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Film: Dunki
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vikram Kochhar, Anil Grover, Vicky Kaushal and Boman Irani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Producers: Jyoti Deshpande, Gauri Khan and Rajkumar Hirani
In the midst of action and masala entertainers comes a breath of fresh air, reminding us that cinema is also a medium to communicate to the audience and entertain them while doing so. This breath of fresh air comes in the form of Dunki.
Dunki tells the story of how everyday men and women in a village named Laltu in Punjab face their daily struggles with the hunger to create a better life for their families. To them, working abroad appears to be a way of ending their struggles and bringing pride to their loved ones. Going abroad however is a far-fetched idea for those without money or higher education. This is the case of Manu (Taapsee Pannu), Buggu (Vikram Kochhar) and Balli (Anil Grover).
A ray of hope appears when Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan) arrives in Laltu. How exactly he provides hope, you will find out in the film! Through the preparation for travelling abroad, the viewer comes across Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal), who through unfortunate events, got separated from the woman he loves and now also aims to make it to London with a purpose.
Despite time and money spent, achieving a visa is still not possible, and they have just one option – Dunki, which refers to entering another country via illegal means. Dunki also involves crossing various countries and climates and risking one’s life to make it to their destination. The determined Manu, Buggu and Hardy go ahead, and this journey forms the essence of the film.
The performances in the film may be one of the most note-worthy in recent times, with Shah Rukh Khan giving off an exceptional performance and Hardy now becomes another memorable character of his, which will give comfort to fans for years to come. Taapsee Pannu also shines in her role of Manu, while Vikram Kochhar and Anil Grover excel in delivering laughs. Vicky Kaushal’s performance as Sukhi is one which will blow you away even though it’s a limited character.
Rajkumar Hirani’s vision is clear, and it was executed neatly despite being an out-of-the-box concept, something Hirani is a master of. The partnership between Rajkumar Hirani and SRK was certainly worth the wait! Despite not being an action film, they still deliver an ‘out of this world’ experience presenting a reality unknown to most of the world.
Pritam’s music adds to the charm of the characters and overall story. If you’re a fan of SRK’s romantic avatars, then prepare to see a comeback in this regard, and even if you’re not, you will admire how a love story still managed to fit into this unconventional film.
Dunki may not be your conventional film, especially looking at the last few years of cinema, but it excels in being a complete family entertainer. It is a film which treated its concept with the sensitivity and understanding it deserves and still presented it through an entertaining and non-preachy way. This film deserves to be seen by the masses and will surely leave with you with a heavy but ultimately happy heart.
Dunki is now showing at a cinema near you!
