'Dhak Dhak' Movie Review: A Bumpy Journey Towards Empowerment

In the quest for empowerment, what do four women riding motorbikes symbolize, if not a need for a man in their lives? Tarun Dudeja's heartwarming film, 'Dhak Dhak,' doesn't offer groundbreaking answers to this question but manages to chug along with the strengths of its talented cast, witty humor, and moments of insightful writing.

The film delivers moments of excitement as we witness the bikers roaring from Delhi to Khardung La, but these thrills are soon tempered by the familiar obstacles encountered in the narrative of female empowerment.

The story begins as a professional project for Sky (played by Fatima Sana Shaikh), a social media influencer. Sky is joined by Mahi (Ratna Pathak Shah), Uzma (Dia Mirza), and Manjari (Sanjana Sanghi) to form an unlikely quartet, each driven by different motivations to embark on a challenging and potentially perilous journey.

Sky seeks to overcome the consequences of an unsavory scandal, while Mahi, relegated to the role of a dahi bhalla maker by her family, yearns for more. Uzma faces similar dismissal of her aspirations by her husband, and Manjari simply wishes to experience adventure before embracing matrimony.

The film raises an important question: why do women need to overcome crises when challenging male-dominated territories? The screenplay, co-written by Dudeja and Parijat Joshi, sometimes seems to enjoy making these women stumble over unnecessary obstacles and lose their way. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't provide a clear explanation of how at least two of them learned to ride bikes in the first place.

While Sky, with her sassy and urban demeanor, convincingly fits the biker profile, Mahi's character has a charming backstory to support her choice. However, the conservative background of Uzma and Manjari's orthodox upbringing, coupled with her tendency to get easily startled, makes their roles as riders less believable.

The film shines brighter in its exploration of the present rather than dwelling on the past. As the women come together, sparks fly, miscommunications arise, and bits of wisdom are shared on their journey from Delhi to Ladakh.

Despite choppy editing, uneven pacing, and scenes that linger a bit too long, the individual and collective journeys of these women are captivating and even offer a touch of inspiration in the style of an Instagram story. The four lead actors deliver remarkable performances, expressing their yearning for freedom with warmth, humor, and sensitivity towards those who are less fortunate.