With the heart-pounding promise of a fast-paced action thriller set within a 24-hour time frame, "Bloody Daddy" enters the Bollywood scene as a remake of the French film "Nuit Blanche" and its Tamil adaptation, 'Thoonga Vanam,' featuring the legendary Kamal Hasan. This high-octane spectacle seems primed to deliver an exhilarating ride. However, despite sporadic bursts of excitement, the film often stumbles into familiar territory, hampered by its lengthy runtime of over two hours, ultimately failing to live up to its own illusion of unpredictability.
Set in the bustling cities of Delhi and Gurugram, "Bloody Daddy" revolves around a coveted bag of cocaine worth a staggering Rs 50 crore, propelling a relentless pursuit between a group of cops and criminals. The narrative unfolds in the aftermath of the second phase of the pandemic, as society reopens, craving a return to wild and indulgent revelry. Naturally, this translates into a surge in demand for drugs. While the suspense of identifying the corrupt cops holds some intrigue, it only takes us so far, as the signs pointing to their true nature become evident right from the start. The film begins with a dawn shootout that leaves two drug runners dead, and the two individuals who recover the bag find themselves on the run.
Among the narcotics officers, suspicions loom over the characters of Sumair (played by Shahid Kapoor), who sustains a bullet wound within the first five minutes and cherishes his relationship with his young son, who, unsurprisingly, becomes a pawn in this perilous game. Then there's Samir (portrayed by Rajeev Khandelwal), whose enigmatic phone calls raise questions, and Aditi (portrayed by Diana Penty), who fluctuates between the two men, striving to maintain her tough and astute demeanor.
On the opposing side of the law, there is no ambiguity. Ronit Roy dons a flamboyant scarlet designer jacket, asserting his authority from a self-proclaimed 'seven-star hotel' that serves as his fortress. Accompanying him is Sanjay Kapoor, sporting matching red glares, alongside a trusted lieutenant who excels in both sniffing out secrets and displaying unwavering loyalty. Assorted henchmen frequently patrol the opulent hotel, where a grand wedding unfolds, and the guests eagerly await a performance by the popular singer, Badshah, to elevate the celebrations.
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As viewers, we find ourselves yearning for the anticipated excitement to escalate, as Sumair-Shahid, with his sleek hairstyle and alternating between a leather jacket and a formal black suit, navigates through the intricacies of the plot. The rare instances where Shahid's vulnerability and pain seep through the screen stand out, while Ronit Roy seizes the spotlight in select scenes. A couple of running jokes, such as the young boy's insistence on 'lactose-free milk' and 'gluten-free bread,' elicit mild amusement mixed with horrified expressions from both his father and the mobsters but remain fleeting, much like the film itself.