Dunki review: Rajkumar Hirani takes a risky route where only Shah Rukh Khan saves him in his journey

Films like Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), and PK (2014) are not just any movie. They are considered classics for varied reasons, and the man behind them, Rajkumar Hirani is best known for his trademark humour laced with the best content that speaks on social issues.

One might argue but they never failed to strike a chord with the cinegoers across the nation and elsewhere.

When such is the reputation, he takes a larger issue of illegal migration in Dunki, the short-term for “donkey route”, an illegal way of entering a foreign country without any valid visa.

Shah Rukh Khan, who is basking in the back-to-back commercial success of Jawan (2023) and Pathaan (2023) joins him in this journey.

Is this cinematic journey worth your time, let’s find out:

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Synopsis

Dunki opens with Taapsee Pannu as Manu along with two other characters — Buggu and Balli. They have been in London for the past 25 years. Now, they want to return to India. But they cannot for a reason.

The only man who can manage to get them back to their country is Hardayal Singh Dhillon aka Hardy, played by Shah Rukh Khan. So, they decide to meet him in Dubai.

The three, who are now desperate to return to their motherland, were once quite the opposite. All they wanted was to go to London in search of better prospects.

Soon, the story shifts back to the year 1995 to a town in Punjab with Manu and a few others dreaming of going to London. All are poor with their inabilities in life. With no money or education, getting a visa is an issue. This is when Hardy, a soldier, joins them.

They all do everything they can to get a visa. They even join a 90-day English-speaking course run by Gulati (Boman Irani). Only one manages to pass the IELTS (International English Learning Testing System) exam.

What follows next is a disappointing and boring journey which is unlike the Rajkumar Hirani film. Only Shah Rukh Khan enthrals to some extent till the story ends by talking about the Dunki in real and its harsh realities.

Humour goes missing

Apart from the content and its presentation on screens, the biggest strength of Rajkumar Hirani’s films has been the brilliant humour laced with sarcasm.

Dunki hardly has any such humour but for a few moments. They are simply not enough or have any effect to keep the audience engaged.

The first half is all about the escapades of good-for-nothing personalities dreaming big to go to London. Even Boman Irani as Gulati has very little to offer, unlike his previous characters in Rajkumar Hirani films.

Shah Rukh Khan tries his best but with little effect.

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A risky route

Dunki is simply an attempt to showcase the harsh realities of Dunki with an example of Mannu and her friends by invoking a bit of national pride through the protagonist.

The first half consists of futile efforts to get a visa followed by a tragic scenario involving Vicky Kausha’’s special appearance.

Then, Dunki becomes the option. The writers have only emphasised the journey but failed to keep the audience interested in their journey. Forget humour, it doesn’t even evoke a serious sense of engagement.

Between, the music by Pritam is just situational and short on memory as the songs go out of the system as soon as they end. Again, not like the ones from the director’s last ventures.

No good humour, fun, sarcasm, impressive characters, and even music make this Dunki a boring journey.

One might even end up wondering whether it is Rajkumar Hirani’s film!

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Verdict

Riding high on the good reputation of Rajkumar Hirani and the recent phenomenal success of Shah Rukh Khan, the journey of Dunki is disappointing.

Most of all it misses big-time on the director’s trademark humour, sarcasm and all the good fun. It does talk about a relevant social issue — illegal migration but that’s not enough in the end.

Instead, watch a well-made documentary on the hard realities of Dunki.

(Views expressed here are personal.)