Dasvi
Man learns to be a better leader in prison; language.
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Dasvi
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Dasvi is an Indian political comedy about a commanding politician who finds himself in prison awaiting bail. In a life-changing move, he works to earn his high school diploma, hoping it will help him regain power when he gets out. Characters burst into song and dance as he learns Hindi, English, math, and science. Language includes "s--t" and "damn." In Hindi with English subtitles.
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What's the Story?
DASVI is an Indian political comedy about Chaudhary (Abhishek A. Bachchan), a commanding state governor who finds himself in prison on fraud charges awaiting bail. Replacing him temporarily, he hopes, in his position as the state's chief minister is his wife, a former homebody who comes to enjoy her newfound power. Chaudhary is used to giving the orders and shirks the prison work detail as admiring fellow prisoners and guards follow him around, serve him, and curry favor from the once powerful politician. He's treated to privileges until a by-the-book new warden (Yami Gautam Dhar) forces him to work and mingle with the prison population. In a life-changing move for a man with an eighth grade education and limited reading and writing skills, Chaudhary works to earn his high school diploma, at first to get himself out of work detail, but he later sees its utility as a political tool. He embraces Santayana's observation, new to him, that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. More than that, knowledge gives him perspective and an understanding that to help his constituents, he must offer them free education.
Is It Any Good?
Cheerful and implausible, Dasvi presents a welcoming Indian prison system filled with guards and superintendents who are understanding, self-effacing, and fair rather than menacing and violent. Perhaps guards do wake VIP prisoners with cups of tea and perhaps political corruption does elicit spontaneous choreographed dancing in the streets in India.
But for all of it to work as a movie that an international public can appreciate, a more cohesive theme and a more traceable arc of character change would be required. Chaudhary constantly reminds us the "tiger does not change its spots," and we are told by him that "rules are for fools," and also that money and power are important, yet the whole point of the movie seems to be that the formerly corrupt, power-mad minister becomes a better person through mingling with prisoners and earning his high school diploma. Overall, this may rely too much on inside knowledge of Indian customs and political history for it to achieve the universal comic tone that it probably conveys to Indian audiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this movie uses comedy to persuade viewers that education is important. Do you think film can be used to do social and community good? If yes, how?
What are some helpful messages viewers can learn from movies?
What kind of man is Chaudhary? Do you think his stay in prison changes him? In what ways?
What does the movie say about loyalty?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 6, 2022
- Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam Dhar, Nimrat Kaur
- Director: Tushar Jalota
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 125 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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