India, April 1 -- On Tuesday, Dhurandhar The Revenge crossed Rs.1400 crore at the global box office. It is the first Hindi film to cross the mark without the benefit of a windfall from China. In just 13 days, it is the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film of all time and is almost certain to finish in the top 2, maybe even at the very top. In the two weeks it has spent at the ticket window, the film has galvanised the nation, sparking memes, discussions, and dissections. In an interview with HT, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan compared its impact to that of Sholay, arguably the greatest Indian film ever.

And yet, for a film that has broken every Bollywood box-office record, the praise from within the industry is muted. Many fans have compl...