Hello everyone! I recently watched the latest movie "Dunki", and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a complete family entertainer that you can watch with your loved ones.
Without wasting any more time, let me take you through the incredible story of this movie, exactly as I experienced it.
The Story Begins in London
The movie opens in London, where we see an elderly Mannu, around 55 to 57 years old, in a hospital. She is desperate to smoke a cigarette but is stopped by the staff. She bribes an orderly to take her outside, and the moment she gets a chance, she escapes. Mannu rushes to meet her lawyer, Patel.
She pleads with him to get her a visa for India, saying she is tired of London and wants to go home. Patel explains that while he can get visas for anywhere else, an Indian visa is impossible for her. Mannu realizes there is only one person who can help her now: Hardy, or Hardayal Singh Dhillon.
Flashback to Laltu, India
The scene shifts to Laltu, Punjab, where we meet Hardy (Shah Rukh Khan). He is in the middle of a race with other elderly men. Suddenly, Geetu Gulati, an English teacher, shouts that Mannu is calling from London. Hearing this, Hardy abandons the race just meters from the finish line and rushes to answer the phone.
It is an emotional reunion over the call. Mannu tells him that she, along with their friends Buggu and Balli, wants to return to India. Since they can’t get visas, Hardy tells them to meet him in Dubai on the 21st. This sets the stage for the rest of the story, which then takes us back 25 years.
The Dream of Going Abroad
In the flashback, we see the trio, Buggu, Balli, and Mannu, living simple lives but dreaming of going to London ("Vilayat"). In their village, having a family member abroad was a status symbol, often displayed by cement airplanes on rooftops. They try various methods to get a visa, including meeting shady agents who demand huge sums of money.
Hardy enters their lives when he comes to Laltu to return a tape recorder to Mannu’s brother, who had saved his life in the army. Upon learning that her brother has passed away and her family is in debt, Hardy promises to help Mannu go to London to save her home.
The Struggle with English and Sukhi’s Tragedy
To get a legitimate visa, they need to pass the IELTS exam. They join an English class run by Geetu Gulati. Here, they meet Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal), who is desperate to go to London to save his girlfriend, who is being abused by her husband there. The classes are hilarious, but the reality is harsh.
Despite their efforts and Hardy’s rote-learning tricks, most of them fail the test. Sukhi, in a heartbreaking turn of events, learns that his girlfriend has committed suicide. Overcome with grief and helplessness, Sukhi takes his own life. This tragedy shakes the group to the core, and they decide to take the illegal "Dunki" route to London in his honor.
The Dangerous Dunki Journey
The journey is perilous. They travel through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. They face life-threatening situations, including being shot at by border patrols. In a terrifying encounter in Iran, three of their fellow travelers are killed. Hardy, using his military training, saves Mannu, Buggu, and Balli, but the trauma of the journey leaves a mark on them.
They finally reach London by hiding inside shipping containers. However, the life they find there is not what they imagined. Balli, who they thought was successful, is living a fake life, working as a living statue and living in a cramped room with other illegal immigrants.
Life as Illegal Immigrants
Living in constant fear of the police, they cannot get proper jobs or healthcare. Their lawyer suggests seeking asylum by claiming their lives are in danger in India. While the others agree to lie to stay in the UK, Hardy refuses to badmouth his country. He testifies in court that he loves India and only came for a better life.
Because of his honesty, Hardy is deported back to India, while Mannu, Buggu, and Balli are granted asylum. They are separated, with Hardy returning to Laltu and the others staying behind in London, trapped by their own choices.
The Reunion and Reverse Dunki
Twenty-five years later, back in the present timeline, the friends meet in Dubai. They are tired of their life abroad and yearn for home. Hardy hatches a plan for a "Reverse Dunki." He tricks them into a container, supposedly to smuggle them into India via Saudi Arabia.
However, Hardy has actually arranged for the Saudi police to catch them. He instructs them to claim they are the three Indians who "died" in Iran 25 years ago. Since there was no record of those bodies, the Indian government accepts their claim, and they are deported back to India, getting a free, legal ride home.
Dunki Movie Ending Explained
Back in Laltu, the reunion is sweet. Hardy reveals he never married, waiting all these years for Mannu. He even built a replica of Big Ben on his roof because Mannu once said she wanted to be proposed to under it. As they watch the fireworks, Hardy proposes.
Mannu accepts but, in a tragic yet peaceful moment, passes away in his arms, finally home and with the love of her life. The movie ends with a sobering message about the millions of illegal immigrants who risk their lives for a dream that often isn't what it seems. It was a beautiful, emotional journey that I highly recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term "Dunki" mean in the movie?
The term "Dunki" is essentially the Punjabi pronunciation of "Donkey Flight." It refers to an illegal immigration entry technique used for unauthorized entry into countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. It involves crossing the borders of transit countries via dangerous routes to reach the final destination without a valid visa.
Is the movie Dunki based on a true story?
While the specific characters of Hardy, Mannu, and their friends are fictional, the movie is deeply rooted in reality. It sheds light on the actual struggles faced by illegal immigrants. As shown at the end of the film, thousands of people attempt these life-threatening journeys every year to seek a better life abroad.
Does Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal) go to London?
Unfortunately, no. Sukhi's story is one of the most tragic parts of the film. He fails the English exam required to get a visa. Upon learning that his lover in London has committed suicide because he couldn't reach her, Sukhi is overcome with grief and takes his own life by setting himself on fire.
Do Hardy and Mannu get married in the end?
Throughout the movie, Hardy and Mannu share a deep love for each other but remain unmarried for 25 years due to their separation. In the climax, after they return to India, Hardy finally proposes to Mannu under a replica of Big Ben in their village. Mannu accepts the proposal, but sadly, she passes away peacefully in his arms moments later due to her illness.
Is Dunki a family-friendly movie?
Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned in my review, it is a complete family entertainer. It has a mix of comedy, emotion, patriotism, and romance without any uncomfortable scenes, making it perfect to watch with parents and children alike.
