Dunki
2023 · Directed by Rajkumar Hirani
Original language: Hindi
- adventure
- comedy
- drama
The story
Four friends from a sleepy little village in Punjab share a common dream: to go to England. Their problem is that they have neither the visa nor the ticket. A soldier alights from a train one day, and their lives change. He gives them a soldier's promise: He will take them to the land of their dreams. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of a perilous journey through the desert and the sea, but most crucially through the hinterlands of their mind.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-bleached Punjabi village light gives way to dusty, wide desert vistas and grey, churning sea, with a hand-held, close-in camera that stays tight on faces during the tougher stretches. Colour is saturated in the village scenes, all ochre walls, marigold and brass, then drains toward dun and steel as the journey grinds on. The score leans on bright Bollywood-style songs and sweeping orchestral swells, with the quieter passages carried by soft strings and wind. Pacing is brisk and episodic in the first half, slowing into a more reflective, contemplative stretch on the road. The vibe is bittersweet comedy with a wistful undertow: a comfort-watch with a lump in the throat, suited to a lazy weekend afternoon or a shared evening with friends. Four ordinary men and one wry guide show friendship, loyalty and disillusion, with the lighter tone frequently punctured by harder truths about migration and dashed hopes. Intensity is moderate: some peril, a few sharp scenes of danger and hardship, and a handful of brief, non-graphic moments of violence; no sexual content and no gore. Suits viewers who enjoy character-driven comedy with heart and a bit of social bite.
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