Lucky Baskhar

“Lucky Baskhar” is a 2024 Telugu-language period crime drama film written and directed by Venky Atluri, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Tinnu Anand. The film is about Baskhar Kumar, a lower-middle-class bank cashier, who resorts to financial frauds to get out of debt and humiliation.

The film is set in the early 1990s and goes about “Baskhar” being questioned by the CBI for having cheated Magadha Bank. In flashbacks, it is seen that Baskhar, finding it difficult to maintain his family, steals money from the bank and invests it in a smuggling operation. His risk pays off, and he is able to pay off his debts and bring prosperity to his family. Inspired by his success, he becomes involved in stock market manipulation and employs illegal means to legalize his increasing wealth.

As Baskhar becomes wealthy, arrogance prevails, straining his relations with his wife “Sumathi” and father “Prahalad”, who caution him about the ill effects of greed. When his friend Samba gets arrested, he understands the price he has paid for his deeds and tries to reform himself. But he soon stumbles upon a large-scale banking scam with powerful businessman Harsha Mehra and Magadha Bank's management. Resolved to do the right thing, he brings the scam to light before the authorities, which creates a major financial scandal.

The crooked bank officials, however, frame Baskhar, making him sign fake transfers. But he catches them by a clever move and closes his account beforehand, bringing about Mehra's ruin and the arrests of the bank's top executives. Ultimately, Baskhar and his family shift to America and establish their future in a legal business.

With its fascinating storyline, outstanding performances, and gripping period context, “Lucky Baskhar” has a gripping combination of crime, drama, and redemption. “Dulquer Salmaan” is simply brilliant in the lead role and brings Baskhar's reinvention to fruition. The speed of the story, the heightened scenes, and the emotional touch of the movie make it a crime thriller which cannot be left behind.