Directors: Siddharth and Garima
Cast: Monika Panwar, Monali Thakur, Sikandar Kher and others
Where: In theatres near you
Rating: 2 stars
Director duo Siddharth-Garima brings a tale of surrogacy and its aftermath between the birth giver and the parents. Dukaan deals with the story of a girl, who chooses an unusual path to earn money but falls in a trap when she realises love for her surrogate son. The directors picked up a strong subject but failed to leave an impression on the whole affair -- be it narrating a story like this or unravelling the world that hasn’t been exposed or explored in a mainstream commercial film so far.
Jasmine Patel (Monika Panwar), a fearless Gujarati girl falls in love with Sumer (Sikandar Kher), a shop owner and a single parent. She decides to tie the knot with him instantly and despite being against of being a mother, she delivers a baby boy right after her marriage. Soon after, Sumer dies in a natural calamity leaving behind his daughter, wife Jasmine and a newborn.
To run her livelihood, Jasmine decides to turn surrogate with a local hospital under the supervision of a doctor. But life has its own challenges -- Jasmine refuses to give her baby to the needy parents. Will she agree as per the contract or her motherhood takes the front seat?
Siddharth-Garima surely pick a debatable subject but it’s too flawed as it progresses. The mother's son from her dead husband is nowhere in the scene and she's rather seen crying for her surrogate child since the beginning. Why so much hue and cry only for him?
The duo smartly replicates the tone of maverick Sanjay Leela Bhansali and cleverly blend with Kriti Sanon-starrer Mimi and Rani Mukerji-starrer Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. Moreover, their protagonist Jasmine tries to ape Alia Bhatt’s performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi at several events. But despite all of that, Dukaan is an avoidable representation of a social taboo that still exists.
It is laughable how law and order has nothing to do with the entire narrative, however, directors consider the bill that has been introduced by the apex court but still hanging in the air. Taking creative liberty is okay but making mockery out of it isn’t cool. Sunny Deol’s cameo looks forced but stirs a nostalgia since he utters his popular dialogue ‘Yeh Haath Agar Uth Gaya To…’
Barring Monika, Sikandar and perhaps Himani Shivpuri, it was a constant race for the actors to perform awfully. Monali should strictly stick to singing. Post the debacle of Lakshmi, she should seriously think now. She looks heavy, her hair extensions are too distracting and of course, her co-actor, who plays her husband is unbearable on-screen.
Looks like, Siddharth-Garima couldn’t handle too many labels and titles in one film. Dukaan is a film that surely has a social message but still miserably lacks in overall quality, appeal and depth.
If you are up for some Garba dance moves, want to delve into Gujarati culture, or want to watch a fresh face Monika Panwar at her best, risk it for yourself, else, Mimi and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke are a still far better bets.
Shutter down!
