Movie Review: “Dhak Dhak: A dull film devoid of thrill, entertainment, human sensitivity and emotion...”

Rating: 2 stars

Producer: Viacom 18, Taapsee Pannu (Outsider films), Pranjal Khandudia and Kevin Vaz

Author: Tarun Dudeja, Parijat Joshi, and Anvita Dutta

Director: Tarun Dudeja

Cast: Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanjana Sanghi and Benedict Garetti

Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Many films were released on Road Trip, some of which made an impact. Recently, on the high hill mountain climbing Sooraj Barjatya brought the film 'Unchai'. But when actress-turned-producer Taapsee Pannu presented the story of four women bikers in 'Dhak Dhak', there were a lot of expectations from her, but the writer and director ruined the entire story of this film.

Story:

Shashi Kumar Yadav aka Sky (Fatima Sana Shaikh) is a YouTube vlogger who is going through a professional and personal crisis. In fact, ever since her partner and lover separated from her, the subscribers of her YouTube Vlog have been decreasing. Due to her boyfriend's mistake, her nude photos went viral on the internet. Now Sky is trying to develop a new identity for herself as an influencer. Kakkar advises her to focus on coming up with a great story rather than giving importance to aesthetics. Only then it will help them realize their dream of visiting the Barcelona Auto Expo. Sky sets out to find the theme for the new video and meets Prabi, a Sikh youth, with her maternal grandmother, Mahi (Ratna Pathak Shah), who used to ride motorcycles at a young age. During the conversation, Skye learns that Mahi has to go to Khardungla, Leh, situated at an altitude of eighteen thousand kilometers above sea level and that too on a motorcycle. Perhaps this is a dream for all bikers. Skye decides to take advantage of Mahi's inspiring story for personal glory. Sky thinks this will be a big achievement for her video. Then Sky posts a video of Mahi, in which Mahi says that she is going on this expedition on a motorcycle and that anyone who wants to join her should contact her. Then there is Uzma (Dia Mirza) of Hindustan Garage who is a skilled bike mechanic but has sacrificed her career for her family. Then we meet Manjari (Sanjana Sanghi), an extremely nervous girl, who is advised by her family guru Martha to secretly join Sky on a bike trip to introduce her to a Canadian businessman in Leh. In this way, there is a Sikh, a Muslim, a Brahmin family, and a Hindu woman. But Uzma and Manjatari have hidden the truth from their family. Because of this, some problems arise on the way. Manjari was brought up by her single mother who provided all the facilities. These four women join together due to circumstances and set out to Khardungla on bike rides on their respective motorcycles. Many problems arise on the way, but ultimately the journey is successful and Sky gets the opportunity to go to Barsonala. But during this journey, these four women understood the meaning of freedom, and it changed their way of thinking.

Review:

The filmmaker has definitely done the work of giving a message of secularism without any fanfare by including women of different thinking, different ages, and religions in the film. This is the first film where women are the main characters. There is a long debate between Sky and Mahi about what is important between the journey and the destination of the journey in the film. But the script and some scenes of the film are not strong. Seeing the way Uzma and Manjari have come back after lying to their family, there is a need for many dramatic scenes to be created, in which there is a flood of human sensitivities and emotions, but there is nothing like that in this film. Uzma is a Muslim and her husband Sharik does not give her more importance than a mere maid, while the garage belongs to Uzma's father. Uzma's husband does not even want to send his fourteen and fifteen-year-old daughter Zoya to a good school. In such a situation, when Uzma comes in the form of a biker, the film remains completely silent about the emotions between her and her daughter and Uzma's human feelings towards her daughter. As a result, the film becomes dull. Not only this, four women have gone on a bike ride, all four are climbing eighteen thousand kilometers, but there is no thrill in seeing them. This is the result of the weakness of the writer and director. The script is weaker than necessary. Even on social media, instead of saying anything clearly, this film remains silent by just saying that things are not deleted on the internet. Despite Sky's nude photo going viral, only a few comments from social media were shown, but there was no mention of how society treats her. She goes out on a bike ride. Covers a journey of eighteen thousand kilometers, but there is no comment on the way regarding her nude photo. What can we call this? There is an erotic conversation between these four, which reminds us that sexual desires are rampant in Bollywood. How has this been passed off as feminism? It is surprising why Bollywood films with female leads often consider sexuality, drinking, and smoking as liberating.

Acting:

Fatima Sana Shaikh's acting as Sky is decent. Ratna Pathak Shah has expertise in acting, but unfortunately in this film, she talks in a fake Sikh accent. Sanjana Sanghi in the role of Manjari is disappointing, she still needs to work harder. Dia Mirza's acting in the character of Uzma does not make an impact, the basic reason for this is that her character was not written from the right perspective.

-Shantiswarup Tripathi

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