Dukaan Film Review: A ‘Womb’ with a View on Surrogacy and Love

🌟🌟🌟 (3/5)

Leaning into the sarcasm chair

Once upon a time in the land of surrogacy – Gujarat’s Anand, a feisty and audacious 25-year-old lady, aptly named Jasmine (played by the talented Monika Panwar), decided to rent her womb for some extra bucks. But wait, this isn’t a fairy tale, folks. It’s Dukaan, a film loosely based on real events and a massive dollop of dramatic license. Just when you think she’s all set to enjoy her maternity leave, she bolts, bun in the oven and all.

Caught, jailed and finally sprung, our heroine decides she wants her bun back from the oven. As a surrogate, does she have the right to claim the baby? And will the baby be reunited with Jasmine? Ah, the suspense! (insert eye-roll emoji here)

Now let’s get to the meat and potatoes of the movie – the plot. Siddharth-Garima, the dynamic duo behind Dukaan, attempts to examine the commercial aspect of surrogacy while also trying to delve into its emotional and ethical implications. On paper, it sounds like a recipe for an intriguing movie, right? Well, not exactly.

The problem lies in the execution. The plot takes its own sweet time to reach the crux, focusing more on our fiery protagonist than the storyline itself. Despite the sensitive subject matter, the narrative doesn’t quite strike an emotional chord. The climax, where Jasmine strives to correct her mistakes and reunite with her son, ends up feeling more like an oversimplified, rushed, and lofty dream.

Meanwhile, the cinematography by Anirban Chatterjee paints a vibrant canvas, while the music by Siddharth-Garima, Shreyas Puranik, and Divya Kumar attempts to add some depth to the narrative (with mixed success, if I might add).

On the performance front, Monika Panwar delivers a stellar act, portraying Jasmine’s evolution from a rebellious young woman to a mature, emotionally charged mother. Monali Thakur and Soham Majumdar, who play the desperate parents relying on surrogacy as their last resort, also give commendable performances. Sikandar Kher, in his brief role as an unconventional husband, is rather pleasing to watch.

To wrap it up, Dukaan is an interesting concept with a potent lead performance. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. It’s like expecting a gourmet meal and ending up with a take-out burger 🍔.

Rani’s Wrap-Up: Dukaan is a unique attempt at blending emotional depth with commercial surrogacy. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t quite deliver the cinematic baby we were hoping for.