It’s too late in the day to review ‘Lucky’ but these are just my random thoughts on the people who crafted the film. For people who are like ‘Lucky?’ I am like “Yeah it’s a good film, not outstanding but good enough”.
First Impressions: -When I first saw the promos of Lucky, I wasn’t too interested coz it looked like some kinda war movie with an odd pairing of Salman and a very demure Sneha. Appearances can be quite deceptive so I watched it with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised. For starters, the film is quite different from the promos that were shown. It’s a cute story of two strangers bonding well while trying to escape a war torn foreign land.
St Petersburg: - Lucky has been shot largely in St Petersburg, Russia. St Petersburgh is so beautifully depicted that one wonders how so much natural beauty fits into one place. Although I saw it on cable, I believe the locations are so picturesque that seeing it on the big screen would be the best way to enjoy the scenic beauty. If nothing ‘Lucky’ is worthwhile just for enjoying ghar-baithe, the various pristine locales of Russia.
Salman: - Sallu has a habit of going completely over the top in his phillums, but if the director can restrain him, he can give a wonderfully, subtle performance. In ‘Lucky’, his acting or non-acting is okay enough for his character of a snobbish, happy-in-his-own-world kinda person. Wonder what anti-ageing cream he uses coz he’s getting younger and fitter by the day.
Sneha: - Sneha is cute and her ‘expressionless’ potrayal of Lucky suited the character. In many scenes she looks a lot like Ash. It seems that Salman’s sister Arpita saw her at her college and told her brothers to get in touch with Sneha who is a very good Ash look-alike. It was very strange when the entire Khan clan cried themselves hoarse saying that Sneha’s resemblance to Ash was just coincidental when the fact of the matter is and will be, is that the only reason Sneha Ullal bagged the role was due to her striking resemblance to u-know-who.
Sadly: = Mithun’s role and acting were completely out of place and didn’t help the plot at all. Moreover he was quite irritating in his comeback role. It makes you think that editor could have so easily chopped off the role without any difference to the plot.
Believe it or faint, these days Mithun is one actor who is quite popular amongst the Russians. If reports are to be believed, the Russians (bless their loving spirits) are going completely gaga over his Disco-dancer antics, which is unfathomable.
Sami: - Adnan Sami wields the baton for the first time putting together an amazing album. Of all the songs my favorites are ’’Chori chori, chupke se’’ and ’’Aake bhar le bazuaon main’’. Chori chori is imaginatively picturised in an abandoned theatre with all its inanimate props. The other song is also a nice, mellow one.
Sapru’s: - Radhika and Vinay Sapru have directed dozens of music videos including the infamous “Kaanta Laga” to the upmarket “Kinna Sona”. ‘Lucky’ is their first foray into directing a mainstream commercial Hindi film. It seems that they were quite skeptical of Sallu agreeing to do their film but were overjoyed when he fell in love with the script and agreed to do the film. The duo’s script was so impressive that Salman himself got the producers for the film.
So there: - A cute fairytale put together by all the above characters which is quite improbable but entertaining nevertheless.