If Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dhanak were to be classified, it would comfortably fall under the ‘fairy tale’ genre rather than a conventional road movie. Children believe in fairy tales, and adults often yearn for one to unfold in real life. Dhanak is very much a storybook brought to life — the kind that begins with a soft echo, “Once upon a time, there lived two children – Pari and Chhotu.”
Nagesh Kukunoor steers clear of artifice. Bearing shades of Praveen Morchhale’s Indie ‘Barefoot to Goa’, this fairy tale of a story – laced with truckloads of goodness and a handsome amount of contrivances – stands out for the director’s simple storytelling. We exactly know where the story is heading. What comes between the two children, out on a daring expedition, is what keeps us on tenterhooks. This is the kind of film where the audiences clasp their hearts and say, “Don’t let anything wrong happen!”
Much of the film’s charm lies in its leads — Krrish Chhabria and Hetal Gadda — who play Chhotu and Pari with remarkable naturalism. Kukunoor ensures his young actors behave like actual children, not mini-adults overfed with choreographed cuteness. Their smiles are genuine, never saccharine. Hetal’s Pari, in particular, shoulders the narrative with poise, while Krrish — as the visually impaired Chhotu — is equally delightful, especially in his hilarious ‘Salman Khan’ moments. His one-liners land with ease, and even when the story loses steam post-interval, their banter keeps the emotional current alive. Pari is a die-hard Shah Rukh Khan fan, while Chhotu worships Salman. A morning coin toss decides which superstar’s stories will dominate their walk to school. How we wish Shah Rukh’s own Fan had half the warmth of Dhanak.
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Set in Rajasthan, the film offers postcard-perfect visuals — a Kukunoor staple we’re not complaining about. Dhanak also boasts one of 2016’s most soulful soundtracks (by Tapas Relia), and the film weaves in songs with ease, including a memorable fusion number during a sidetrack involving an American traveler. True to its fairy tale nature, the film’s characters are either pure-hearted or antagonistic, with children receiving help from unexpected sources. Among these subplots, the most delightful involves a wedding celebration where kids hilariously mimic grown-ups. That said, the film overlooks a basic concern — none of the helpful adults think to contact the children’s family or take them to the police. The finale is simplistic, but with half the audience likely to be children, one wouldn’t have it any other way.
At its heart, Dhanak is about a promise. Pari has vowed to help her brother regain his eyesight before his ninth birthday (which falls, naturally, on October 2nd). She has stayed back in the same class year after year, just to be with him. She wants Chhotu to witness the beauty of the rainbow she so adores. She wants him to enjoy a John Abraham action film without needing her to describe every expression. Despite the odds, Pari never lets Chhotu feel any less. And Chhotu, in turn, never allows his blindness to dampen his spirit. In the film’s closing moments, the two discuss the sun, the sky, and how beautiful everything is. We might dismiss it as childish innocence — but wouldn’t the world be better if we all saw it that way? P.S. Dhanak inadvertently becomes a delightful PR moment for Shah Rukh Khan. That letter on the hospital desk addressed to “Mannat”? Delightful.
Rating: ★★★ 1/2
Dhanak is now streaming on Netflix.
