Dunki is one of the most awaited films in Hindi as Shah Rukh Khan is shining high with back-to-back hits under his kitty. Raj Kumar Hirani has directed Dunki which has Taapsee Pannu as the female lead. The film is out now and read our review here.
Story: The film is set in a small village in Punjab. Here, every youngster wants to go to London to make a livelihood. The main characters played by Taapsee, Anil Grover, Vicky Kaushal, and Vikram Kocchar are dying to go to the UK. In comes an army man Hardy(Shah Rukh Khan) who promises to take them to London in an illegal manner. The rest of the story is about how this group of friends land in London and their lives change upside down.
Performances: Shah Rukh Khan plays a young army man in the film and he is charming as usual. He is also shown as the old man. Performance-wise, there is nothing much for SRK to do but the star hero makes the even ordinary scenes look quite good. Taapsee Pannu gets a bigger role than SRK and she was very good. Suits her age and the Punjabi girl vibe nicely. The chemistry between SRK and Taapsee was so good to see on screen. Anil Grover and Vikram Kocchar were also okay in their roles. Boma Irani was also neat in his cameo. Vicky Kaushal was not that effective in his role.
Technical Aspects: Pritam’s voices are contextual. Background music is just okay. The production values are astonishing. Though Shah Rukh’s own production house Red Chillies is a partner in the film their VFX is not that great. The camerawork showcasing the deadly locations is neat. The editing is fine and so was the production design showcasing the entire village in Punjab. The writing by Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi is not that strong in the movie as the emotions do not create that kind of a strong impact. The production values are top-notch.
Analysis: Director Rajkumar Hirani is known for blending entertainment well in any story and scene. However, those who expected his signature style might be a bit disappointed when watching ‘Dunki.’ The story of ‘Dunki’ doesn’t fit into one genre. It explores the challenges faced by characters at crossroads, showcasing heartfelt moments. The film emphasizes that pure love knows no time boundaries and subtly includes patriotism and love for the motherland.
Despite these elements, Rajkumar Hirani’s usual directorial style and humor are noticeably absent, leaving a sense of something missing. The emotional depth of the drama feels lacking, and Ford’s emotions seem to fall short. Rajkumar Hirani’s name, like Shah Rukh Khan’s, attracts audiences to ‘Dunki.’ However, the film may disappoint those who expected his usual magic.
The attempts at humor, especially in English visa interviews, may draw some laughs, but the overall impact falls short. While Rajkumar Hirani excels in comedy, the emotional drama in ‘Dunki’ is not as strong. In a way, Rajkumar Hirani’s distinctive directorial style is missing, failing to create curiosity and engagement.
Dunkeei tries to present a different story with unique emotions, but the director’s touch in bringing back those who went abroad after 25 years is not as effective and ends as the routine fare that will be loved only by a niche audience.
Verdict: Overall, Dunki is not a proper Rajkumar Hirani film. It shines in several scenes but the overall emotional connect that one is associated with Hirani films is missing. The pace is slow and the scenes are predictable. For sure Dunki will not be a hatrick of hit after Pathaan and Jawan and will only cater to its target audience.
Bottom Line: Misses the mark
Rating: 1.5/5
