Venky Atluri has pulled off something rather special here: a financial crime thriller that actually makes stock market manipulation engaging rather than mind-numbing.
Set in late 1980s Mumbai, “Lucky Baskhar” follows a cash-strapped bank cashier whose descent into money laundering feels less like moral decline and more like watching a master class in charming roguery.
Dulquer Salmaan absolutely smashes it as Baskhar, delivering what might be his finest performance since “Bangalore Days.” The chap manages to make embezzlement feel almost aspirational… no mean feat when your protagonist is essentially robbing the public blind. There are traces of Frank Abagnale from ‘Catch Me If You Can’ in Baskhar’s mannerisms, and Dulquer channels that same magnetic criminality with considerable finesse.
Atluri’s direction is surprisingly sophisticated for someone known primarily for romantic comedies. The late ’80s period setting feels authentic without being overtly nostalgic, and the financial machinations are explained with enough clarity that even those allergic to economics can follow along. The screenplay cleverly employs tension-building techniques, retracing steps to reveal crucial plot points without feeling gimmicky. One slight quibble is the art direction, which could have better showcased the 80s Mumbai.
Meenakshi Chaudhary does competent work as Sumathi, though she’s rather underserved by a script more interested in Baskhar’s financial acrobatics than domestic drama. The supporting cast, including seasoned hands like Tinnu Anand, provides solid grounding.
What elevates “Lucky Baskhar” beyond standard con-artist fare is its moral complexity. We’re meant to root for this “lucky bastard” (the title’s rather clever wordplay), and surprisingly, we do.
It’s a thoroughly entertaining slice of financial skullduggery that proves Indian cinema can tackle white-collar crime with both style and substance.
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