The clueless PK (Aamir Khan) seems out-of-sorts and confused. He's a Bihari - speaking, paan chewing fellow who steals clothes from "dancing cars" (we leave you to decipher that one) and money from temples.
Innocent, often unclothed, and confused by the complexities of life including religion and clothing (what he calls "fashion"), our guileless friend is often mistaken as being drunk (hence the name PK). Who he is, you must find out on your own.
How he happens to absorb the Bihari language is also for you to find out (one of the film's most hilarious scenes). He is used to getting beaten by enraged mobs, and he has now found out a clever way of self-defense, which is sticking God's pictures on either cheek.
PK is in search of a precious thing that got stolen and that path happens to go through a powerful self-proclaimed Godman. PK's innocent, straightforward questions rile the religious zealots who then attack him to "protect their god".
The fun is omnipresent but highlighted when he meets sprightly TV journalist (Anushka Sharma) who wants to capture his eccentricities into a story.
Through fun, games and its most potent weapon – a different perspective - the film highlights several pertinent issues, mainly focusing on religious dogmatism. No religion is spared, and each one's "managers" exposed for their business that thrives on people's fear.
Now this is a film our country badly needs to see and understand. When we see how foolish we'd look from a third-person perspective - dividing ourselves based on religion, gods, and cast, it forces us to think and reconsider.
OMG - Oh My God! tried bringing this topic to light but in a more simplistic manner. This one tries going the whole hog, but also still leaves out certain complexities. Are all people who claim to be Godmen corrupt or are there genuine ones among them? Here the villains are Godmen who produce gold chains out of thin air, offer diet prasad, and fool unsuspecting troubled folk. That's a caricature - a cinematic tool used to drive home a point. Which is fair enough, considering the point itself is so compelling. Other weak points include the unconvincing romantic angle and the indulgent second half.
PK is a memorable character that makes us emotionally invest in him right from the time we meet him. It is to Aamir Khan's credit for performing this character with heart and humour. Whether it's him reasoning his way through confusing ways, his hilarious escapades and his innocuous manner in asking the most uncomfortable questions, Aamir plays PK masterfully. Anushka Sharma too plays her role of a journalist who befriends PK with zest and spirit.
The film has been written by Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani who also doubles up as the director. The duo has also collaborated on several films like 3 Idiots and Lage Raho Munnabhai.
It's amazing that the makers thought of bringing us such an entertaining and thought- provoking film through the eyes of this unique character. Perhaps we all need a PK with us. As PK says, Earth ki to lulli baji hui hai.