“The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir” Review: Dhanush Shines Bright In This Partially Entertaining Film

Is there even a role which Tamil superstar Dhanush cannot perform with full conviction? Well, I certainly do not think so. You give him any character and he will surprise you by sliding into its skin and making it his own shadow. Very few actors can do that as flawlessly as he does.

Dhanush weaves the same magic with his new film, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, which marks her foray into Hollywood. Let’s find out what the film is all about and whether or not it qualifies to be your weekend watch?

Born in a densely populated Mumbai slum, Ajatashatru Lavash Patel (Dhanush) has not seen the world outside. After the death of her mother, he lands in Paris to find out the whereabouts of his father whom he has never seen. However, things did not go as per plans and he keeps getting into one trouble after another.

Upon his arrival in Paris, he meets a beautiful girl named Marie Rivière (Erin Moriarty) at an IKEA store. They promise to meet the next day at the symbol of love, Eiffel Tower. But the approaching night had some other plans for him and Ajatashatru finds himself in a truck full of Somalian Refugees, which lands him in an England prison. He escapes from there and meets a rabble-rouser movie star Nelly Marnay (Berenice Bejo).

Ajatashatru always wanted to be rich and his extraordinary journey across the globe does help him accumulate great wealth. But does the money give him the real happiness that he has been seeking for years? Will he ever meet his father? To know more, watch the film.

What’s Good?

As I mentioned above that when Tamil superstar Dhanush is headlining a film, be it in any language, an excellent performance from him is guaranteed. The superstar does not disappoint at all with his acting prowess in The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir. He wins your heart with his innocence and charms you with a performance that stays with you even after you have walked out of the theatre.

Since the entire film revolves around Dhanush’s character, other actors in the supporting cast do not get to play perfectly fleshed out parts. In spite of that, actress Erin Moriarty in the role of Marie Rivière stands out in every scene. She looks like a breath of fresh air.

Berenice Bejo adds fun and glamour to the film with her energetic performance. Other than performances, what else stands out in the movie is its breathtaking cinematography. From busy lanes and roads of Mumbai to sprawling landscapes of Paris, to war-ravaged regions of Somalia, the cinematography brings everything alive. The background score too adds a lot to the entire narrative.

What’s not?

Well, barring Dhanush’s earnest performance and some genuinely funny scenes here and there, there is nothing extraordinary about this journey. The first half of the film is breezy with some genuine laughs guaranteed though sporadically. However, the second half ruins the whole fun as it is not only dull but also lazily edited. Thanks to its optimism and positivity that absolve The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir of all its flaws.

Final Verdict

You can watch The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir for the earnest performance that Dhanush delivers in the movie. If that’s not enough to arrest your attention and satisfy you as a viewer, the film will still keep you invested in one way of the other. Do catch the feel-good film in cinemas now. I am going with 2.5 stars.

Banner: Brio Films, M! Capital Ventures, Little Red Car Films, TF1 Studios
Director: Ken Scott
Cast: Dhanush, Bérénice Bejo, Erin Moriarty, Barkhad Abdi, Gérard Jugnot
Runtime: 92 Minutes
STARBIZ Rating: 2.5

>>> Also check: Tamil Superstar Dhanush Teams Up With Durai Senthilkumar For “Pattas”