Badlapur, released in 2015, is a Hindi action thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan. It tells the story of revenge and its consequences. The film stars Varun Dhawan as Raghav “Raghu” Purohit and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Liaq, alongside a cast including Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam, and Vinay Pathak, amongst others.
The story begins with a bank robbery in Pune. Two friends, Liaq and Harman, commit the crime. During their getaway, they accidentally involve Misha and her son, Robin. Misha’s car is stolen by the robbers, and in the ensuing chase, both she and her son are killed. This tragic event devastates Misha’s husband, Raghu, who vows to find and punish those responsible.
Badlapur: Why did Raghu assault Jhimli?
Raghu’s first target is Liaq, whom he learns is one of the robbers. He finds Liaq in prison and attacks him, demanding to know who his accomplice is. Despite his efforts, Raghu doesn’t get the information he seeks. He then turns to Jhimli, Liaq’s girlfriend, who is a sex worker, hoping she might reveal the identity of the other robber. When she refuses to help, Raghu’s anger leads him to assault her.
The story then fast-forwards fifteen years. Liaq is now terminally ill and wishes to spend his remaining days with his mother. Raghu, still consumed by the desire for revenge, learns from Liaq’s mother, Zeenat, that Harman was Liaq’s partner in the robbery. She reveals this in exchange for her son’s parole.
Raghu then focuses on finding Harman. He discovers Harman’s wife, Koko, and manipulates her into believing he wants to start a relationship. He uses this as a tactic to make Harman confess his part in the crime. In a chilling scene, Raghu forces Koko to pretend they are having sex to torment Harman. His revenge plan continues as he brutally kills both Koko and Harman.
Raghu creates an alibi to cover his tracks with Shobha, a social worker, pretending to be in love with her. However, his plan unravels when Liaq becomes suspicious about Harman’s disappearance. Liaq finds out from his mother that she gave Harman’s name to Raghu in exchange for Liaq’s freedom.
Did Raghu get his revenge?
The climax of the film is a violent confrontation between Raghu and Liaq. During the fight, Liaq confesses that he was the one who panicked and accidentally killed Raghu’s family. This revelation paints Raghu’s revenge in a new light, showing that his planned murders were different from Liaq’s impulsive act.
In an unexpected turn, Liaq decides to take responsibility for the crimes Raghu committed, giving him a chance to start over. He confesses to the police, thus absolving Raghu.
The film ends with Liaq dying of cancer in jail. Raghu meets Jhimli one last time, and she makes him realize the futility of his quest for revenge. The final scene shows Raghu standing alone in the rain, reflecting on his actions and the empty nature of his vengeance.
Badlapur is a story that explores the dark theme of revenge and its impact on human life. It shows how a single tragic event can lead to a chain of violence and sorrow, highlighting the destructive nature of vengeance and the possibility of redemption.
