Star Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vikram Kochhar, Anil Grover, Boman Irani & Vicky Kaushal
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Run-time: 161 minutes
Dunki Movie Review
Introduction
A soldier named Hardayal Singh Dhillon( Shah Rukh Khan,) takes on a tough and daring mission to help a group of friends achieve their dream of going to London. As the group struggles to secure a Visa the legal way, they decide to take the infamous Dunki way, sneaking into the foreign land illegally. And that’s how their journey begins, a journey that is sure to change all their lives forever.
Plot Summary
Present Day: In present-day London, the story kicks off with Manu (Taapsee Pannu), ailing and longing to return to her homeland, India. Facing a maze of legalities, she realises that the key to her journey back home lies in the hands of Hardayal Singh Dhillon, fondly known as Hardy(Shah Rukh Khan). To navigate the complexities, Manu ropes two other fellow expats, Buggu (Vikram Kochhar) and Balli (Anil Grover), who had embarked on the same journey to London with her.
The Flashback: The narrative then takes a nostalgic turn, transporting the audience 25 years back to a small village, Laltu, in Punjab. Three friends, Manu (Taapsee Pannu), Buggu(Vikram Kochhar), and Balli (Anil Grover) shared a common dream of seeking prosperity in London, like many others in their village. Frustrated with their mundane lives, they look towards the gleaming city as their escape from difficulties.
Enters the Hardy(Shah Rukh Khan), a seasoned soldier and resourceful individual. A strong bond forms as Hardy promises to turn their dreams into reality. The trio, now a committed quartet, embarks on a roller-coaster journey to secure immigration visas. Wrestling, fake marriages, and dubious degrees are tried and tested, leading them into even the shady world of scams.
The turning point comes when they decide to master English in the hopes of securing a student visa. Enter Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal), another dreamer desperate to reach London for his own reasons. “Birmingham, here I come” becomes their rallying cry.
With Hardy’s(SRK) guidance, Balli(Anil Grover) manages to secure a VISA. However, for the rest, the only option is a perilous journey through the infamous “Donkey Flight”, a term used for illegal immigration. The trio, along with Hardy, undergoes a dangerous journey and miraculously reaches their dreamland. However, their joy is short-lived as they uncover the harsh realities of the lives of illegal immigrants.
Back To The Present Day: As Manu, Hardy, Buggu, and Balli, now aged, grapple with their past choices and feel nostalgic for their homeland, the trio, with the help of Hardy, again embarks on a quick adventure.
Dunki Movie Review: Direction
Rajkumar Hirani is known for making movies that blend entertainment with important social messages while keeping things light-hearted. With Dunki, he had a chance to do the same with an interesting and strong concept, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite reach the level of his past hits like Munna Bhai MBBS or 3 Idiots. The problem lies in the film’s underdeveloped story, making it a bit of a struggle to stay engaged throughout. Though the first half does provide some feel-good moments and the second half has emotional connections that capture the essence of Rajkumar Hirani, the overall movie feels like it’s hanging by loose threads.
Dunki Movie Review: Character Development
Shah Rukh Khan (Hardy): Shah Rukh Khan effortlessly brings charm and a humorous style to Hardy’s character. While his presence feels natural throughout the film, his character still falls short of establishing a strong connection. The accent sometimes feels a bit forced and could have been avoided. However, In the second half, SRK shines more, standing out in the few brief intense and romantic scenes that remind us why SRK is the Badshah of acting.
The Trio: Manu (Taapsee Pannu), Buggu (Vikram Kochhar), and Balli (Anil Grover): The struggles and feel-good comic moments in the first half, featuring the trio, salvage the movie. The character development and storyline for the three are well-executed. Vikram Kochhar, as Buggu, performs admirably and brings laughter whenever on screen.
Vicky Kaushal: The standout element in the film for me is Vicky Kaushal’s character, a cameo with the potential to be a fully developed character. Vicky Kaushal’s performance is the highlight of Dunki.
Boman Irani: Another cameo that, unfortunately, feels a bit unconvincing. Boman Irani’s characters have left a strong mark in past Hirani movies, such as 3 Idiots or Munna Bhai. However, this isn’t quite the case in Dunki.
Dunki Movie Review: Script and Dialogue
Rajkumar Hirani’s films have a magical way of captivating audiences and creating a lasting love affair. Renowned as a phenomenal filmmaker, Hirani’s writing never fails to amaze. His movies, known for being light-hearted and feel-good, often carry a touch of social messaging that resonates with viewers. Characters take centre stage in Hirani’s films, standing out as memorable elements.
However, in Dunki, despite the formidable team of Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, and Kanika Dhillon, the film falls short of creating a connection with the viewer. Despite having the intriguing concept of illegal immigration at its core, the team struggled to shape it into a compelling story.
The film missed an opportunity to explore Dunki’s challenging illegal journey more extensively, which could have become a significant focus of the story. The effort to cram too much into the narrative ultimately failed to maintain audience engagement.
Some moments shine with genuine humour, especially in the first half, and emotional scenes in the second elevate Dunki, but the overall momentum is not maintained. The storyline feels a bit scattered.
Dunki Movie Review: Musical Score and Soundtrack
Pritam’s music in ‘Dunki’ earns high praise for effectively complementing every mood. Whether it’s the playful and endearing “Lutt Putt Gaya” (Arijit Singh, Swanand Kirkire, IP Singh), the soul-searching “Nikle The Kabhi” (Sonu Nigam, Javed Akhtar), the deeply romantic “Oh Maahi” (Arijit Singh, Irshad Kamil), the foot-tapping “Banda” (Diljit Dosanjh, Amitabh Bhattacharya), or the stirring tracks “Main tera rasta dekhunga” (Shadab Faridi, Altamash Faridi, Amitabh Bhattacharya) and “Chal Ve Watna” (Javed Ali, Varun Grover), it’s a soundtrack that lingers with you. The songs seamlessly blend with the situations in the film.
Dunki Movie Review: Audience Appeal
Social Mark: ‘Dunki’ is a film that tells a story about having big dreams and doing everything possible to make them come true. The plot centres on the belief that moving to a developed country is the key to a better future, and the characters are ready to face any challenges to reach that goal. The movie sheds light on the hardships faced by illegal immigrants.
The Perfect SRK Moment: The closing scene of the movie, where the older Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee share moments back in Punjab, and Hardy proposes to Manu, could be considered the ultimate SRK moment for Shahrukh Khan fans. The court scene also leaves a lasting impact on the character.
Tear Jerker Moment: Emotional moments featuring Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal) and the aged trio returning to India after 25 years and reuniting with their families provide heartwarming scenes that may bring tears to the audience’s eyes.
Dunki Movie Review: Final Words
Dunki comes with both drawbacks and highlights. It falls short of the cinematic magic I anticipated from the collaboration of Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani. Despite presenting a fresh concept for the Indian audience, the film doesn’t deliver anything particularly remarkable in terms of visuals or story. Overall, it doesn’t rank among the best works of Hirani, but if you’re a die-hard SRK fan, there’s just about enough to make it a watchable choice for the weekend.
Must Read: Dunki Box Office Collection Day 1 Early Report: SRK’s Lowest Opening Of Year, Estimate Rs 30 crore.
A very well broken down review. Thanks for sharing! 💥🤝
Good review so far !