Lucky Baskhar review: Dulquer Salmaan is terrific in film on banking, share market

Lucky Baskhar movie review: Director Venky Atluri's film, starring Dulquer Salmaan, explains banking and share market to a layman. With a terrific actor at core, the film comes together in the second half.

In Short

• Lucky Baskhar had paid premieres on October 30, with a wide release on October 31
• The film is a neatly written and exceptionally enacted drama about financial frauds
• Directed by Venky Atluri, the film features Dulquer Salmaan in titular role

Fortune favours the brave – this is a slogan that aptly encapsulates what Lucky Baskhar is. Director Venky Atluri’s latest outing, far different from his previous offerings, is this year’s Diwali gift to the audience. Lucky Baskhar is a film about how a middle-class man, who aims for the sky, gets derailed due to greed, but is clever enough to pull him out of the mess. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

Baskhar (Dulquer Salmaan) is a cashier in Magadha Bank. He is the sole breadwinner of his family, which consists of his wife Sumathi (Meenakshi Chaudhary), son Karthik (Rithvik), his ailing dad, brother and sister. They’re on the edge of poverty and debts strangle him. At that time, Anthony (Ramki), a man who wants a loan from Baskhar’s bank, comes up with an offer that he can’t refuse due to his familial circumstances.

This is an offer that changes Baskhar’s life. It teaches him the value of money and how it can pull his family out of the cobweb of problems. But, at one point, greed takes over and derails Baskhar. Does he manage to pull him out of the mess he has created? What happens to his family and future?

Director Venky Atluri’s Lucky Baskhar starts on a slow note, with its emphasis on the titular role’s life and the struggles he faces due to lack of money. Despite the problems, they lead a happy life. But, when money knocks on their doors, thanks to many illegal activities that he indulges in, it changes their lives for the good. Well, initially. But, it also begins to consume Baskhar.

Here's the trailer:

Lucky Baskhar is a character study of Baskhar, a clever banker, who is capable of emerging out of any difficult situation with his quick decision-making skills. Whether it’s banking or the share market, Baskhar learns from his mistakes before it gets too late. The first half of the film slowly takes us through Baskhar’s life and his need to indulge in many illegal activities to help fulfill his family’s wishes. It is here that the film lags a bit as all the conflicts get resolved in just a minute.

For a novice, Baskhar is shown as a person who outsmarts Anthony, who brings the actual job to him. This convenient writing puts you off in the lengthy first half. But Venky soon corrects his mistakes and makes the second half thrilling and engaging. We see Baskhar getting caught in a huge bank receipt scam, but the way he crawls out of it is what makes Lucky Baskhar an interesting attempt.

Kudos to director Venky Atluri for neatly explaining the functioning of a bank, trading and share market to a layman. He brilliantly sets up plot points through conflicts and surprises audiences with rewarding payoffs. One of the grouses of the film is Dulquer breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience, which sort of spoils the flow. But, again, it’s a personal choice.

Dulquer Salmaan is exceptional as a middle-class man, Baskhar. He brings to life the humiliation, daily struggle and never-ending financial commitments to life through his role. Once he reaps profits from his illegal activities, he’s a changed man. And Dulquer aces both traits with his subtle yet effective performance. He is ably supported by Meenakshi Chaudhary, Sachin Khedekar and several others. GV Prakash's music, Nimish Ravi's cinematography and Naveen Nooli's editing are in tandem with the film's mood.

Lucky Baskhar works for the major part because of Venky Atluri’s attention to detail and superlative performances.

3 out of 5 stars for Lucky Baskhar.