hinges on the relationship between Viki and the enigmatic gangster Lakwa—a dynamic that recalls the mentor-protégé frameworks we've seen in *Satya* and *Company*, yet lacks the psychological depth or narrative propulsion those films wielded. Harshvardhan Rane brings earnestness to Viki's desperate ambition, and there's genuine chemistry between him and Irrfan Khan, whose Lakwa carries an unsettling quietude. However, the screenplay dilutes their arc with meandering subplots and uneven pacing; the first half meanders through gang hierarchies without establishing real stakes, and by the time consequences arrive, we've lost investment in the outcome.
The film's technical execution reveals a director more interested in atmosphere than clarity. Cinematography bathes Mumbai's underbelly in appropriately murky tones, but the narrative structure—jumping between Viki's rise and scattered flashbacks—obscures rather than illuminates character development. Where *Company* or even the messier *D-Day* weaponized their chaotic editing for thematic purpose, *Dishkiyaoon* simply feels unfocused. Khan elevates every scene he inhabits, but even his formidable presence cannot salvage a third act that deflates rather than builds, settling for melodrama when the premise demands tragedy. The film
Storyline
So basically, this movie follows this young guy named Viki who's basically a street kid from Mumbai with huge dreams of becoming somebody important. He starts out hanging around with a small-time gang run by this guy Tony, but he realizes pretty quickly that they're not playing in the big leagues. He gets obsessed with finding his way into the serious criminal underworld where the real power players operate, and that's when he spots Lakwa – this legendary gangster who's basically a myth in Mumbai's underworld scene.
Viki becomes completely fascinated with Lakwa because the guy's got this intense, mysterious vibe and a reputation for being absolutely ruthless and calculating. He basically stalks this dude until he finally gets Lakwa's attention, and somehow manages to convince him to take him on as a protégé. What starts as a mentor-student relationship really becomes something deeper – like a father-son kind of bond. Lakwa teaches Viki everything about surviving in their world, from knowing when to be brutal to when to hold back, and most importantly, that nobody can really be trusted.
The whole film is really centered on this relationship between these two guys and how Viki gradually climbs up the criminal ladder under Lakwa's guidance, eventually becoming a serious player himself. But here's the thing – success in this world doesn't come without consequences, and the movie digs into what it actually costs to pursue that kind of ambition. It's got layers beyond just the violence and crime stuff, especially with Lakwa's character who seems to have his own regrets and pain from his past.
