Dhanak

Cast: Hetal Gada, Krrish Chhabria, Rajiv Lakshman, Vipin Sharma, Flora Saini, Gulfam Khan

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

Producer/s: Manish Mundra, Nagesh Kukunoor, Elahe Hiptoola

Plot: Dhanak’s story revolves around the wonderful relationship between a 10-year old girl Pari and Chotu, her 8-year old brother who live in a picturesque village nestled among the sand dunes in the desert state of Rajasthan, India. Having lost their parents to an accident at a very early age, they live with their uncle and aunt. Chotu is blind but he is anything but sad. Happy, precocious and a smart ass, he is the life of the village. Pari is his eyes, his guide and his best friend. And Chotu is the center of Pari’s universe.

As children sometimes do, not truly understanding the consequences, Pari has promised Chotu that he will be able to see by the time he turns 9! On their weekly trip to the neighboring village to see a movie, Pari sees a poster with an Indian movie star, Sharukh Khan (SRK) appealing to people to donate their eyes. Pari is convinced that her reel life hero can help her fulfill her promise to her brother. In all her innocence she writes a letter to SRK pleading Chotu’s case. She doesn’t hear back but this doesn’t deter her and she writes a letter to SRK every day. One day fate intervenes – Pari hears that SRK is shooting in a location about 300 kms from her village. This is all the motivation she needs! She is confident that if she can meet SRK, Chotu will get his eyesight back. In the dead of the night, holding Chotu’s hand, she runs away from home. What unfolds is a magical journey that only the innocence of childhood allows you to experience. Chotu and Pari meet a host of colorful characters who sometimes help and sometimes thwart their plan but always nudge them one step closer to their destination. Dhanak is an enchanting fable that reinforces the belief that life is beautiful.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Three and a half stars)

Star Cast: Hetal Gada, Krrish Chhabria, Rajiv Lakshman, Vipin Sharma, Flora Saini, Gulfam Khan

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

What’s Good: The innocence that resonates not just from the story but also from the act the little gems bring to the film.

What’s Bad: The film’s snail-speed pace is a huge letdown. Not many may be able to endure themselves through such a slow moving film in spite of its rich content.

Loo Break: An extra one in the second half.

Watch or Not?: Dhanak is a delightful film that comes straight from the heart. An extremely endearing brother-sister tale, this film has a lot to offer when it comes to human nature and emotions.

User Rating:

Pari ( Hetal Gada) has only one dream. She wants her little brother Chotu ( Krrish Chhabria) to once again have his eyesight back.

The kids are being brought up by their Chacha-Chachi. While the Chacha is loving, he is a good for nothing soul and it is the Chachi who is the bread winner for the family. She is not very fond of the kids and vice versa.

Pari and Chotu are huge fans of Bollywood and one of their biggest arguing point always remains to be that little Chotu is a Salman Khan fan where as Pari loves the romantic Shah Rukh Khan.

When Pari comes across a banner of Shah Rukh Khan promoting eye donation, she decides to meet him at his Jaisalmer shoot and request him to help Chotu.

Thus the kids take on a journey all by themselves. Will Pari’s dream come true? Will Shah Rukh help the kids?

Dhanak Review: Script Analysis

Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dhanak is a heart-felt story. The beautiful nature of Pari and Chotu’s relationship from the angle of them being Shah Rukh and Salman supporters is such a novel presentation that it amazed me. The best part is how naturally, Kukunoor weaves the concept of fandom in the story with not only the kids characters but also through the people they meet on their journey. At no point in the story are the celebrities out down over each other or the way round.

While many may find Pari and Chotu’s journey too good to be true, I’d say it is films like these that restore our faith in good people and show us that once in a while it is healthy to trust people.

The nature of their love for the screen idols is actually so naive that in one of the scenes when Pari and a traveler they seek help from are discussing how great an actor Shah Rukh is, Chotu shuts his ears and starts to chant ‘Sorry Salman Bhai’. It is such moments in the film that keep making you smile and appreciate the fact that there is still a lot of innocence not just in reel life but real too. It is this constant banter amongst the two that keeps us entertained and also may form as a reminder for many about their siblings.

The zesty character of Chotu makes sure that you have a good laugh each time he has a comeback to Pari’s responsible instructions.

There is nothing gimmicky about this film, just like Kukunoor’s previous attempts of Dor, Iqbal that rode high on the human emotion quotient.

Dhanak Review: Star Performance

Krrish Chabbria is a revelation. As Chotu, he is extremely lovable thanks to his honest act of a younger brother who is naughty but also loves his sister beyond anything. His act of the visually impaired guy who does not shy away from pulling off his micheifs is laudable.

Hetal Gada too puts up a stellar, emotional act as a sister who is determined to get her brother his eyesight back. She is brave, responsible and highly fond of her brother. Gada brings out these emotions quite perfectly.

Vipin Sharma shines in a small role as the loving Chacha who is left heatrbroken when the kids leave on a journey by themselves.