Based on the best selling book, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir transports audiences across the world in this playful movie directed by Ken Scott.
The movie begins with the protagonist, played by Indian Tamil film actor Danush, retelling a ‘tragedy’ in his words to three juveniles who are awaiting jail. As a struggling street magician or ‘fakir’ with an unusual love for IKEA furniture, Aja retells his journey after the passing of his mother. In order to keep a special promise to her, he heads to Paris in search of his estranged French father, and perhaps a better life for himself.
After arriving, Aja’s experiences a multitude of highs and lows during a cruel twist of unusual events. He falls in love with Marie, an American consultant working in France, who he promises to meet the following day. This never happens as Aja is mistakenly transported to the UK after falling asleep inside an IKEA cupboard. His luck continues to fluctuate as he is left displaced in England before heading to Spain, Italy, and even Libya at one point. Throughout his journey, Aja uncovers who and what is important to him in life, rather than his desire to become rich.
If you are after an optimistic and warm movie, this is for you. It can be quite dull in some parts, with the inclusion of some awkward and forced dancing scenes. It does however flow quite well, giving the viewer a brief glimpse into Indian culture, and the issue of international displacement. Scott has done well in this regard to intertwine this with the quirky romantic story of Aja and Marie, creating an accessible and enjoyable movie.
Rating: 3.5/5
If you liked this, please read our story on revival of the hit musical, Bran Nue Dae.
