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20 years of Dhoom: Look back at Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra's cult classic that revved up Bollywood
20 years on, Dhoom still rules as the 2004 blockbuster that revolutionized Bollywood action films.
Aug 27, 2024
20 years of Dhoom
It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the release of Dhoom. For obvious reasons, the 2004 action-thriller film continues to be a topic of discussion among cinema enthusiasts. The film captivated audiences with its love for motorcycles, a style rarely explored in Bollywood, and its portrayal of cops and robbers in contemporary times. Now, marking two decades since the release of Dhoom on the big screen, Yash Raj Films reminisced on their social media pages about the film, which starred Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra, Esha Deol, and Rimi Sen in the lead roles.
The impact of Dhoom's style and music on pop culture
They shared a montage video showcasing how Dhoom possesses all the elements that have contributed to its cult status over the years. While sharing the video, they recalled how the Dhoom Machale song became a go-to dance number for many fans. We also witnessed the lead characters setting cool fashion trends, and last but definitely not least, the action-packed sequences, especially on bikes. On top of that, Bollywood gained a new favourite duo, Jai and Ali!
Check out the video below:
Aditya Chopra and Vijay Krishna Acharya co-wrote the 2004 action thriller Dhoom under the banner of Yash Raj Films, while the late Sanjay Gadhvi directed it. The Dhoom franchise begins with this film. Pritam created the soundtrack, and Salim-Sulaiman oversaw the score. Rameshwar S. Bhagat edited the film, while Nirav Shah shot it.
Dhoom plot overview: A high-octane chase across Mumbai and Goa
Following Yash Chopra's Vijay Yash Raj Films returned to action with Dhoom. A police officer, Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan), and a motorbike dealer, Ali Akbar Fateh Khan (Uday Chopra), are tasked with apprehending the gang of bike-riding bandits headed by John Abraham (John Abraham), who commit heists in Mumbai.
At the beginning of the story, a ruthless gang of thieves terrorizes Mumbai and the police force. Their high-tech motorcycles are the smoothest and swiftest vehicles on the road, and they show up suddenly, sweep the area, and then vanish.
Abhishek Bachchan's character, Officer Jai Dixit, is assigned to the case. The band of robbers, led by the obnoxious perfectionist Kabir (John Abraham), is quickly catching up with him. Uday Chopra portrays Ali, a cheerful garage mechanic and exceptional bike rider, whom Jai hires. Unwillingly, the two sidekicks band together, and Jai quickly learns that the clown is a natural on two wheels. Arrogance compels Kabir to publicly accept the challenge as he quickly learns about Jai-Ali's partnership. The chase moves from the seedy streets of Mumbai to the idyllic beaches of Goa. The pursuit then begins, with the hunter occasionally finding himself the target of the pursuit.
Dhoom updates the traditional "cops and robbers" story for the modern day. It is an explosive adventure and adrenaline powerhouse with lightning-fast motorcycles, massive action, non-stop fun, and a plot that will leave you gasping for air. It is akin to getting on your preferred roller coaster: you will not want to disembark!
Critical Reception: Praise for action, criticism for the narrative
While critics praised the acting, action scenes, and score of Dhoom they panned the narrative and drew harsh comparisons to other Hollywood franchises such as Ocean's Eleven, Death Race and Fast & Furious. On August 27, 2004, the film received mixed reviews upon its release. Making over ₹290 million in India, the film became the third highest-grossing Indian film of 2004 and became a commercial triumph. Its cult following has grown over the years since its debut.
Earlier, Sanjay Gadhvi persuaded Aditya Chopra to switch to bike pursuits from car chases since the riders' faces are visible and he was fascinated with bikes when he was little.
The legacy of Dhoom
Reuniting as Jai Dixit and Ali Akbar Khan, respectively, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra star in the sequels Dhoom 2 and Dhoom 3 which are part of a film franchise.
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