Lucky Baskhar Movie Review- Telugu (2024)

Movie: Lucky Baskhar (2024)

Director: Venky Atluri

Production: Sithara Entertainments

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chowdhury & Others

Music: G. V. Prakash Kumar 

Editor: Naveen Nooli

Cinematography: Nimish Ravi

Language: Telugu 

Release Date: 31/10/2024

Censor: U/A

3.75/5

"151 Minutes Rollercoaster Ride Into Baskhar's Notorious Life"

01. All about Lucky Baskhar.

The new Telugu language film 'Lucky Baskhar' directed by Venky Atluri & starring the most talented Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chowdhury in lead roles is in theatres making noise already, so let's dwell in now. 

Lucky Baskhar is basically a documentary or more or less an autobiography of a 'Common Middle Class Indian Man' Baskhar Kumar who's a normal Bank cashier & who suffers to support his family with his very little income that he gets. One day he gets that messed up & screwed up with his life, debts & income that he decides to plan something illicit that gives him money. And in all the happenings he gets lucky enough that he isn't caught. What actually happened & what did Baskhar do to get rich is all about the plot of this film. 

Every person has a greed, selfishness & possessiveness to earn money, more money & much money. This film isn't any different in showcasing that part, but the director questions - "How much is enough? Till where's the end?" From Baskhar's perspective. Director shows grey side of Baskhar & then preaches us a message - if to support family money is the criteria - then it should stop when that money is earned - but if that doesn't stop & goes endlessly till greed, arrogance & selfishness is eating away in whole - then what's the whole purpose? Film deals on those templates & the execution is just picture perfect. 

02. What entertains in the film?

The screenplay - it plays a major plot in making Lucky Baskhar a lucky one for the unit. The engaging screenplay is just too evident that not even a minute is lagged or oozing out interest. Director skillfully masters the plot with a 1980-90 backdrop to hide all the logical questions running in audience minds. At a juncture we are too carried away that the scene appears illogical but director brings in the advantage of 80's where there isn't any surveillance, video proof, digital entry etc to cover up the holes & audience are like-'Wooaah'. There are numerous highs & twists that come each time when Baskhar is at a verge of losing & keeps us glued till end. The crisp & clear dialogues with strong writing are yet another asset to the film. Am surprised how fast DQ has improved on his Telugu dialect that he dubbed just like any other fluent Telugu actor. 

03. What about technicalities?

Music & BGM by Prakash Kumar are fine enough to engage the audience. The title song which didn't appeal at first did wonders in theatre - my mind was like 'Damn what a placement of song!'. Cinematography & editing are just top notch. Frames giving the retro vibes were worked upon too well. Direction & screenplay playing a vital role are the backbone to the film. 

04. How did Dulquer Salmaan do as Baskhar & what about other performances?

Dulquer Salmaan as Baskhar is just made perfect by the director, he's born to play this role. We all know DQ's potential & this is his kinda role. He got what he deserves. He just went like a cake walk kind thing. His dubbing, fluency in language, dedication & efforts all together made the film a great watch. It's a one man army film & he entertains the audience with his Uber cool acting as usual. (Here's a film with least elevation -mass action sequences, no duets or item numbers & hero has got no so much melodrama or method acting to do- but still hero's presence & his action was pellucid - that's why DQ is special from all) There were scenes where only eyes were to speak & his eyes spoke volumes. His looks also suit the retro frames but this time he's lost some charm & flaunts a typical stout Indian dad personality, dunno if it was done intentionally or some other reason.

Performance from Meenakshi Chowdhury was also too good & she got a meaty role. After so many films in Telugu atleast now she's got her due. Performances from Ramki, Sarvaddaman, Sachin Khedkar & Sai Kumar are the ones that stand out. 

05. Anything that Lucky Baskhar missed or any wrongs?

Ofcourse there are mistakes but not many. There are scenes that are too silly & will'nt give any high or are too bland or appear repetitive as these sorts are already watched before. We can predict the twists & each time Baskhar is saved from some mishap we should consider him as lucky because he's Lucky Baskhar which is something outdated. The BGM was good in many places but felt still something is missing in important scenes. The setup was quite natural & no extravaganza added to push up the colour grading. It was a out & out DQ's film but he has not got that heavy scope to put his all- the scenario was somewhat dull. The hero was there in each frame but of no use as he either gets to say few punch lines or act with his eyes that's it. I felt the writing is missing some intensity at such situations. The film also appears like a freemake of 'Scam 1992' & other webseries involving 'Crime-Money-Crime' backdrops- so it isn't totally new.  I felt if Baskhar still changed at last- however he was smart enough to take away his money & again he's back to his illicit business - so why the family - good - humanity sentiment in between?? Question to the director. 

06. Overall.

It's a well made comercial thrilling entertainer but with cautions & limitations. I seriously felt like it's a film that needn't have a great theatrical run as it can be happily enjoyed on OTTs. There isn't nothing that we are missing if we didn't watch it in theatres. Though the film is very strong in content, story, writing, characterisation but still somewhere there's the dullness or incompleteness that's giving a feeling of some mediocrity. 

If not for all these, we can watch it for the much talented Dulquer Salmaan. On a whole it's a nice watch & worth the time. Will stay for sometime.