A cinematic tribute to UP’s war on mafia networks

Lucknow: The saga of Pakistan's Lyari underworld in Dhurandhar part 1 has expanded to include Uttar Pradesh as well in part II. At the centre of this cinematic narrative is a character modelled after former DGP Prashant Kumar. Portrayed on screen as a composed yet decisive officer, the character reflects the real-life image of Kumar, who became the public face of the state's sustained offensive against mafia networks under the Yogi Adityanath govt.The film revisits one of the most defining chapters in recent law enforcement history — the rise and fall of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed. With over 100 criminal cases spanning decades, Atiq's influence once symbolised the deep nexus between crime and politics in UP. That era came to a dramatic end with the killing of Atiq and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj while in police custody—an incident that unfolded live before television cameras and stunned the nation. A similar scene has been created on the reel.While the film does not claim to be a factual account, the portrayal is a nod to UP Police's high-intensity operations to enforce rule of law, says a former IPS officer.