The first time this happens, it is an indication of what the titular character is capable of. When this technique is repeated, there is the danger of it falling flat. There are occasions when we can pre-empt a twist, but the manner in which it unfolds brings a smile. This woven around a financial scam is Atluri’s best work till date and is anchored by a powerhouse Dulquer Salmaan, who shifts seamlessly from a common man struggling to make ends meet to a shrewd banker driven
The film begins with Baskhar breaking the fourth wall and telling us, the audiences, his story. Banglan’s production design recreates a lower middle class locality of Bombay of 1989-92, with Nimish Ravi’s camera snaking through the grey-tinged walls of the houses and the narrow, congested lanes. This provides a backdrop to the entertaining drama.
Director: Venky Atluri
Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Saikumar Runtime: 150 minutes
Storyline: When a middle class bank employee begins to flout the rules to meet his family’s financial needs, little does he realise what he is in for.
Baskhar’s Transformation: A Tale of Ambition, Fraud, and Moral Reckoning
The first hour of the film moves along familiar lines. Baskhar leads a hand-to-mouth existence, having to support his wife, son, two siblings and an ailing father. He is forever in debt and cannot afford three plates of vada pav. In short, things go from bad to worse.
It is easy to guess that Baskhar will take the bait to make quick money.
The relationship drama unravels simultaneously.
The 1989-1992 setting lets the makers reference stock market manipulation and money laundering through a character resembling Harshad Mehta, with creative liberties to present their own banking scam. Initially, Baskhar’s fraud stems from luck and poor surveillance, but the later portions showcase smart storytelling in this entertaining drama.
Venky Atluri shifts to top gear in the later portions and gets into the murky ways of money laundering and how everyone, from bank managers to small time businesses, willingly or unwittingly, are a part of a large scam. The writing explains the modus operandi in simple terms but does not spoon feed. Baskhar’s character goes through a transformation, from rags to riches, and also lays bare his arrogance. Sumathi is more or less the conscience keeper but is her resistance enough to show Baskhar the mirror?
The story skillfully uses some of its supporting characters to make Baskhar introspect. But having gone too deep into the mess, can he swim to safety? The narrative rarely pauses and keeps us guessing on Baskhar’s next move
Dulquer portrays Baskhar with sincerity, capturing his transformation from a middle-class man to an arrogant figure, aided by his look and subtle emotional cues. He skillfully conveys complex emotions even with minimal dialogue. Meenakshi delivers a solid performance, while Rajkumar Kasireddy, Maganti Srikanth, Hyper Aadhi, and others fit their roles well. Smaller moments with Baskhar’s colleagues, including Gayatri Bhargavi, explore his loss and recovery of humanity.
GV Prakash Kumar’s score is never subtle. A turning point towards the final portions is an example. Perhaps some ambiguity would have helped maintain the suspense.
The film discusses Baskhar’s moral compass without getting preachy and scores when it talks about knowing when and how to stop. In Baskhar’s words, well played, indeed!
