This article discusses the ending of the Netflix film Dhamaka (2021) and contains spoilers.
Directed by Ram Madhvani, this is the official remake of the 2013 Korean action thriller, The Terror Live. Despite having the formula of a previously worked story, the lack of care of making this film wastes the opportunity to talk about the important issues regarding the working ethics of media in the present-day context (for that you must read the review).
Netflix film Dhamaka (2021) ending explained
But if we keep that part aside, viewers can wonder about the ending of Dhamaka. Why does Arjun trigger the bomb in the end? That question comes to our mind after the stretched climax (in my opinion) of the movie.
In the end, we see that the caller, who takes the responsibility of blasting the ‘Sea Link’ of Mumbai, is none other than one of the technical staff working in the same news network as our protagonist, Arjun Pathak. In his calls, he gives his identity as Raghubir Mhta. He claims that he has done all these terrorizing events only to get an apology from an influential minister for the deaths of his three labor friends.
Upon the climax, we come to know that the caller is not Raghubir Mhta but his son Anand Mhta. And it is Anand’s father, who died in the unfortunate tragedy three years ago caused by the mismanagement from the higher authorities. The authorities had not even apologized for this mismanagement, which leads Anand to create this state of terror to get an apology from them.
But after being exposed for his true identity by our protagonist, Arjun Pathak, he decides to blast the building where the show (a live show hosted by Arjun, where the whole conversation with Anand is being broadcasted). At the very moment of triggering the bomb, a sniper shot kills Anand.
After this all ends, Arjun is the only one trapped in the building destroyed by a previous blast. At that moment, the other media channels claim that Arjun is also associated with these blasts with Anand. Which is actually the fake story fed them by his boss to save the reputation of their channel. He is declared anti-national, his career gets finished and his reputation is gone with this news.
Alongside this shocking news, Arjun also comes to know about his wife’s death on the ‘Sea Link’ after she goes there to cover the ground report. That devastates Arjun. He remembers the oath he had taken once to his wife of being truthful in journalism. That brings the self-realization within him that his cover-ups of the truth cause this havoc in his life and many innocents.
So, with the commandos approach to arrest Arjun, already a sinking ship picks up the remote of the bomb placed in the building and triggers it. Maybe from avoiding the humiliation or the self-realization from his past evil deeds, he takes this path of self-destruction.
The film ends as the building collapses with the camera focusing on Arjun’s blank face signifying the loathing out of his own stupidity. With the beautiful song ‘Khoya Paya Tune Kya’ by Amit Trivedi playing in the background, the film fades to black symbolizing the void within Arjun after all his immoral efforts of personal gain, which leads to nothing.
