New Delhi: Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge shows the 2016 demonetisation ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a narrative device to represent the tensions between India and Pakistan. Dhar’s film brings demonetisation back into the spotlight along with a cameo from Modi in a clip from 2014 and 2016, although it is not the first time the controversial policy has appeared on the big screen.
Dhar shows the currency change as a political “masterstroke” that stopped Pakistan’s influence on fake notes floating in the country, which criminal syndicates funded. Since Modi’s surprise announcement on 8 November 2016 that scrapped 500 and 1000 notes across the nation, several filmmakers have tried to capture the shock, chaos, and political debate triggered by the decision, using it as a social commentary or a plot device.
Here are five other Indian feature films that looked at demonetisation and its impact:
1. Shunyota (2017)
The Bengali drama directed by Suvendu Ghosh Shunyota is based on demonetisation and was released in West Bengal after six cuts in April 2017. The film, originally slated for release in December 2016, had to make several cuts prescribed by the Central Board of Film Certification. Filmmaker Ghosh completed the movie soon after Modi announced the currency change measure across India.
2. Mersal (2017)
Long before TVK chief Thalapathy Vijay was caught in the political maelstrom after a stampede at a Karur rally or for his film Jananayagan (2026), his 2017 feature Mersal also landed the Tamil star in considerable legal soup. The movie revolved around Modi’s policies on GST and demonetisation. In one of the scenes in the film, Vadivu (Vadivelu) jokes with a robber because he did not have any cash after the demonetisation. Director Atlee Kumar’s film was a massive blockbuster despite political opposition and even doctors’ protests against the representation of the medical fraternity.
Also Read: What are Preity Zinta, Madhur Bhandarkar, Allu Arjun saying about Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2
3. Puthan Panam (2017)
The Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Ranjith, focused on the issue of black money and demonetisation in the state. It stars Mammootty, Siddique and Mamukkoya in prominent roles. The film follows a series of incidents in the life of Mangalore-based don Nithyananda Shenoy (Mammootty) following the announcement of demonetisation. The 2017 film, which was also a commercial success, was dubbed in Tamil as Cashback and Kannada as Demonetisation.
4. Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai ( 2020)
The Hindi-language film directed by Anurag Kashyap, centred on a bank cashier, Sarita (Saiyami Kher), who finds a stash of money in her kitchen. She then decides to use it to secure a better future. Her plans, however, go for a toss after demonetisation, which forces her to return to her harsh reality. The film was released on Netflix in June 2020.
5. Kuttey (2023)
Director Aasman Bhardwaj’s 2023 film Kuttey features several gangs crossing paths with corrupt cop Gopal (Arjun Kapoor), Poonam (Tabu) and Paaji (Kumud Mishra), each trying to make money out of the desperation of the gangsters. Despite shootouts, double crossings and bloodbaths, Gopal manages to get his hands on a large sum of money, which amounts to nothing after demonetisation. The film, which marked Bhardwaj’s directorial debut, was a commercial failure.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)