Satyadev in ‘Zebra’ Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

week later Lucky BhaskarThe story of a bank employee whose greed almost leads to his downfall, another film focusing on financial fraud in the banking sector, zebra, Is in theatres. Incidentally, zebra It begins with a bank officer instructing his subordinates, “We don’t want another Harshad Mehta.” However, the similarities between the films more or less end there.

zebra It’s a good example of how a storyteller doesn’t need to water a film down and still offer a typical masala potboiler to connect with its target audience. Director Ishwar Karthik (who previously directed penguin) weaves the intricacies of a complex scam into an accessible screenplay that never loses sight of its primary goal – entertainment.

The story is deliberately simple – Surya (played by Satyadev), is a street-smart bank employee who, in a bid to save his loved one, gets entangled in a complex multi-crore scam. He will do anything to prove his innocence. While the film has a traditional hero, a damsel in distress, a powerful villain, and a humorous sidekick, no one in this universe is entirely virtuous.

The first hour proves that the director has done his homework on the banking sector well. Without overwhelming the audience with jargon, the story highlights the many loopholes within the system – from check clearance problems to inoperative accounts of NRIs and unnamed account holders – and how the protagonist exploits these to his advantage.

Driven by a strong emotional conflict, Surya has no choice but to resort to white-collar crime. Meanwhile, you understand what to expect from the antagonist Aditya (Dali Dhananjay). The ego battle between Aditya and his rival Gupta (Sunil) in the helicopter bargain seems predictable. However, none of the characters are easy pushovers.

The director doesn’t shy away from using animalistic metaphors – the world is compared to a jungle, the fight is between an elephant and a python and Aditya gets various letters of ‘Shaitan’ tattooed on his fingers. Till the intermission, the film focuses on the inner workings of a bank, and then takes a surprising U-turn, turning into a heist comedy without any hitches.

The importance of the leading lady, Swati (played by Priya Bhavani Shankar) increases with time and Sathyaraj’s playful portrayal as a hawala dealer ensures excitement. However, the film loses its impact due to the ineffective backstory on Aditya’s past. The salacious humor between Satya and his demonic superior (Jennifer Piccinato) also leaves a bad taste.

Although there are details and strange script in the background of zebra The primary strength, villainy is not creative. In most situations, the victims are predictable – a vulnerable woman or a helpless child. Probably to keep the audience engaged and maintain the pace of the proceedings, the director has inserted a lot of twists in the last 45 minutes.

zebra Survives because Surya, even when pushed to the edge, keeps finding new ways to get himself out of trouble. While Garuda Ram’s extended cameo in the climax is the icing on the cake, the director’s last ditch effort to garner sympathy by dramatizing the hero’s ‘noble’ objective feels unnecessary.

The 164-minute duration is not troublesome due to the situational writing. Satyadev is as sharp as ever in his stoic portrayal of Surya, a character who is relatable but has a larger than life presence. After a stellar performance in Gitanjali Malli Vacchindi And Mathu Wadalara 2Satya continues to enthrall the audience, creating a ruckus whenever he is around.

Priya Bhavani Shankar finally has a significant role in a Telugu film part, although Amrita Iyengar’s cameo is forgettable. Dhananjay’s striking presence, cast in a full-length role, as well as his dubbing, contribute significantly to his performance. Sunil’s character of Madan Gupta reminds you a bit waterIt’s a relief to see Sathyaraj freeing himself from the ‘always smiling’ father image.

Composer Ravi Basrur makes the most of the opportunity to do something other than a high-voltage action entertainer. ‘Gayalaina O Naruda’ is the latest example of how innovative he can be. After disappointing direction penguinEeshwar Karthik has reinvented himself with this clever financial thriller, backed by a committed ensemble – on and off screen.

ZEBRA is currently playing in theaters