Daayra Review: A Shocking Hyderabad Real Story That Arrived Years Later

Some real-life incidents create a strong impact when they happen. If a film is made on such an incident soon after it happens, the audience may feel more connected to the story. But when many years pass, public interest can slowly reduce. This appears to be one of the major challenges for Daayra, a new Hindi film based on the 2019 Disha case.

The Disha incident in Hyderabad shocked people across the Telugu states. A veterinary doctor was sexually assaulted and murdered by four men. The accused were later killed in a police encounter. The incident became one of the biggest talking points at that time. The police action also received strong public attention, with many people openly supporting it on social media.

The incident later inspired filmmakers. Ram Gopal Varma had earlier made a film based on the case, but it did not receive the expected response from audiences.

Now, several years later, Bollywood has once again brought a similar story to the big screen with Daayra. The film features Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, while Kareena Kapoor plays an important character.

The basic story revolves around four rape accused who are killed by a police officer. Following directions from a human rights organisation, another police officer is brought in to investigate the encounter. The story mainly focuses on the investigation and the questions surrounding the police action.

Director Meghna Gulzar is known for choosing serious and socially relevant subjects. However, the timing of this particular story may have worked against the film. The Disha case received enormous public attention when it happened, and the police encounter became a major national discussion. Years later, turning that same incident into a lengthy theatrical drama becomes a difficult task.

The film also reportedly moves at a slow pace, especially in the second half. Instead of building strong tension, the narrative takes more time to reach its important moments. This can make the film feel less engaging.

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor have reportedly delivered sincere performances. However, strong performances alone may not be enough when the central subject does not create the same curiosity it once did.

If Daayra had arrived closer to the time of the original incident, audience interest might have been different. After several years, however, the film faces the difficult challenge of making an already familiar story feel fresh and exciting.