Director Kukunoor spends more time trying to make his protagonists look cute and play to the gallery. And while Pari and Chotu do have their moments, for the most part “Dhanak” comes across as forced and superficial rather than a heartfelt story of two siblings.

If you believe in inspirational Instagram posts and the power of positivity, Dhanak is the film for you. The cynics might find the lack of gritty realism a bit too much, but even the most hardcore realists will agree that this little road movie ticks all the boxes when it comes to ending on a happy note. This is no award winning material, but it is well worth a watch. It proves that the happily ever after notion may be overused and old, but it still gets the job done.

Dhanak is a simple story told simply. It looks at the world from the children’s perspective and uses the journey to do what all road movies do — symbolise a coming of age. As to whether the children meet SRK and whether Pari makes good on her promise, sorry, no spoilers here!

Dhanak proves that you don’t need to have an A-list star, shoot in foreign locations or spend huge amounts of money to make a good movie. In the recent past, there have been very few Bollywood movies that made you leave the theatre with a smile. Dhanak manages to do so and that’s a good enough reason for you to watch it this weekend. 

In its two-hour running time, Dhanak throws more charm at the screen than one might feel equipped to handle.

Good children’s films or those with children at the centre are often as unknowingly profound for adults as they are obviously engaging for kids. Here, one stayed invested and smiled along only because of the adorable actors with Bollywood references adding to the cute appeal. But it needed a lot else.

If the movie works, it’s because of the casting and direction of the children. Hetal Gada is especially lovely as the protective yet strict older sister who knows more than she should for her age. Krrish Chhabria strictly follows instructions to convey his blindness by tilting his head to one side¸ keeping his eyes down at all times, and looking at his toes while he speaks. But his affection for Pari is unmistakable, and their bond guides the movie over its many bumps.