Nagesh Kukunoor

S H O R T
S Y N O P S I S
Dhanak is an enchanting fable that reinforces
What unfolds is a magical journey that only
the belief that life is beautiful. The story
the innocence of childhood allows you to
revolves around an eight-year old blind
experience. Chotu and Pari meet a host
boy, Chotu, his ten-year old sister Pari, and
of colourful characters who sometimes
the road trip of a lifetime they take across
help and sometimes thwart their plan, but
the dunes of Rajasthan to get his eyesight
always nudge them one step closer to their
back. Pari has promised Chotu that he will
final destination.
be able to see by the time he turns 9, and
his birthday is now only two months away!
L O N G
S Y N O P S I S
Dhanak (Rainbow) is an uplifting, enchanting,
magical fable set in Rajasthan that reinforces
the belief that life is beautiful.
The story revolves around the wonderful
relationship between a 10-year old girl Pari
and Chotu, her 8-year old brother who live in
a picturesque village nestled among the sand
dunes. Having lost their parents to an accident
at a very early age, they live with their uncle
and aunt.
Chotu is blind but he is anything but sad.
Happy, precocious and cheeky to boot, he is
the life of the village. Pari is his eyes, his guide
and his best friend. And Chotu is the center of
Pari’s universe.
As children sometimes do, not truly
understanding the consequences, Pari has
promised Chotu that he will be able to see
by the time he turns 9 and as always, Chotu
believes her unconditionally.
On their weekly trip to the neighbouring
village to see a movie, Pari sees a poster with
Shahrukh Khan (SRK) appealing to people to
donate their eyes. Pari is convinced that her
reel life hero can help her fulfil her promise to
her brother. In all her innocence she writes
a letter to SRK pleading Chotu’s case and to
hurry since Chotu’s 9th birth is just two
months away. She doesn’t hear back but this
doesn’t deter her and she writes a letter to SRK
every day.
One day fate intervenes - Pari hears that SRK is
shooting in a location about 300 kms from her
village. This is all the motivation she needs!
She is confident that if she can meet SRK in
person, she is sure that she can convince him
to make Chotu see again. In the dead of the
night, holding Chotu’s hand, she runs away
from home and embarks on a great adventure
to meet SRK.
What unfolds is a magical journey that only
the innocence of childhood allows you to
experience in the special world of children
who have the ability to see magic in every little
corner of this complicated world. They meet
a host of colourful characters who sometimes
help and sometimes thwart their plan but
always push them in right path towards their
destination!
Will they make it? Will Chotu ever see again?
Will fortune favour the bold?
Step out and make this wondrous journey with
Chotu and Pari and believe once again that
if one wishes with a true heart anything is
possible.
D I R E C T O R
N A G E S H
K U K U N O O R
A chemical engineer by profession,
Nagesh Kukunoor gave up his
lucrative career as an environmental
consultant in Atlanta and using his
personal savings wrote, produced,
acted in and directed his immensely
successful debut film. Hyderabad
Blues (1998) went on to become the
largest grossing low-budget Indian
film in English, and heralded a new
era for Indian independent cinema.
His cinematic journey has now
spanned over a decade with awardwinning films such as Rockford, Iqbal,
Dor, Lakshmi and Aashayein. Dhanak
(Rainbow), his latest feature, has
received rave reviews across
the globe.
“I wanted to write a film about
the India I grew up in. A world
with goodness where people
knew the meaning of trust. A
world where magic still exists. A
world through a child’s eyes.
Out of this desire emerged the
magical journey of Dhanak.”
- Nagesh Kukunoor
C A S T
KRRISH
CHHABRIA
HETAL
GADA
VIPIN
SHARMA
SURESH
MENON
The 8-year old
actor attributes
his talent to his
school that not
only focuses on
academics but
also encourages
an active
participation in
arts and culture.
Dhanak is his
film feature
debut, where
he convincingly
portrays the
role of Chotu, a
spunky blind boy.
This pretty
10-year old
started her tr yst
with the camera
when she was
only three years
old, and went on
to act in many
popular television
serials in India,
(Bandini and
Crime Patrol).
Dhanak is her
feature film
debut, where she
plays the role of
the precocious
Pari, Chotu’s
elder sister.
This National
School of Drama
and Canadian
Film Centre
alumni is a
seasoned actor
and has starred
in many critically
and commercially
acclaimed films
(Taare Zameen
Par, Gangs of
Wasseypur) over
the last few
decades.
Suresh Menon
is a popular film
(Chalte Chalte,
Housefull) and TV
(Comedy Circus,
The Great Indian
Comedy Show)
actor with many
titles to his credit.
Best-known for
his impeccable
comic timing, he
now has his own
comedy channel
on YouTube.
P R O D U C T I O N
C R E D I T S
CAST
K r r i s h C h h ab r i a
Heta l G a d a
V ipin Shar ma
G u l fam Khan
Bharati A chre kar
Fl ora S a i n i
S u res h M eno n
V ijay M a ur ya
R a j iv Lakshman
Ninad Kamat
C he t D ixon
Vibha Chi bber
Sanjana Singh
D ipu ran i B eda g e
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS
R a nj e et J h a
Am a r Ner uka r
Var u n Bhatl a
Rohit Shil want
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ART DIRECTOR
COSTUME DESIGN
D ev i ka B ah u d ha na m
J helum R a tna
S hila ditya B o ra
Haris Umar Khan
A pa r n a S h a h
MARKETING
S hraddha Chau h an
J ah an Si ng h Bak sh i
Ri t i ka B h a t i a
Re i s h a bh K a i l e y
P R O D U C T I O N
C R E D I T S
DRISHYAM FILMS
R ake sh Totla
G au rav J a i n
Ra g h av G up ta
A d i t i S i n n a rka r
DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE
MIXING ENGINEER
SOUND DESIGNER
LYRICS
MUSIC & BACKGROUND SCORE
Prim e Foc us LT D.
D.I c olorist
A shir wad Hadkar
Ajay K um a r P.B
(Prime Focus Ltd)
Vipin Bhati
Boby John
Mir A l i Hu sain
Manoj Yadav
Ta pa s Relia
FILM EDITOR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCED BY
WRITEN & DIRECTED BY
San jib D at ta
Ajay K um a r P.B
M a n i s h M un d ra
Na g e s h K uk un o o r
E l a h e H i p to ol a
Na g e s h K uk un o o r
(Prime Focus Ltd)
T H E
P R O D U C E R S
Manish Mundra is a producer and Elahe
Hiptoola ,
a
lawyer
by
the founder of Drishyam Films. With
training, ran a successful designer store
the vision to create content - driven
before working with Nagesh Kukunoor
cinema, he set up Drishyam Films,
as an actress and assistant director on
a global motion-picture studio that
the groundbreaking Hyderabad Blues.
has produced festival favourites and
She
award-winning films such as Masaan
and started SIC Productions in 1998,
(Cannes 2015), Umrika (Sundance 2015)
working as a Producer-Director duo on
and Dhanak (Berlinale 2015). His firm
12 feature films and several ad films.
belief in creating an ecosystem that
Elahe doubles up as Nagesh’s Assistant
strongly focuses on content, led him to
Director as well and has also overseen
partner with Sundance Institute, USA
the costumes for several of their films.
for setting up the Drishyam-Sundance
Screenwriters’
Lab.
supporter
Indian
of
A
renowned
independent
cinema, Manish is also one of the
patrons of Mumbai International Film
Festival.
became
his
producing
partner
F I L M
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
COUNTRY
LANGUAGE
GENRE
RATING
DURATION
FORMAT
In di a
Hi ndi
D ra m a
U
10 6 M i n
2 K DC P
SOUND
SHOT ON
5. 1 D i g i ta l
A l e x a 4K
F R A M E R A T E ASPECT RATIO
24 FP S
2.35:1
C O N T A C T
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