‘Lucky Baskhar’ Movie Review: A Charming Dulquer Salmaan Carries This Flawed but Entertaining Tale of Morality and Greed (LatestLY Exclusive)

Lucky Baskhar Movie Review: Written and directed by Venky Atluri (Tholi Prema, Vaathi), Lucky Baskhar is a heist film loosely inspired by the Harshad Mehta scam of the early '90s. At its core, Lucky Baskhar imparts a life lesson that resonates in the frustrated middle-class Indian psyche: work honestly, and you might find yourself buried under debt; take a crooked route, and perhaps you'll get the life you desire—but you need to know where to draw the line. With Dulquer Salmaan as the charming protagonist, the allure of the crooked path becomes all the more appealing, whether this was the filmmakers’ intent or not. ‘Lucky Baskhar’ Song ‘Mindathe’: Dulquer Salmaan and Meenakshi Chaudhary Shine in GV Prakash Kumar’s Romantic Melody.

Set in the early '90s, Baskhar is a middle-class man living with his beautiful wife, Sumathi (Meenakshi Chaudhary), their young son, his two siblings, and a father who has been mute since suffering financial losses. Baskhar works as a bank clerk and is honest in his dealings, yet he constantly struggles with debt. When he is humiliated by a moneylender and later passed over for a deserved promotion, Baskhar decides to venture down a less honest path to secure some extra income without harming anyone.

Watch the Trailer of 'Lucky Baskhar':

At first, Baskhar's schemes unfold smoothly, bringing in money without consequence. But after a close call, he decides to play it safe and withdraw. However, once entangled in vice, escape proves difficult, and the lure of higher rewards draws him back in. The thing is, when you strike a deal with the Devil, the Devil turns out to be a bigger scamster, and in the case of Baskhar, the unseen Devil happens to be a huge stock-market fraud.

'Lucky Baskhar' Movie Review - A Okayish First Half

As mentioned earlier, the plot of Lucky Baskhar draws inspiration from the Harshad Mehta saga (viewers familiar with Hansal Mehta's engaging series Scam 1992 will notice a few parallels), with Mehta even depicted as a fictional character. Atluri has crafted a rags-to-riches tale of an ordinary, middle-class man that resonates with audiences facing their own financial struggles. It’s unclear if the film endorses small-time corruption while condemning larger frauds, but Baskhar's trials and eventual opportunities feel somewhat relatable. However, his character arc is often hampered by lacklustre storytelling.

The initial scenes, which establish Baskhar's honest nature and financial troubles, help ground the character but are presented in a rather dull manner and over-sentimentality, making the set-up feel a bit laborious. The story finally picks up when Baskhar begins to embrace his anti-hero nature. His encounters with Antony (Ramki) lead him down an intriguing, if trope-laden, path that keeps the audience engaged. Yet, bland storytelling and misplaced humour sometimes dilute the impact of these scenes, like when Baskhar uses beggars and a bar-dancer to cover his tracks.

'Lucky Baskhar' Movie Review - Better Second Half That Still Feels Predictable

The first half of Lucky Baskhar is passable, but the second half raises some excitement levels when the film aligns more closely with the real-life '92 scam after Baskhar gets involved in a major financial crime and tries to make his fortunes all the better. Of course, this phase brings the predictable cautionary note about how wealth can corrupt—though the film itself doesn’t stick to this moral throughout.

This inconsistency in tone complicates our perception of Baskhar, and the predictable screenplay dampens the film’s impact. The trajectory of Baskhar's moral decline and subsequent redemption is easy to anticipate, detracting from the suspense.

Lucky Baskhar shines only when Baskhar devises new tactics to cover his tracks, especially in the final act. The final sequences still manage a mild surprise, even if, by then, it's clear Baskhar always has a card up his sleeve. The film, like its protagonist, sometimes suffers from over-confidence. The narrative begins with a flash-forward scene showing Baskhar in trouble, but he immediately breaks the fourth wall with a smirk and confidently addresses the camera as if to assure viewers he's got it all under control. Apart from a couple of tense moments, I never truly felt concerned for Baskhar's well-being  - his composure and some contrived twists made his tricks feel more manipulative than thrilling. This is particularly evident in the pre-interval scene, where he narrowly avoids exposure.

What works really well for the movie is its easygoing nature and its visually appealing treatment. Kudos to the production design for recreating early '90s Bombay with authenticity. It brought back memories of when food stalls clustered around the Gateway of India, and Mumbai's international airport was still known as Sahar.

'Lucky Baskhar' Movie Review - Dulquer Salmaan Scores

And then, of course, there’s Dulquer Salmaan, whose presence makes Lucky Baskhar entirely watchable and keeps us rooting for Baskhar, despite his questionable choices. Dulquer effortlessly balances the relatable family man and shrewd banker, anchoring the film through its highs and lows.

Unfortunately, the supporting cast doesn’t receive the same depth or screen time, including Meenakshi's Sumathi, who serves as Baskhar’s moral compass but is largely limited to wide-eyed smiles when happy and occasional glares and outbursts when angry. GV Prakash Kumar’s score is a notable highlight, enhancing the overall appeal.

'Lucky Baskhar' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Lucky Baskhar is a mixed bag that leans on its charismatic lead and intriguing premise to carry it through an otherwise predictable narrative. Dulquer Salmaan’s performance is undeniably the film’s strongest asset, infusing Baskhar with both warmth and wily ambition that makes his journey worth watching. Lucky Baskhar may not deliver a sharp critique of ambition or corruption, but it offers an entertaining - if largely wavering  - heist drama with some loose moral lessons.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2024 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).