Apparently, greed is only a bad thing if you don’t know when to stop. And a victimless crime might as well be an honest middle class man’s chance at generational wealth.
‘Lucky Bhaskar’ starring Dulquer Salman at his easiest best is an indulging entertainer. A simple man with a modest bank job in the 90s Bombay struggles to make ends meet with his meagre 6000 Rupees salary. He has to take care of a paralyzed father, a brother and a sister, and a wife and a son – so he has debts everywhere. When he is denied a well deserved promotion at work that could have solved his problems, he takes a plunge that changes his entire life and puts it on a whole other trajectory. He is introduced to the world of money laundering and smuggling through a well-meaning contact named Anthony who defines his path for him, but exits the story before disaster strikes. Lucky Bhaskar carries the message of ‘knowing when to stop’ throughout the movie.
Bhaskar is a smart man, even when he was an honest one. He does enough to earn a promotion at work but is denied one. He takes matters into hands and puts his wit to good work as he carries out what seem to be victimless crimes one after another and his life changes around him for good. A middle class man’s true motivation lies in seeing his family happy – and that’s what keeps Bhaskar going. When he decides to take a break because he feels like he’s made enough, a familiar figure from the world of scandals takes an entry in his life and his moral compass spins again.
Harshad Mehta – renamed as Harsha Mehra in Lucky Bhaskar never really appears in the movie, but opens up a world of new opportunities for Bhaskar who now has a good position at work. How Bhaskar manoeuvres through the impossible whirlpool of stock market scam designed by Harsha Mehra is a brilliantly written script.
Lucky Bhaskar takes us on a complete journey of a middle class man’s struggles and victories. His father, now a paralyzed man who was once a top Chartered Accountant in Bombay, plays the role of a moral anchor for Bhaskar alongside his wife; but eventually is also the source of support for Bhaskar to escape the scandalous matrix. Its all very natural and fast-paced so Lucky Bhaskar never feels too dramatic or laborious. The plot being located Bombay from the 90s has been created to perfection with simple and convincing art setup so the movie flows effortlessly.
It is a ‘rags to riches’ story but there are a few carefully placed, smart misdirects that make us feel like the movie will end with Bhaskar being an idealized version of a ‘middle class Indian man’ who romanticizes and enjoys the smaller pleasures of life, unlike the rich. However, the climax delivers a well-articulated surprise.
Lucky Bhaskar is an ideal choice for a lazy afternoon or an easy pastime. It was interesting to also watch the perspective of a counterpart of Harshad Mehta’s scandal – albeit fictional – through a bank administrative who never met him but was fully involved with him. Venky Atluri (director) has delivered a holistic narrative that does not fall short at any point.
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