by Fahd Khan
Dunki is the story of every Indian aspiring to relocate abroad, often unaware of the challenges accompanying such a move. Many individuals feel jealous when they see their friends or people from their community depicted in photos enjoying life in foreign countries. This often leads them to aspire to go to such places themselves.
Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited film Dunki has hit the screens today amidst unprecedented fan excitement. The film’s plot highlights the plight of the immigrants and people willing to move out of their homeland to settle abroad for a better tomorrow challenging the glossy portrayal of immigrant’s life abroad.
When two stalwarts of Bollywood collaborate on a film, people expect nothing short of magic on-screen. Dunki has been generating a significant buzz among cine-goers ever since its announcement, as it marks the collaboration of Rajkumar Hirani and Shah Rukh Khan for the first time – the combo that people have been longing for for decades. Though the director does not seem to be in his best form this time, owing to the expectations people have from his films, he manages to make a heartwarming film.
The Plot
The film tells the story of four uneducated and poor friends Mannu, Buggi, Balli and Sukkhi from Punjab’s Laltu village who struggle to make ends meet. To overcome their financial condition, they all decide to move to England and it becomes their shared dream. However, their hearts are broken when their visa gets rejected due to their limited English-speaking skills and their socio-economic status. They are joined by a former Army officer Hardy Singh who tries to help them to fulfil their dream. Despite enrolling in an English learning institute, their failures in the IELTS and visa interviews leave them no choice but to opt for the illegal route- a Donkey route (Dunki) method of entering a foreign land without proper documentation.
To start with, Dunki is a typical Rajkumar Hirani film exploring unconventional themes.
Dunki is the story of every Indian aspiring to relocate abroad, often unaware of the challenges accompanying such a move. Many individuals feel jealous when they see their friends or people from their community depicted in photos enjoying life in foreign countries. This often leads them to aspire to go to such places themselves.
The movie challenges the glamorous portrayals of immigrant life, exposing their often-exaggerated claims of luxurious living. Besides, it sheds light on the deceptive nature of images, cautioning against blindly believing what one sees in photographic albums. It highlights that photos are good liars and can be misleading, concealing the emptiness.
The story of the film is as fresh as the morning’s dew. There are, however, ebbs and flaws in the screenplay which we often don’t find in Rajkumar Hirani’s filmography. The first half of the film feels a bit sluggish and drawn-out, incorporating illogical sequences, such as unrealistic border crossings.
Yet the hilarious comedy scenes at the English Academy and embassies salvage the lengthy screenplay in the first half and make one roll in the aisles.
There were only three people shown guarding the border in the movie, and the characters managed to cross without getting caught most of the time. This might make you wonder if Rajkumar Hirani stopped the time in the story, or the guards were sleeping, or maybe the movie was hinting at the “open borders”.
The second half of the film keeps you hooked to your seats. It rides high on emotions and addresses the immigrant-related issues that resonate with the audience. While the Punjabi accent of the actors occasionally feels forced at times, the funny English dialogue will make you go ROFL. However, the film falters a bit when transitioning from a social drama to a conventional Shah Rukh Khan romance.
The story features many positive points. Moments like the courtroom scene and the confrontation scene between Hardy and Balli, when Hardy comes to know about his living condition you would all connect to, evoking strong emotional responses. The airport scene will give you the vibes of Veer-Zaara.
Overall, the film is the perfect blend of comedy, and entertainment that rides high on emotions with a societal message. The film is the complete package of what an audience expects from a film. The film seems to miss the touch of Rajkumar Hirani films, courtesy of the legacy of his past films i.e. Situational comedy and trademark weaving of humour and emotions.
The Pathaan and Jawan Success
After the humongous response to his last two films Jawan and Pathaan, which were released earlier this year, there was colossal excitement among the audience for Shah Rukh Khan’s next Dunki as it brought the two maestros of the Indian cinema Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani together for the first time. Shah Rukh was initially supposed to star in Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai MBBS and 3 Idiots but had to opt out due to busy schedules and eventually collaborated with the master director for Dunki. The film was announced in April 2022.
Coming off the box office record-smashing Pathaan and Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan returns to the big screen in just 3 months for the third time in a year. Shah Rukh Khan began 2023 with Siddharth Annand-directed action entertainer Pathaan in January, which collected over Rs 1000 crore globally. In September, the superstar broke the records set by the superstar himself with Atlee’s masala actioner Jawan, which earned more than Rs 1100 crore worldwide. With Dunki, Shah Rukh Khan is eyeing the third blockbuster of the year.
Performances
The film rides on the shoulders of Shah Rukh Khan and he delivered an unmatched performance showcasing versatility and depth in his portrayal of Hardy Singh. His evocative eyes in the emotional scenes and impeccable comic timing are a testament to him as an actor. Shah Rukh as Hardy has multiple looks in the film and he has managed to pull all of them with a chef’s kiss.
Taapsee Pannu, essaying Manu Randhawa, delivers a stellar performance, effortlessly embodying the essence of a Punjabi girl owing to her real-life background.
Vicky Kaushal’s special cameo as Sukhi leaves a lasting impression,
Vikram Kochhar as Buggu is the show stealer. His comic timing and dialogues are brilliant and clap-worthy.
Boman Irani as an English tutor and Anil Grover as Balli also deliver commendable performances in their respective roles.
Director Rajkumar Hirani has done a commendable job. Dunki displays his adeptness at making films on complex issues. The way he has narrated a seemingly difficult and pertinent story in today’s time is appreciable. However, the typical Rajkumar Hirani touch which we have witnessed in Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots and PK is missing. Yet, Dunki stands as a compelling portrayal of immigration issues putting a stamp that he is one of the best storytellers in Bollywood, if not the best.
Pritam’s music disappoints this time, lacking any standout tracks that compel one to groove along.
The screenwriters Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani and Kanika Dhillon have tried their best to serve something new to the audience.
The cinematographers have also done a decent job by filming the beautiful locations of Saudi and England.
The Missing Kashmir
Earlier this year in April, Shah Rukh Khan along with his co-star Taapsee Pannu landed in Kashmir for the shooting schedule of Dunki. The actors shot a few scenes of the film in Sonamarg and South Kashmir for a few days.
Despite filming in picturesque locations in Kashmir, Dunki barely acknowledges the scenic beauty of the region. The few scenes shot in Sonamarg and South Kashmir depict the locales as foreign lands, a missed opportunity to showcase the splendour of Kashmir and potentially boost its tourism.
In Nutshell
On the whole, Dunki is a delightful 2.4-hour journey filled with emotions and comedy. A must-watch for those who enjoy heartwarming and social drama films. Given the stellar cast, directorial prowess and exploration of immigrant issues, Dunki holds a widespread appeal. It holds the potential to emerge as a huge box-office blockbuster.
