# The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir
**The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir** (French: *L'Extraordinaire voyage du Fakir*) is a 2018 English-language comedy-adventure film directed by Ken Scott, based on Romain Puértolas' novel *The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe*, published by Le Dilettante.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) It stars the Tamil actor Dhanush as [Ajatashatru](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajatashatru) "Aja" Lavash Patel, a Mumbai street magician who travels to Paris in search of the father he never knew, and follows his accidental passage through London, Spain, and Italy after he is trapped in a wardrobe shipped from an IKEA-style furniture store.[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) The film was a majority-French co-production with Belgium and India, and it marked Dhanush's first lead role in an international production.[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) • [4](https://medias.unifrance.org/medias/58/11/199482/presse/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-presskit-english.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / source | Ken Scott; screenplay by Romain Puértolas and Luc Bossi, with the collaboration of Ken Scott and Jon Goldman, from Puértolas' novel[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) |
| Lead cast | Dhanush (Ajatashatru Lavash Patel), Bérénice Bejo (Nelly Marnay), Erin Moriarty (Marie), Barkhad Abdi (Wiraj), Gérard Jugnot (Gustave)[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) |
| Production | 2017; co-production France (43.85%), Belgium (35.53%), India (20.62%); production language English[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) |
| Release | France, Belgium, Switzerland 30 May 2018; United States limited release 21 June 2019[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) |
| Runtime | Reported as 1h 32m by Rotten Tomatoes, 1h 40min by UniFrance, and 96 min by JustWatch[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) • [2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) |
| Reception | 61% Tomatometer (28 reviews), Metascore 56, US gross $56.7K[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) |
| Award | The Ray of Sunshine, Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, 2018[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Ajatashatru Lavash Patel, called Aja, has lived all his life in a small Mumbai neighborhood, tricking people with street magic and fakir stunts while his friends pick the audience's pockets.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) • [7](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-extraordinary-journey-of-fakir-dhanush-review-20190620-story.html) Raised by a hardworking single mother, he has an unusual gift for magic that comes from his long-lost father, a Frenchman who spent time in India and then disappeared. After his mother's death, Aja vows to travel to Paris and reunite with his father atop the [Eiffel Tower](https://www.edgepedia.org/eiffel-tower), fulfilling his mother's dream; he raises the money by swindling a gang of local thugs.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/)
In Paris, penniless and with no hotel, Aja takes up residence in a Swedish furniture store, where he meets Marie (Erin Moriarty), a young American woman, and falls for her.[8](https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2165692/extraordinary-journey-fakir-film-review-mumbai-magicians-adventures) After spending the night in a wardrobe, he wakes up inside the cabinet as it is trucked to London, where he is detained among illegal immigrants from Somalia and deprived of his passport.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) Among the refugees he befriends Wiraj ([Barkhad Abdi](https://www.edgepedia.org/barkhad-abdi)), a Sudanese man who remains his companion through the journey.[9](https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/extraordinary-journey-fakir/) Sent back to Spain by the authorities, Aja flees in a [Louis Vuitton](https://www.edgepedia.org/louis-vuitton) suitcase that carries him to Rome and the hotel room of a famous actress, Nelly Marnay ([Bérénice Bejo](https://www.edgepedia.org/berenice-bejo)), who becomes his friend and confidant; his travel writings also make him a star figure there.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) • [9](https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/extraordinary-journey-fakir/) The route also takes in a Libyan refugee camp, and the film's immigration sequences include a song-and-dance routine introduced by Ben Miller's immigration officer.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-movie-review-dhanush-5792351/) • [9](https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/extraordinary-journey-fakir/)
## Production and release
The film was produced in 2017 by Brio Films, Vamonos Films, Scope Pictures, and Little Red Car Films, with sales handled by TF1 Studio and Studiocanal.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) UniFrance records the co-production financing as 43.85 percent French, 35.53 percent Belgian, and 20.62 percent Indian, with the production language English.[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) Vincent Mathias was the director of photography, Nicolas Errera composed the score, and [Amit Trivedi](https://www.edgepedia.org/amit-trivedi) composed the songs.[1](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) • [11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-maiden-hollywood-venture-to-release-on-june-21-5739094/lite/)
It premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2018, and its poster was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival.[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/May/21/dhanushs-the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-tamil-version-titled-pakkiri-to-release-on-june-21-11721.html) The French, Belgian, and Swiss release followed on 30 May 2018, with a long rollout through European territories into 2019.[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir) In the United States it opened in limited release on 21 June 2019 and began streaming on 7 February 2020, grossing $56.7K at the US box office.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir)
**Indian release.** Because of Dhanush's standing in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema), the film was dubbed into Tamil for its Indian release. An earlier title, *Vaazhkaiya Thedi Naanum Poren*, was replaced by the simpler *Pakkiri*, and the Tamil version opened on 21 June 2019 alongside the English version in India, the US, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Nepal.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-maiden-hollywood-venture-to-release-on-june-21-5739094/lite/) • [12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/May/21/dhanushs-the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-tamil-version-titled-pakkiri-to-release-on-june-21-11721.html)
## The source novel
Romain Puértolas' novel *The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe* was a bestseller published in more than 35 languages, and it received global acclaim for its celebration of multiculturalism.[8](https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2165692/extraordinary-journey-fakir-film-review-mumbai-magicians-adventures) Reviewers noted that the adaptation softened the book's treatment of its subject: where Puértolas' novel humanized immigrants and asylum seekers, the film too often falls back on broad racial archetypes, in the [South China Morning Post](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-china-morning-post)'s judgment.[8](https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2165692/extraordinary-journey-fakir-film-review-mumbai-magicians-adventures)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 61% Tomatometer from 28 reviews, with the critics consensus stating that the film "is undermined by its mawkish indulgences, but Dhanush's charming central performance is difficult to resist"; the verified audience score was 83%, though from fewer than 50 ratings.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir) Metacritic assigned a Metascore of 56, based on 8 critic reviews, against a user score of 7.9.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/)
Reviewers repeatedly singled out the lead performance. The Los Angeles Times found the film "consistently engaging, if meandering," and credited Dhanush's good heart for carrying the character through the pratfalls.[7](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-extraordinary-journey-of-fakir-dhanush-review-20190620-story.html) [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hollywood-reporter) wrote that the film "mostly works thanks to Dhanush's radiant charm," even while feeling "too overstuffed and wacky for its own good."[6](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/) Indian reviews were cooler: [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) called the film "undeniably shiny, and quick-paced, but also unsubstantial," objecting that the question of displaced people is dealt with too simplistically.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-movie-review-dhanush-5792351/) NDTV gave 2.5 stars out of 5, judging that the film's "broad sweeps of optimism and positivity salvage this uneven exercise."[13](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-review-dhanush-works-his-magic-2-5-stars-out-of-5-2056802) [French press](https://www.edgepedia.org/french-press) aggregated by AlloCiné averaged 3.2 out of 5 across 22 reviews, ranging from Femme Actuelle's "vrai coup de cœur" to Le Figaro's complaint that the fable sags under clichés.[14](https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-237885/critiques/presse/)
The film won The Ray of Sunshine award at the Norwegian International Film Festival in [Haugesund](https://www.edgepedia.org/haugesund) in 2018, where it also screened in the main program.[2](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir)
## References
1. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, Brio Films catalogue](https://www.briofilms.fr/catalogue/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/)
2. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir de Ken Scott (2017), UniFrance](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/43815/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir)
3. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_extraordinary_journey_of_the_fakir)
4. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir press kit (English), UniFrance](https://medias.unifrance.org/medias/58/11/199482/presse/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-presskit-english.pdf)
5. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir)
6. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir/)
7. [Dhanush stars in agreeable 'The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir', Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-extraordinary-journey-of-fakir-dhanush-review-20190620-story.html)
8. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir film review, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2165692/extraordinary-journey-fakir-film-review-mumbai-magicians-adventures)
9. [The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir, FilmInk](https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/extraordinary-journey-fakir/)
10. [The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-movie-review-dhanush-5792351/)
11. [Dhanush's maiden Hollywood venture to release on June 21, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/dhanush-maiden-hollywood-venture-to-release-on-june-21-5739094/lite/)
12. [Dhanush's The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Tamil version titled Pakkiri, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/May/21/dhanushs-the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-tamil-version-titled-pakkiri-to-release-on-june-21-11721.html)
13. [The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir Review, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-extraordinary-journey-of-the-fakir-review-dhanush-works-his-magic-2-5-stars-out-of-5-2056802)
14. [Critiques Presse pour le film L'Extraordinaire voyage du Fakir, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-237885/critiques/presse/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 2017 to 2018 › Titles A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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