Theme and Plot
Dhanak is a Nagesh Kukunoor movie which celebrates the spirit of secularism and religious tolerance. Two greatest religions of this country live in harmony. The 8 year old boy, a Salman Khan fan and his sister, a Shah Rukh Khan fan, shares a relation of immense fondness and compassion for each other
The above lines were meant to be funny. But this is true that Dhanak is a touching story of sister-brother love and affection. The eight-year-old boy has lost his vision because of poor nutrition. His two-year elder sisters goes out of her ways to help him get his eyesight before his 9th birthday. Her master plan is to seek the help of the good soul, Bollywood actor, Shah Rukh Khan. And so she takes her younger brother through a 300 km journey to Jaisalmer.
Treatment
The story is a fairly tale set in a realistic setting. What happens at the end, whether the children actually get to meet SRK and whether he helps them or not is not important. What happens to the children as they undertake this odd journey, is what is worth watching. They have good and bad experiences, just like a fairy tale. And much like any top class fairy tale, this movie has got great humour and music.
Acting
Excellent acting by the two child protagonist. I often find Indian child actors act in a very irritating manner (That Piyu girl in Yeh hai mahabitein and Bade acche lagte hain) is a prime example. They are pampered, over smart, stupid and simply irritating. But the characters of these two kids were believable. Their.dialogue delivery, expression and screen presence was commendable. All the other actors, not much to say about them, acted just according to the script. That guy, who played Ishan's father in Taare Zameen par, whom we hated so much, plays a very nice guy (he is the uncle and the guardians of the.kids) And you like him in this character.
Music
Music is a high point of this movie. The songs take the movie forward and are not there just for the sake of it. The fusion song is a treat to the senses.
Discussion point
I would like to share an observation. While watching this movie I was thinking that isn't it true that people living in cities, the multiplex audience like films set in a.village or remote settings and the village people, mostly the single screen audience like films depicting fast city lives? There is something about my notion, no? Multiplex audience watches Anurag Kashiyap and Nagesh Kukunoor while single screen loves mainstream Yash Raj films and Vishesh films. We want to watch what we are not.
Conclusion
You know a B.Ed guy always ends an article with conclusion. I can say: Watch Dhanak if you like good cinema. But people have different definitions of good cinema, so I will break it up.
If you enjoy movies with children playing the central characters like Rockford , TZP, Stanley ka dabba, Hawa Hawai, this one is for you.
If you like movies with clean and instinctive humour, this one is for you.
If you love fairy tales, then this one is definitely for you
If you want to watch a movie with your family and children, there are not many options, this movie is a great one.
If you know me, and trust me, you know I recommend good movies without any favours.
Thank you for reading. If you watch the movie based on my recommendation, do come back to thank me later. Chao.
