by Trailerman Sam
Lucky Baskhar’s overriding theme is money and what it does to people who don’t know how to use it.
A two-hour and 31-minute crime drama in Telugu, it has a rating of 8.1 stars, no less than by 15k IMDb users.
Don’t be too concerned if you are not familiar with Telugu, the main language in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. There are subtitles or dubbings in Tamil, too.
Written and directed by Venky Atluri, it’s produced by S. Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments, Fortune Four Cinema and Srikara Studios.
The film’s two main characters are Dulquer Salmaan as Baskhar Kumar and Meenakshi Chaudhary as Sumathi Kumar (Baskhar’s wife).
This movie is set in 1989-1992 and makes a reference to manipulation of the stock market and money laundering in India then.
Mixing various spices and flavours, it begins at a time when Baskhar moved around with a near empty wallet. So, there comes heart-wrenching scenes of his son and his wife humiliated by close relatives.
But with determination and love for his wife and son, this induces Baskhar to find a way to propel up the financial ranks.
Since he works in a bank, he reckons that the only option available is to find the cash. Even if it meant entering the realm of white-collar crime.
As a down and out bank cashier, he plunges into a risky investment scheme and soon gets drawn into the murky world of money laundering.
The film shows how one can suddenly become so rich and then tends to forget one’s roots. And Baskhar is no exception. This is when the word lucky kicks in.
Director Venky Atluri strikes a fine balance between exploring financial scam and relationships. This is perhaps a film done in The Wolf of Wall Street style. No doubt some would not like the way he earned his wealth.
Lucky Baskhar emerges as a charming crime thriller drawing some inspiration from real-life incidents and combining a nostalgic backdrop of human ambition and resilience.
Venky Atluri’s masterful direction makes this film a must-watch. One gem of a movie not to be missed before saying goodbye to 2024.
It’s a movie that leaves you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. And a testament of how good storytelling, strong performances and a dash of luck can come together to create magic on the screen. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an enjoyable, feel-good movie!
WE