Story: An alien lands on earth but loses his remote to go home. Does ‘PK’ return – and as he navigates the human world, what does he gain and lose?
Review: Arriving on earth, an alien (Aamir) is immediately robbed of the only thing he’s wearing, the remote via which he can go home. Knowing nothing of human ways, language, clothing or lies, the alien searches desperately for his remote, his antics bizarre enough for people to ask if he’s ‘pee kay’ or drunk. One day, ‘PK’ meets Jaggu (Anushka), a TV reporter who helps him. Can they find PK’s remote, now with god-man Tapasvi ji (Shukla)? And do PK and Jaggu also find love?
PK is as much a philosophy as a film. It takes the ‘stranded alien’ theme, familiar from classics like ET, but tells the tale equally from the lonely alien’s eyes – at times, evoking the beautiful story The Little Prince – as from his human narrator’s. Starting with the alien’s desperation, PK captures the fears and falsehoods humans weave around faith. When PK decides to pray for his remote, he’s bewildered about whom to and how to pray. PK features brave scenes – money extracted at temples, coconuts offered in confusion at a church, god-men doling out tortuous advice – and strong lines, including a Muslim girl bravely asserting, “Itna chota nahin ho sakta hamara khuda, ki use hamare school jaane pe aitraaz ho.” Capturing faith whipped into hate, PK’s sterling message, directed sensitively, stands out.
As does Aamir Khan as the wide-eyed alien bemused by human life, a paan-chomping Chaplin from outer space, liked by rustic Bhairon Singh (Sanjay Dutt in a warming cameo). PK’s simplicity contrasts with Jaggu’s complicated life, heartbroken after she thinks her Pakistani boyfriend Sarfaraz (Sushant) ditched her in chocolate-box Belgium. Tapasvi warned Jaggu’s father (Parikshet Sahani) that her Muslim lover would betray her – does PK prove him wrong?
Anushka presents a sprightly show while Boman Irani stands out as a TV channel head. Some supporting acts and special effects could’ve been sharper though while at points, editor Raju Hirani should’ve been sterner with director Raju Hirani in trimming tighter scenes. Between gods, frauds, love and bombs, there are multiple threads here. Some distract, others impact, like PK hilariously dazed by humans hiding when they make out – except when they announce it with band-baaja on their wedding day.