Explore ‘Dunki’: Rajkumar Hirani’s heartfelt portrayal of illegal immigration, blending familiarity with social commentary. A mix of emotion and critique.
In the movie Dunki, we get a simple but touching look at the lives of poor illegal immigrants from Punjab. They go on risky journeys to overcome life’s challenges. Some of them figure out a way to pass an English test by memorizing a paragraph and changing the topic’s name when speaking to the examiners.
The long sequence in the movie unintentionally becomes a symbol for how Rajkumar Hirani’s storytelling has become a bit predictable. He’s been using a similar story structure for years, but he always manages to make it heartwarming and enjoyable.
In Dunki, which is Hirani’s first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, the movie’s purpose and concern for society are commendable. However, the storytelling becomes straightforward and heavy-handed, mainly because Hirani doesn’t want to try new approaches. The spontaneity we usually see in his work is missing.
The story is set in a small town in Punjab, and it revolves around four characters who want to move to London to improve their lives. Just when they are about to give up, Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan), a former soldier, enters their lives to make their dream come true through an illegal route. Along the way, he develops feelings for Manu (Taapsee Pannu), only to realize that her desire to go to a foreign land is stronger than her love for him.
The theme of illegal migration might be new for Hindi films, but it has been explored in Punjabi films, and real-life stories of such perilous journeys are common. So, when the film presents these challenges as something new, it doesn’t come as a surprise. However, the portrayal feels a bit flat, and we keep hoping for more depth and emotion. This feeling intensifies when the closing credits show facts and images of illegal immigrants.
A still from ‘Dunki’
Hirani always prioritizes emotional logic over common logic and uses humor effectively. In Dunki, he tries to do the same, but the results aren’t as consistent and captivating. The emotional moments might grab your attention a couple of times, but the unpredictability we expect from Hirani’s storytelling is missing. In the light-hearted first half, the jokes about English and the British start feeling repetitive. Some jokes, like the one about the national anthem, don’t land well. Maybe Hirani chose England over America and Canada for its colonial connection, but considering the current scenario, illegal immigration to the US and Canada would have been more relevant.
Despite this, Hirani’s focus on how migration policies negatively affect the poor is noteworthy. His skill in incorporating social commentary into the screenplay is evident. For example, the comment about a candidate’s mother wearing trousers opens a window into the deep-seated patriarchy in small-town India, where a son feels embarrassed by his mother working as a security guard.”