Dunki: Shah Rukh Khan starrer revolves around the dangerous 'Donkey Route', here is all you need to know about it

    The Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki revolves around the dangerous Donkey Route. It is an illegal route which migrants use to cross the border to chase the 'American Dream.' 

    A still from Dunki song

    A still from Dunki song

    Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki was released into the theatres today (December 21). The movie is based on the concept of the Donkey Route which is an illegal way the migrants use to cross the border in search of the ‘American Dream.’ The subject is being explored for the first time extensively in Indian cinema so here is what you need to know about the same.

    In a recent promotional event in Dubai, Shah Rukh explained the title of the movie by saying, “Dunki is an illegal trip a lot of people take to get out of their country across borders all over the world. It is called the Donkey Travels.” The Donkey Flight which was shown in the movie as a path undertaken by Shah Rukh’s Hardy and his friends takes place through a series of risky steps.

    The Donkey Route begins with reaching a Latin American country. A news report in Indian Express stated that countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Guyana have visa-on-arrival for Indian citizens. While some countries like Brazil and Venezuela give tourist visas to Indians early. However, a migrant’s route depends on which country their agents have links to. It can take several months to reach a Latin American country.

    Some agents also manage to arrange a direct visa from Dubai to Mexico. However, that particular route is extremely dangerous and has a risk of being arrested by local authorities. Hence majority of the agents land their clients in a Latin American country and then make them travel to Columbia. It is more difficult to get a visa from India when the country is nearer to the US border. The Donkey Route also involves crossing a dangerous forest.

    This is also shown in the Rajkumar Hirani directorial wherein SRK’s Hardy and his friend cross a desert and a water body under frightening circumstances. The migrants are subjected to crimes like murder or rape and can fall prey to wild animals, or death by lack of food or water. However, despite these factors, innumerable migrants are willing to take the risk with sheer strength, determination, and future dreams in their minds.