DUG DUG is a film that was released in cinemas on 8th May 2026, but this release date hides an inspiring tale of struggle and perseverance. The film made its worldwide premiere in 2021 at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). But despite getting a largely positive response at the festival, the film failed to acquire distribution or streaming rights in India. Only after established filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane attached themselves as the executive producers did the film finally manage to get released in cinemas in 2026, almost 5 years after its initial festival run. This comedy-drama about a bike that becomes the center of a mysterious event that gives rise to a new folk deity is based on a true story and is directed by Ritwik Pareek, which also happens to be his debut feature-length film. Along with directing, he also self-produced the film with his sister Prerna Pareek. Aditya Kumar is the cinematographer, while Bijith Bala does the editing.

Unlike a traditional film, the main character in this film is a Luna moped. The story is about an accident involving the aforementioned bike and the mysterious events happening after the accident. An intoxicated man named Thakur Lal meets with an accident, and night after night his moped continues to reappear at the accident site on its own, despite the police hauling the vehicle away to the police station repeatedly. The village decides that the event is like a miracle and Thakur Lal has attained the status of godhood. A shrine is made on the location of the accident, and people’s faith does the rest. The film is based on the Rajasthani legend of “Bullet Baba”, and rather than shying away from the similarities, Pareek leans into it.

Amidst all the hijinks and comedy, what the film is interested in most is exploring the age-old question: Did God make humans, or did humans make God? This question is the driving engine behind this film. A sharp comedy satirizing the commodification of religion and how how quickly a belief can be manufactured, branded, and sold if enough people decide to believe in it. Considering the current state of the society, it doesn’t feel far from the truth.

For a film that’s produced independently, DUG DUG is visually gorgeous. Every frame is soaked in color, which makes every scene feel like it’s bursting with energy. The color scheme of choosing pink and blue, taken from the Luna itself, makes the whole metaphor even more potent. Aditya Kumar’s excellent camerawork swings between documentary-style precision and a hallucinatory trance that perfectly captures the passion and fervor of the atmosphere. The editing never misses a beat and keeps the film snappy, while the jazzy score perfectly complements the vibe. This kind of technical finesse is rarely seen in such independent features.

Conceptually and technically, this film is brilliant, but it’s the overall execution where it falters slightly. The film also loses a lot of its momentum due to its inconsistent pacing. Almost 60-70% is a montage. To be fair to them, the montages aren’t bad and are probably the funniest part of the whole film that shows the absurdity of the whole endeavor. However, leaning on them so much means that the story barely moves, and after a while it starts feeling like everything is going in circles rather than building towards something. The ending also doesn’t land properly; it’s not anything bad per se, but definitely not what the whole buildup promises.

None of these minor inconveniences change the verdict, though. DUG DUG is still a must-watch. It’s a genuinely good satire on belief, society, and the commercialization of faith. A brilliant debut that makes Ritwik Pareek a talent to look out for in the future.