Dhruti Movie Review : A Realistic Take on Fear and Survival That Partially Works

By Susmita Sameera

The film follows two individuals whose lives unexpectedly collide on a dangerous night. Dhruti (Anchal Gowdra), a tennis player preparing for an important match, is returning after a late-night practice session at the stadium. At the same time, Prashanth (Prashanth Soppimath), newly married to Bhavana (Bhavana S Reddy), leaves home for a late-night work meeting despite his hesitation about stepping out at that hour. While travelling on the road toward their respective destinations, Prashanth is suddenly attacked by a group of goons who rob him and assault him with machetes and other weapons.

As he desperately tries to escape and save his own life, Dhruti, who is travelling behind him, becomes the attackers’ next target. Although Prashanth initially only wants to flee the situation, he eventually chooses to return and help Dhruti. The film then unfolds around how the two attempt to survive and escape the terrifying situation together.

Beyond the attack itself, the story also focuses on the aftermath of violence and trauma. The reactions of family members, the involvement of hospitals, police, media attention, and the emotional helplessness faced by victims are portrayed throughout the narrative. The film highlights how individual safety, regardless of gender, can be threatened without warning and explores how ordinary people respond when suddenly placed in life-threatening situations.

One of the more effective aspects of the film is the way it portrays strangers helping each other purely out of humanity. The idea that someone could have escaped safely but instead chooses to risk their own life to help another person is handled with sincerity. The emotional and psychological aftereffects of such incidents are also addressed reasonably well.

While the film begins on a hard-hitting note and establishes tension effectively, the narrative gradually becomes repetitive despite its shorter runtime. The intensity created during the initial portions starts drifting at intervals, though emotional moments later help regain some balance. As a result, the viewing experience feels slightly inconsistent.

The making is decent and functional without being particularly outstanding. The performances are sincere, and the actors do a respectable job portraying the fear, confusion, and emotional weight carried by their characters. The film’s core content and intention remain impactful, although the climax feels somewhat overdone. Certain questions also arise during the narrative, particularly regarding decisions made by the characters, such as delays in contacting the police or taking unnecessary risks. While some of these concerns are eventually addressed, a few doubts still linger.

Overall, the film attempts to present a realistic and precise portrayal of fear, survival, and human response during unexpected violence, supported by an emotionally driven narrative and socially relevant theme.