Making of a scamster

‘Lucky Bhaskar’, starring Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, is a captivating tale of resilience and survival. The film’s narrative is set against the backdrop of the infamous banking scam of the 1990s, which the audiences are now well-acquainted with because of ‘Scam 1992’ and ‘The Big Bull’.

In this fictional account woven well around the real narrative involving one of India’s biggest scams, Dulquer Salmaan breaks the fourth wall and talks to the audience. He convincingly portrays Bhaskar Kumar, a man caught in the crossfire of the bank and stock market scam, making it all too real.

In the words of chairman of Mughda Bank, Rajbir Lokhande (played by Tinnu Anand), Bhaskar is a relatable man having a simple life, a loving family and everyday struggles. Lokhande believed this would make him give up a whopping amount of black money, but Bhaskar had one last trick up his sleeve to avoid becoming the fall guy.

As a bank cashier, Bhaskar is deeply entrenched in the system. But Venky, the director, doesn’t go by the standard template of portraying his hero as a ‘bechara’, who was forced become corrupt to find his way up. Despite explanations and reasons, Venky makes his hero own up his act: the bigger the risk, the bigger the rewards in a system where there are bigger fish to fry — here Harshad bhai, there’s a sense of poetic justice when an underdog like Bhaskar claims his share. Venky played it well! The scam is familiar, which is why, right from the outset, one is invested in Bhaskar’s journey.

The film brings alive the 1990s’ Bombay with its Irani cafes and old notes; Gold Spot cola bottles in the background are also hard to miss. The dialogues are crisp and authentic.

Meenakshi Choudhary, Sachin Khedekar and Ramki pitch in with their impressive acting, yet Dulquer Salmaan wins the show.

Watch it in Telugu or Hindi, the narrative doesn’t fail to grip. Music by GV Prakash Kumar also helps move the story forward.