Andhadhun Explained: Deconstructing Sriram Raghavan’s Thriller Masterpiece

Sriram Raghavan’s 2018 film Andhadhun took audiences and critics by storm, quickly achieving massive success and sparking countless discussions about its intricate plot and masterful manipulation. This article revisits the film, dissecting its layers, symbolism, and famously ambiguous ending to offer a deeper understanding of Raghavan’s cinematic genius. Prepare for SPOILERS as we delve into the world of Akash, Simi, and the web of deceit they inhabit.

One of the most striking elements Raghavan employs is symbolism, particularly assigning animal counterparts to his characters: Akash (Ayushmann Khurrana) is the Rabbit, Simi (Tabu) the Vulture, Pramod Sinha (Anil Dhawan) the Crab, and secondary characters like Mavashi and Murli are Monkeys, while the corrupt police officer represents a Tiger. These associations, though not always explicit, provide a framework for understanding character motivations and the film’s underlying narrative.

The Setup: Characters, Motives, and Early Clues

The film cleverly begins without the standard statutory warning card, a subtle nod from Raghavan challenging censorship norms and hinting at the story’s morally grey conclusion. The opening scene features a blind rabbit running through a field, seemingly escaping danger. This immediately establishes the symbolic link to Akash – the “blind” protagonist constantly trying to evade peril. This isn’t just a random rabbit; its blindness mirrors Akash’s feigned condition.

Akash’s introduction clarifies his primary goals: completing his musical composition and traveling to London for a competition. These motivations drive his initial actions. Contrastingly, Pramod Sinha’s first appearance prominently features the crab he carries before revealing his face. This isn’t accidental; it foreshadows his fate, linked to Simi’s chillingly casual first line referencing Hamlet – a play steeped in betrayal and murder.

Tabu as Simi Sinha discusses Hamlet, foreshadowing events in the movie Andhadhun.

Simi’s subsequent monologue about preparing crab parallels her potential plan to deal with her affair or seek a divorce from Sinha. She expresses affection but desires freedom, perhaps initially hoping for a clean break. However, the imagery hints at the inevitable “blood on her hands,” foreshadowing the violent turn of events.

Simi, played by Tabu, contemplates cooking crab in Andhadhun, hinting at future events.

Close-up of Tabu's hands handling a crab, symbolizing the impending violence in Andhadhun.

The Catalyst: The Accident and Entering the Web

Akash’s collision with Sophie appears accidental, yet a fleeting moment shows him without his grey contact lenses. While potentially a continuity error, it raises the question of whether Akash orchestrated the encounter to get closer to Franco, the bar owner (Sophie’s father). His later actions, like cancelling tuitions, suggest a calculated move. Observe Franco’s t-shirt print: a rabbit clinging to the wearer, symbolizing Akash’s newfound dependence on Franco’s establishment for income.

Akash, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, seemingly involved in an accident in Andhadhun.

Akash consistently repeats his backstory about losing his sight. This isn’t just exposition; it’s a practiced narrative designed to maintain consistency and deflect suspicion – a tactic crucial to remember later. His removal of the lenses confirms the earlier shot was likely an error, but his performance as a blind man is central to the plot. Raghavan even includes a lighthearted moment seemingly mocking Ayushmann’s character.

Ayushmann Khurrana as Akash removes his contact lens in a private moment in Andhadhun.

Witness to Murder: Symbolism and Rising Tension

Simi, the Vulture, begins meticulously testing Akash, ensuring his blindness is convincing. Her calculated nature becomes increasingly apparent.

Tabu as Simi testing Ayushmann Khurrana's blindness in a tense scene from Andhadhun.

The turning point arrives when Akash plays the piano at Sinha’s apartment. Raghavan’s direction here is masterful. As Akash witnesses Sinha’s body, his music hits a jarring high note, perfectly reflecting his internal shock while maintaining his outward composure. Simi, meanwhile, contemplates the rapidly escalating situation. This marks the end of the first act, plunging Akash into a deadly game.

Simi continuously improvises, showcasing her cunning. Her use of a pre-recorded argument with Sinha to stage an alibi is particularly telling. Was the earlier kitchen “rehearsal” merely a setup to gather such recordings? The audio played back is subtly edited – Pramod says “fantastic” only once, versus twice in the original scene. Further evidence lies in a line heard in the playback, “Gussa hoogayi?“, which wasn’t present in the scene viewers witnessed. This strongly implies Simi had been recording conversations for a while, potentially planning an exit strategy with her police officer lover, Manohar. Her subsequent tears introduce ambiguity: did she genuinely want Sinha dead, or did the situation spiral out of control? The Vulture’s true intentions remain murky.

Simi, played by Tabu, manipulates a recorded conversation as part of her plan in Andhadhun.

Deepening Deception and Escalating Stakes

A seemingly minor detail – Akash noticing the tattoo on Mavashi’s hand – becomes crucial later. Symbolism reappears as Franco wears a Vulture-printed tee, explicitly linking Simi to the predatory bird.

Restaurant owner Franco wears a vulture-print t-shirt, subtly referencing Simi's character in Andhadhun.

Simi’s calculated disposal of her elderly neighbour demonstrates chilling efficiency. Raghavan crafts this sequence with suspense, amplified by the score, showcasing Simi’s ruthlessness.

A tense moment where Simi attempts to push her elderly neighbor off a ledge in Andhadhun.

Throughout the ordeal, Akash maintains his “blind” facade, reacting minimally. However, facing Manohar’s gun pushes him over the edge; instinct takes over, betraying his act. This links back to Akash’s introductory monologue about the lengths artists go to for their craft – his blindness, initially a gimmick for inspiration, becomes a dangerous reality when Simi blinds him for real.

Akash, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, appears genuinely distressed after being confronted in Andhadhun.

With Akash blinded and the neighbour silenced, Simi believes she has eliminated all links to Pramod’s murder, clearing her path. Or so she thinks.

Simi, played by Tabu, looks relieved after seemingly resolving a complication in Andhadhun.

The Unraveling: New Players and Moral Compromises

The film enters its unpredictable third act. Murli and Mavashi, the organ traffickers, enter the fray. Raghavan portrays them as Monkeys – impulsive, acting without foresight. Their interaction with the corrupt officer (the Tiger) highlights their recklessness. The Tiger symbolism is primarily confined to this sequence, emphasizing the officer’s predatory nature within the criminal ecosystem.

The lottery ticket vendor and auto driver, representing 'monkeys', discuss their plans in Andhadhun.

Their ill-conceived plan to photograph the officer backfires, showcasing their impulsive “monkey” traits, underscored by dynamic camera work. Karma catches up swiftly.

Dynamic shot capturing the impulsive actions of Murli and Mavashi in Andhadhun.

The introduction of Dr. Swami and the illegal organ trade adds another layer of moral complexity. His line, “What is life? It depends on the liver,” carries profound weight, both literally and figuratively, within the film’s context. Note the exact phrasing.

Dr. Swami discusses the importance of the liver, a key line in Andhadhun's plot.

The Ambiguous Ending: Two Years Later

The narrative jumps two years forward. Akash is seemingly in London, performing. We believe a transplant occurred, giving him a “happy ending.” Sriram Raghavan himself makes cameo appearances in the audience during this sequence. Akash finally performs the musical piece he was working on at the film’s start, bringing that thread to a close.

Sriram Raghavan makes a cameo appearance in the audience during Akash's performance in London.

He encounters Sophie again and recounts his “long story.” Crucially, Akash is the narrator here. His version presents him as morally upright. He claims Dr. Swami decided against harvesting Simi’s organs, wanting to spare Akash the guilt. In this telling, Simi breaks free, attempts to run Akash over, but swerves to avoid a rabbit, crashing and dying. Dr. Swami supposedly dies trying to save Simi. Akash then claims he reached Europe with a friend’s help.

Akash recounts his version of the events leading to the Andhadhun ending to Sophie.

However, inconsistencies arise. Akash quotes Dr. Swami’s line as, “What is life? It’s all depend on liver.” The addition of “all” is a subtle but significant change from the original dialogue (Point 31 vs. 36). Furthermore, in Akash’s narrated flashback, the doctor stops the car before Simi attacks.

Akash's flashback shows the car stopping before Simi's alleged final actions in Andhadhun.

The rabbit motif reappears: Simi swerves to avoid a rabbit, which survives. Akash, the symbolic rabbit, has also survived his ordeal. His cane, topped with a rabbit emblem, reinforces this connection.

Akash narrates how Simi supposedly crashed after swerving to avoid a rabbit in Andhadhun.

Close-up of the rabbit emblem on Akash's cane in the final scenes of Andhadhun.

When Sophie suggests he should have taken Simi’s eyes (echoing her earlier philosophy of leaving things unfinished), Akash shows a troubled expression. This hints that his narrated version might be fabricated. The final, undeniable proof comes in the last shot: Akash, supposedly still blind, casually uses his cane to knock a can out of his path. He can see.

Ayushmann Khurrana as Akash uses his cane to knock over a can, revealing he isn't blind in Andhadhun's final scene.

Interpreting the Truth

Two primary interpretations emerge:

(A) Akash and Dr. Swami went through with the plan. They harvested Simi’s organs (and likely eyes for Akash), sold the rest, and Akash used the money to get to London. His story to Sophie is a carefully constructed narrative, much like his “optic nerve damage” tale, designed to portray him favorably. The altered doctor’s quote and his final action support this. How did he know a rabbit caused the crash if he was blind? This version suggests a darker, more morally compromised Akash who prioritised survival and achieving his goals.

(B) Akash’s story is largely true. Dr. Swami had a change of heart, Simi died accidentally, and Akash found another way to get his sight restored and reach Europe. This paints Akash in a more sympathetic light but leaves questions about how he regained his vision and the inconsistency of the doctor’s quote.

The animal symbolism weaves through the narrative: a clever Rabbit and a cunning Vulture locked in a survival game, impacting a Crab, Monkeys, and a Tiger along the way.

Conclusion: An Open-Ended Masterpiece

Ultimately, Andhadhun leaves the interpretation open. Sriram Raghavan masterfully plants clues, contradictions, and symbolic layers, forcing the audience to question everything. The subtle change in dialogue attributed to Dr. Swami and the undeniable final shot strongly suggest Version A – that Akash fabricated his heroic narrative after making morally ambiguous choices for his survival and success. This interpretation aligns with his character’s established tendency to manipulate narratives and his drive to “finish” things, including crafting a complete, albeit potentially false, story.

Andhadhun stands as a brilliant example of layered storytelling, rewarding viewers who engage with its complexities. Whether Akash is a victim forced into difficult choices or a manipulative survivor who crafted his own ending, the film’s power lies in its enduring ambiguity and the questions it leaves behind.