There’s something about Dacoit: A Love Story that really pulls you in at first. The film opens on a surprisingly strong note. It builds mood, tension, and emotion in a way that makes you feel like you’re
about to witness an intense, layered love story. You settle in expecting a gripping mix of romance and revenge. And for a while, it actually delivers. But just when you start investing in it, the film begins to lose its grip, slowly slipping into confusion.
At its core, Dacoit tries to be a gritty, rustic Romeo-Juliet tale. The story follows Saraswati (Mrunal Thakur), a girl from an influential family, and Hari (Adivi Sesh), a man from a very different background. They fall in love, but things spiral quickly… betrayal, revenge, and emotional damage take over.
On paper, this sounds powerful… love trying to survive in a corrupt, class-divided world. But on screen, it becomes messy. The narrative keeps jumping, motivations feel unclear, and at times you’re just trying to figure out what exactly is happening and why. The “twisted” element feels more confusing than impactful.
If there’s one reason to watch this film, it’s the performances especially Mrunal Thakur. She is genuinely outstanding. Her portrayal of a broken, helpless woman feels so real that you almost forget you’re watching an actor. There are moments where she completely becomes Saraswati… her pain, her silence, her emotional breakdowns, even her depression… everything hits hard. The way she cries, the way she carries emotional exhaustion on her face, it’s raw and deeply moving. Honestly, she lifts several scenes that otherwise wouldn’t have worked.
Adivi Sesh, on the other hand, brings a very controlled intensity. He doesn’t go over the top, which works in his favour. There’s anger, pain, and restraint in his performance, and you can see he’s fully committed to the role. Even when the writing lets him down, he holds his ground.
The supporting cast with Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, and Atul Kulkarni add weight. Anurag Kashyap, in particular, stands out. In fact, the climax becomes engaging largely because his character finally brings some clarity to the chaos.
Director Shaneil Deo shows real promise in the beginning. The setup is engaging and visually grounded. But as the film progresses, the direction loses focus. The film tries too hard to be layered and “smart,” but forgets to stay clear. Emotional scenes don’t transition well into action, and the tonal shifts feel abrupt. It’s like the vision was there but it wasn’t held together properly.
For a film with such a strong premise, the technical aspects feel underwhelming. The cinematography doesn’t fully utilise the setting, and the visuals lack depth and impact.
Music is another big miss. In a love story like this, the songs should have been the emotional backbone. Instead, they’re forgettable and don’t add anything meaningful to the narrative.
Dacoit: A Love Story had everything going for it… a powerful premise, a strong cast, and a promising start. But weak writing, a confusing screenplay, and inconsistent direction pull it down.
Watch it for Mrunal Thakur as she truly shines and carries the film on her shoulders. Adivi Sesh’s intensity and Anurag Kashyap’s presence also add value. But beyond that, this ends up being a film that had a lot to say, but didn’t quite know how to say it. In all, Dacoit has a strong start and brilliant performances, but ultimately it is a messy, frustrating watch.
