'Dunki' review: A return to old school Bollywood, classic Shah Rukh Khan

Film carries with it the weight of nostalgia

KARACHI:

A few years ago, Anurag Kashyap appeared on Koffee with Karan, expressing his desire for the revocation of Rajkumar Hirani's filmmaking license. Much to the shock of Karan Johar and Anushka Sharma, who were the first-hand audience for this revelation, Kashyap admitted that the reason for the same was the unique lens with which Hirani operates, providing a glimpse on pertinent issues through beautifully crafted narratives.

Anyone who has followed Hirani's work knows this to be true. The way he fuses humour with real-life, relatable issues, birthing gems like Munna Bhai M.B.B.S, 3 Idiots, and PK, is a distinct talent that cannot be replicated. In Dunki, Hirani balances his skill set on the capable shoulders of a cinematic giant like Shah Rukh Khan, thereby creating yet another magical experience.

Formulaic

Dunki makes one feel warm, fuzzy and comfortable. In many ways, the offering carries with it the weight of nostalgia. Films like Dunki are rare in today's agenda-driven, mainstream Bollywood. The purity of the story shines bright, transporting Bollywood lovers into a time when Pakistan wasn't always the villain and India wasn't always in a territorial war.

There is an unmistakable familiarity to the film. Part of this is due to Hirani's trademark formulaic progression of the plot. Hardayal "Hardy" Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, an ex-serviceman of the Sikh Regiment, Indian Army makes his entrance on a train, a welcome play on Khan's long-standing, iconic love affair with the mode of transportation. Given that he is Hirani's trademark outsider, it is up to him to facilitate the resolution of the central conflict, where a group of Indians wish to travel to England to alleviate various problems in their lives.

True to his formula, a harrowing, exceedingly horrific death propels the unravelling of the plot further. A spike in dramatic action, an emotionally charged monologue, and an inevitable reunion mark the rest of Hirani's filmmaking formula, but what is so wonderful about the same is that it achieves the goal of making the offering thoroughly immersive and engaging. If it isn't broken, don't fix it, and Hirani knows that to be true, given his body of immensely successful work.

The loverboy's return

Another part of why Dunki is a trip down memory lane is the fact that after one has seen Khan in action-fueled narratives like Pathaan and Jawan, his third offering of 2023 is a much-needed return to his romantic avatar. It is only after watching Dunki that one realises how much this aspect of the star's persona one truly missed in his other films.

Hardy is a pure-hearted, selfless, passionate man. He feels with an immense ferocity but is never overbearing. Love oozes from every inch of his being, but he never makes it Manu Randhawa's (Taapse Pannu) problem. In fact, his dedication to fulfilling his promise of helping Manu reach England takes precedence over his desire to profess his love. He is a man on multiple missions, and he is dutiful to all, regardless of the passage of time.

Through Khan's portrayal, Hirani crafts a green flag that is a vital rebuttal to the titular animals that have gone on to make millions. Hardy is proof of the fact that love does not have to be unkind, aggressive, misogynistic, cruel, or self-serving. With highly problematic protagonists stealing the limelight with unmatched obstinance, Hirani and Khan's Hardy is a character worthy of applause and praise.

The characters

When one talks about characters, the cast of the film must be highlighted. Pannu matches Khan's energy and is impactful and hilarious as Manu. The chemistry between the two is surprisingly engaging, and their banter is truly an aspect of the film that keeps one hooked.

Vicky Kaushal as Sukhi Singh is the kind of character where one feels the need to get in touch with the filmmaker and question his decision-making process. This is, in no way, a negative comment. In fact, Kaushal's storyline is so devastatingly heartbreaking that one feels the need to ask Hirani why he would want to break his audience's heart in such a manner, all while understanding that it is a pertinent way to propel the plot forward.

A staple of many of Hirani's films, Boman Irani as Geetendar "Geetu" Gulati, is as brilliant as one would expect him to be. Vikram Kochhar as Balindar "Buggu" Lakhanpal and Anil Grover as Balli Kakkad take turns being hilarious and heartwarming. The entire cast works in tandem seamlessly, playing off each other's energies to create a thoroughly amusing dynamic.

The conflict

One of the most brilliant things about Dunki is the portrayal of desperation - a feeling all too common among those struggling in developing countries, hoping to travel abroad to greener pastures. The film is firmly anti-colonial in its stance, chides the colonial hangover that parrots the need to inculcate English in every sphere of one's life, and also showcases the oft-fatal routes taken by helpless folks who have hit a wall in the visa process. This passage - the "donkey flight", an illegal immigration technique - is from where the film borrows its title, and it does a spectacular job of highlighting the lengths to which one must go in the hope of a better life elsewhere that is never promised, to begin with.

All in all, Dunki is a fantastic watch that serves as a gateway to a better, purer, more idealistic Bollywood. It reminds one of all that Indian cinema has left behind in the race to make socially, religiously and politically charged narratives. However, it also instils one with some semblance of hope, making one dream of a world where we collectively return to such breathtaking pieces of art. 

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