Review: Lucky Baskhar
The film is not just about being an entertainer. It is much more than that. It attempts to educate you on certain crucial aspects that could enhance decision making. For instance, it talks in detail about leverage in a business negotiation. It also underlines the fact that knowing when to stop and getting out of a game is more important than anything else.
Movie: Lucky Baskhar
Stars: Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chaudhary
Writer & Director: Venky Atluri
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
Cinematography: Nimish Ravi
Editor: Navin Nooli
Art Director – Banglan
Producer: Naga Vamsi S – Sai Soujanya
Rating: 4 stars
Director Venky Atluri comes up with a brilliant financial thriller that keeps you hooked to the screen from start to finish.
What makes Lucky Baskhar stand out are two factors. The first is the detailed manner in which the plot is laid out. This is no half-hearted job and the director seems to have gone all out to make sure the audiences understand the complex banking system and the loopholes in them that the bankers and share market players exploit.
The second factor is the focussed manner in which the story is told. There is no digression, no distraction from what Bhaskar does. The story is about how Baskhar, a good and sharp individual, is forced to play the system which keeps the corrupt rich and the sincere poor.
The film talks about how Baskhar was, how he struggled while he was sincere and honest and what a middle-class man, when he chooses to play the system, can do.
The story, which is set in 1992, the year the Indian stock markets were rocked due to the Harshad Mehta scam, is not about Harshad Mehta but about one of the bankers who initially helped the stock market broker to swindle money.
It has been some time since the Tamil film industry had a proper financial thriller and Lucky Baskhar fills in that place.
The film is not just about being an entertainer. It is much more than that. It attempts to educate you on certain crucial aspects that could enhance decision making. For instance, it talks in detail about leverage in a business negotiation. It also underlines the fact that knowing when to stop and getting out of a game is more important than anything else.
Performances:
Dulquer Salmaan aces this one as well. As Baskhar, a man weighed down by the responsibilities of having to put food on the plate of his father, his sister, his brother and his wife and son, he is just brilliant.
Always smiling and working non-stop for the sake of his family, Baskhar has no time even to fret. There is a scene in the film, where the character of Baskhar suffers humiliation in the presence of his whole office. But in less than five minutes, he goes to the washroom, comes out, apologises and continues to do his work with a smile on his face much to the astonishment of his colleagues. Dulquer’s performance in this scene peaked and his performance overall in the film is outstanding.
One other person who matches Dulquer scene for scene is Meenakshi Chaudhary, who plays Sumathi, Bhaskar’s wife in the film. She is simply adorable all through the film. Her poise, grace, charm and emotional stability make her instantly likeable.
Director Venky Atluri’s success does not lie in just picking the right story and narrating well. His success is also because of choosing the right cast. Both Dulquer and Meenakshi are the perfect choice for their respective roles.
Technical Aspects:
On the technical front, music director G V Prakash Kumar comes up with a fantastic background score that perfectly complements the developments on screen.
Nimish Ravi’s visuals are perfect and seamlessly transport you to an era when mobile phones were absent and Maruti 800s were considered prized possessions.
Editor Navin Nooli’s sharp editing keeps the story tight and there is not a moment of boredom in entire film. The story is narrated at a brisk pace from start to finish and is a treat to watch.
Verdict:
Lucky Baskhar is a masterpiece and a film that you cannot afford to miss.
