When Vulgarity Breaks Records, What Exactly Are We Celebrating?

Once upon a time, cinema was art.
Then it became entertainment.
Now, it’s a blood sport—with a box-office counter.

When Animal released last year, many thought we had hit rock bottom. Extreme violence. Toxic masculinity packaged as “alpha male energy.” Torture scenes defended as “raw realism.”

Apparently, that wasn’t the bottom.

Because Dhurandhar didn’t just follow Animal.
It overtook it—in collections, hype, and unapologetic vulgarity.

And that raises an uncomfortable question:

Is this what Indian society is cheering for now?

Box Office Doesn’t Lie. But It Also Doesn’t Care.

Reported figures show Animal crossing roughly ₹900+ crore worldwide, a number once reserved for cultural landmarks.

Dhurandhar, according to early trade chatter, is running ahead of that pace, smashing records faster than critics can finish typing their reviews.

Let’s pause here.

When movies dominated by:

• Graphic torture
• Prolonged violence
• Dehumanisation masquerading as heroism

…become our biggest successes, it’s not “just cinema” anymore.

It’s a mirror.

And the reflection isn’t flattering.

Violence as Art, Vulgarity as Freedom?

Defenders say:

“It’s just a movie.”
“Don’t watch if you don’t like it.”
“This is artistic freedom.”

Fair enough.

But here’s the hypocrisy critics are pointing out:

• Political satire? Cut.
• Social criticism? Mute.
• Religious sensitivity? Blur.
• Graphic torture and misogyny? Full HD. Dolby Atmos.

So the question isn’t whether censorship exists.
It’s who it exists for.

Censor Board: Watchdog or Weathercock?

There is a growing public perception—especially on social media and among independent critics—that the censor board has become selectively blind.

Past examples frequently cited in debates:

• Films asked to trim political dialogue
• Scenes cut for “hurting sentiments”
• Entire releases delayed or stalled

But when extreme violence aligns conveniently with nationalist chest-thumping or power fantasies?

Suddenly:

• No major cuts
• No objections
• No “public morality” lectures

No official document says this.
But the pattern is what people are questioning.

And patterns are louder than press releases.

Torture on the Big Screen, Children in the Audience

Let’s be brutally honest.

Some scenes in Dhurandhar are described by viewers as:

• Viscerally disturbing
• Excessively prolonged
• Designed to shock, not serve the story

Yet they play openly in theatres.
Public spaces. Family malls. Weekend matinees.

No warnings strong enough.
No accountability afterward.

If this is “certified”, then certification has lost its meaning.

Fans at War, Stars in the Crossfire

Meanwhile, Bollywood has turned into a gladiator arena.

Animal fans vs Dhurandhar fans.
Ranbir Kapoor vs Ranveer Singh—whether they like it or not.

The rivalry isn’t new, but it’s getting personal.

Recent comments and counter-comments:

• Ranbir making a pointed remark about refusing to “dance at weddings for money,” a statement widely interpreted as a dig at Ranveer.
• Ranveer, known to perform at high-profile weddings, reportedly earning lakhs per appearance, becoming an easy target.

Then comes the counterpunch:

“Didn’t Ranbir dance with his wife at the Ambani event?”

Fans aren’t debating art anymore.
They’re auditing moral consistency.

Stardom, Ego, and the Collapse of Dignity

This isn’t about who dances where.

It’s about how:

• Stardom is confused with superiority
• Money is mistaken for moral high ground
• Violence on screen is excused while personal choices are judged

When heroes themselves appear more insecure than their characters, fandom becomes tribal—and toxic.

Cinema as Propaganda, Not Provocation?

A growing segment of viewers believes films like Dhurandhar are not just entertainment but ideological products—carefully aligned to avoid trouble while amplifying aggression, nationalism, and domination narratives.

Again—no smoking gun.
But plenty of smoke.

When:

• Controversial films sail through approvals
• Critics are dismissed as “anti-national”
• Violence is reframed as patriotism

People will connect dots. Fairly or not.

What This Says About Us

This isn’t really about Dhurandhar.
Or Animal.
Or Ranbir vs Ranveer.

It’s about us.

A society where:

• Shock sells
• Rage entertains
• Brutality is mistaken for bravery

When vulgarity breaks records, it’s not the director celebrating.

It’s the audience.

The Final Question No One Wants to Answer

If this is the cinema we reward,
the culture we defend,
the violence we normalise…

What exactly are we becoming?

And more importantly—

Who benefits when we stop asking questions and start cheering instead?

Cinema reflects society.
But sometimes, it also reveals how far society has fallen.

Think about it.

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