I think we all agree that when we talk about the best directors of Bollywood, Raju Hirani is right up there. I mean Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK– man just doesn’t miss. So naturally, when the SRK-Raju collaboration was announced, everyone was damn excited about it. Like, how can THIS duo fail? ‘Dunki’ is finally here, and while the duo doesn’t fail, it doesn’t deliver on your expectations either. It’s like a heartwarming tale that gives major déjà vu from Hirani’s previous movies but doesn’t feel as impactful :///
Plot
So, kahaani kaafi simple hai. We have Mannu, Buggu, and Balli, a trio of friends from a small village in Punjab with miserable lives. Family problems toh constant hai hi, uske upar se they can only do petty jobs to earn money. But all of them have one thing in common. The dream of a ‘Pound mein kamayenge’ waali life in London. Enter Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan), an ex-army man on a mission to turn their dream into reality, even if it means taking the illegal ‘Dunki’ route. And then starts the classic Hirani messaging. Do they get to come back? Why do they want to come back? Should one even go abroad? But the problem is, while the message is clear, so is the sense of ‘seen it before.’
Performances
Shah Rukh Khan doesn’t always get the Punjabi accent right but sends a shiver down your spine in the hard-hitting dramatic sequences. Reallyyy loved his older Hardy part– gave off intense Veer Zaara vibes (you can’t deny it). But brooo, Vicky Kaushal steals the show with his extended cameo– literal goosebumps. Man, what a year for him. Pehle Sam Bahadur and now Dunki. Taapse Pannu, although present throughout the film, doesn’t play a big part cuz SRK-Taapsee wali love angle effective nahi lagti. Vikram Kochhar and Anil Grover nail their roles too, providing comic relief whenever it gets too serious. Boman Irani, however, feels very under-utilized. You’re lying if you’re not a fan of the Irani-Hirani combo, and this one doesn’t live up to the mark.
Direction and Writing
Hirani has a Ph.D. in getting the best of a scene emotionally and tries his best to blend every human emotion out there in the movie. But, while the research, purpose, and social concern are A+; the storytelling feels like that scene where everyone memorizes the same paragraph for the speaking test – rehearsed and a bit too familiar. It’s like ever since Munna Bhai, Hirani’s storytelling didn’t evolve. Itna zyada nostalgia bhi weird lagta hai. Also, it feels like the movie loses its intensity during some of the most dramatic scenes. Like, there are scenes where the audience could’ve been DESTROYED, but they don’t feel utna impactful. So yeah, no the movie is good, but does it live up to Hirani’s standards? I’d say no.
Screenplay and Cinematography
The movie is a tale of two halves when it comes to emotions. The first half is such a smooth ride up until the interval. You’re chuckling and smiling constantly. But then, just before the interval things take a wilddd turn. The second half attempts to be all serious and dramatic, but doesn’t always make you feel tense. I wish the donkey route scenes were more impactful. Also, the courtroom sequence has to be my favorite. Overall, sab decent lagta hai. Was really impressed by the cinematography too. Be it the lush green fields of Punjab, or those diverse landscapes in the donkey route, sab perfectly kaafi sundar se kiya gaya hai. The music by Pritam works really well for the movie, with tracks like ‘Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se’ and ‘Chal Ve Vatna.’ Lagta hai phirse iska chehra dekhna padega Spotify Wrapped mein.
I’ll try explaining Dunki in the simplest way possible– Imagine you are invited to a grand buffet, but with a condition. You can eat everything you want, but you can take just one bite of everything. The result? You absolutely love it, but there’s just not enough for you to be full. That’s exactly how you feel with Dunki. However, despite the hiccups, Dunki is an entertaining ride with laughter, tears, and a reminder that sometimes, returning to your roots is the real victory. Ab mujhe jaane do, cuz I want to go to lavatory.
