6/5 STARS
I just watched Dunki and I consider it a new masterpiece. I don't know how it will do at the box office but I find that topic very frivolous in the first place. This will go down as a classic in SRK's portfolio of films like Swades. It reminded me most of Swades, Veer-Zaara, DDLJ, and My Name is Khan so what excellent films to be compared to.
People acting as though the film not doing as well as Pathaan and Jawan is some own on SRK, like he wasn't expecting this, are foolish and ill-hearted. He said from the beginning that he made Pathaan for the women, Jawan for the men, and Dunki was made just for himself. This was his gift for himself because after entertaining the masses, he felt he owed himself something too. So he always knew this film would not have the same box office appeal but he didn't care and I thank God for that.
I can safely say that out of all three of his releases this year, Dunki was my overall favorite. Pathaan was fine but not a film for me. These action/spy movies don't appeal to me and I supported it for SRK's comeback and what a legendary comeback that was. Jawan I liked much better because for a masala film, it was not regressive and had a good social message. But Dunki felt the most like a classic SRK film and a return to form for him. I hope Dunki becomes the new norm for his future films rather than the exception in terms of quality. I am so tired of violent action films so this film was a breath of fresh air. No action scenes at all. Any violence was not gratuitous to titillate but meant to showcase the severity of the situation. Finally romance was given its due again in a SRK film.
Besides SRK's performance (which was excellent as always and I especially enjoyed his looks in the first half of the movie where he's clean-shaven which is how he should always look), I was pleased to see that SRK is always generous to his co-stars. A SRK film never props him up at the expense of his co-stars so this can be considered an ensemble film because everyone is given their due. Taapsee was superb and it was nice to finally see her in a commercial film. I was not expecting much from the SRK/Taapsee equation but I felt they had a lot of chemistry (especially since they've had the best romance SRK has given us since Jab Tak Hai Jaan) and I'm hoping we see this jodi continue in future films. Frankly, even as a Deepika fan, I am tired of seeing her and SRK paired together so many times especially I've never felt they were that great of an onscreen couple besides in Om Shanti Om and the cameo she had in Jawan. It's time for SRK to either embrace new blood or return to his classic heroines so no more Deepika for a long time please. SRK films have always been great launchpads for debut heroines (Mahima, Deepika, Anushka) and while Taapsee is no debut, this was her commercial debut so I hope this really launches her into bigger films.
I never thought of Vicky much as an actor before this, but I also hadn't seen much of him besides Raazi. In this film I saw why people rave about him. He was excellent in his "cameo" role and maybe the heart of the film. Can we get him the Best Supporting Actor Filmfare already? I feel he's locked it down. Just as I think Best Supporting Actress can safely go to Deepika for Jawan or Dimple Kapadia for Pathaan if it doesn't go to Jaya or Shabana for Rocky aur Rani. Once more a testament to how SRK never takes the spotlight away from his co-stars in all his films.
I thought the film was especially thought-provoking over the discussion of borders. How the world has been functioning without borders up until not even 150 years. We are all one human race and the earth is ours so why these fake lines delineating nations and countries? Why shouldn't humans have the right to follow their hearts and go where they want to go just like animals do. No one tells birds that they have to stay in their own countries and are banned from flying over a rock or river because it marks another country. The topic of migrants is a very timely issue especially because illegal immigrants are branded as aliens, interlopers, criminals, rapists, terrorists, etc. all over the world in western countries. Most of them are just like SRK and his gang, seeking a better life and no man, woman, or child should have to perish from drowning in the sea or freezing in the cold just to escape detection. Where films like Animal are spouting right-wing ideologies on how to suppress and dominate women, I'm glad we have non-violent films like Dunki preaching compassion, humanity, and the endurance of the human spirit and I pray one day we can live in a world without borders of any kind. I keep hearing reviews say that NRIs will only be able to understand this movie, but the emotions are ones felt by anyone, regardless of whether they've left their mother country or not. Everyone has been a plight in their life where they have struggled and could not make ends meet so I don't think this film is limited to NRIs at all and anyone saying so has a very limited view of human empathy.
This is Rajkumar Hirani's finest film imo. I keep hearing people say this film was either good but not his best or his weakest but I don't see it that way at all. 3 Idiots was good but the humor could be crass and I found it overrated. PK was good but doesn't have much repeat value imo and Sanju I wouldn't be interested in seeing again.
I only had one issue with the ending which I will speak about in the spoilers thread (HINT: The 6th broken heart above is because of this ending). That and the fact that we have been spoiled after a 5-year absence with 3 superb performances by SRK this year and it will be very hard to go through 2024 without a new SRK film. I think Dunki has enough longevity, especially from positive WOM, to last us through 2024 until his next film.
.......I was thinking that the one member who would not watch this movie would be you because you read and posted all those negative reviews.....That was an instant reaction as soon as I saw your review.....that you actually watched this movie....
SRK’s entry in that DDLJ like striped shirt. 
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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