Table of Contents
Manu Randhawa (Taapsee Pannu) is a middle-aged woman who lives in London with her two best friends Buggu (Vikram Kochhar) and Balli (Anil Grover). She longs to return to her homeland India, but faces visa issues. She contacts Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan), a former soldier who helped them migrate to London 25 years ago, hoping he can help them again.
The film takes us back to 1995, when Manu, Buggu, Balli and Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal in a special appearance) were young dreamers who wanted to escape their small town in Punjab and make it big in London. They met Hardy, who promised to take them there through a risky route called the Donkey flight. Along the way, Manu and Hardy fell in love, but also faced many challenges and hardships. Dunki is a film by Rajkumar Hirani, who is known for his emotional and humorous storytelling. The film switches between the past and the present, showing how the characters have changed over the years.
Dunki also has a musical soul, with songs and background score that enhance the mood and the message of the film. Dunki is a film about chasing your dreams, finding your love and cherishing your friendship.
A Mix of Comedy and Drama
Dunki is not just a simple romance between a boy and a girl who help each other achieve their dreams. It is also a powerful story about the plight of illegal immigrants from India who take perilous paths to reach foreign lands, and often lose their lives in the process. Hirani deserves credit for skillfully combining a relevant issue of illegal immigration with a love story at the heart of the film.
Dunki uses a humorous tone to make a strong statement about why the poor and non-English speaking Indians are denied visas in many countries. The scenes depicting the actors facing various hardships and dangers while crossing borders are very emotional and moving. The story, written by Abhijat Joshi, Hirani and Kanika Dhillon, is perfect but the execution could have been better. Dunki is not among Hirani’s best works, but it still manages to captivate the audience. The first half of the film is slow and boring, but the last 20 minutes before the interval make up for it with more excitement and engagement.
A Comedy that Fails to Impress
The film has one memorable scene where the characters prepare for the IELTS exam with an English teacher Gulati (Boman Irani) who advises them to memorize templates to pass the speaking test, and Sukhi who feels frustrated for not being able to learn the language. However, the writing is weak on this aspect. The humour is not natural and the jokes are not funny. You long for the authentic laughs and the finesse that Sanjay Dutt’s Munnabhai and Aamir Khan’s Rancho delivered. In Dunki, everyone seems to be trying too hard to make you laugh and even the witty lines and punches are very forced.
SRK’s versatile performance
Dunki features SRK in a role that he has mastered over the years – the charming and innocent lover boy who meets his soulmate in Punjab. He is adorable and sweet as the clean-shaven hero, but he also impresses with his rugged and adventurous look in the second half, when he and his friends embark on a perilous journey to London. Whether it is braving the harsh deserts of Iran or the freezing mountains of their next stop, Khan never loses his charisma. Dunki is a refreshing change from his previous action-oriented films, Pathaan and Jawan, and reminds us of his romantic prowess.
Taapsee’s authentic portrayal
Taapsee plays Manu, the Punjabi girl who captures SRK’s heart. She is natural and convincing in her role, thanks to her Punjabi roots that give her an edge over other actresses who have played similar characters. She displays a strong command over her emotions, and also delivers some humorous moments. She is a perfect match for SRK’s character, and they share a great chemistry on screen.
Lackluster romance
Dunki does not offer much in terms of SRK-Taapsee chemistry. Their romance is mediocre and forgettable. The scenes where they appear as old and aged are reminiscent of Veer Zara, where SRK and Preity Zinta played a similar role. The prosthetics are decent, but the timeline is confusing. How did Manu and her friends age so much in just 25 years?
Strong supporting cast
The film benefits from the performances of Vikram and Anil, who play SRK’s friends. They are believable and supportive of the story. They do not get overshadowed by SRK’s star power or Taapsee’s screen presence. Vicky’s cameo is another highlight of the film. He is outstanding and memorable in his brief role. The rest of the cast, including the family members of the main characters, also add to the emotional quotient of the film.
Dunki is a film that makes you cry and smile at the same time. It is a perfect film to watch with your family, as it will touch your emotions and entertain you.
