The Story:

'Luck' looks at the world of human gambling where kingpin Musa (Sanjay Dutt) employs luck-stricken individuals as betting objects and dares them to fight their own luck to survive. Their lives are put on the line when Musa challenges them to perform death-defying stunts for big money.

Musa’s annual betting game begins in South Africa when his partner-in-crime, Laakhan Tamaang (Danny Denzongpa), handpicks 20 members from across the globe who have a proven record of extreme luck. For 20 days, Musa bets on the fate of Ram Mehra (Imran Khan), a middle-class guy who needs to compensate 20 crores his late father had lost in the stock market, Ayesha (Shruti Haasan), a disturbed girl, retired Major Jabbar Pratap Singh (Mithun Chakraborty), who needs money for his ailing wife, Shortcut (Chitrashi Rawat), an optimistic Pakistani camel racer girl, and Raghav (Ravi Kishan), a rapist.

The bidding begins, and what follows is a series of fatal ‘fear factor’ games in which all of their lives are put into jeopardy - they jump off helicopters and are locked underwater with sharks. The players are taught to be fearless and solely rely on their luck. As Musa says, “the only truth about luck is that it changes under given circumstances.”

With millions at stake, the participants must conquer the hurdles raised by Musa to win this game of money, betrayal, and the biggest addiction of betting. Now how far their luck goes and who wins the final obstacle is revealed through a twist at the end of the film.

The Cast:

Sanjay Dutt as Kareem Musa – a born daredevil, a big-time gambler who has tested his luck around the world. For him, life is a gamble and his sole ambition is to revolutionize the betting industry by manipulating the odds – playing with those with luck on their side.

Imran Khan as Ram Mehra – the ace player, a middle-class guy who works in a bank and is caught up in a situation where he needs lots of money quickly. In his desperate attempt to make big money he gets lured into the world of gambling where he discovers that he is one of the luckiest men alive.

Danny Denzongpa as Laakhan Tamaang – Musa’s loyal aide, he invests in people’s luck and is set on the rules of gambling. He’s got the money, but has no style. He manipulates Ram and convinces him that his luck has made him (Ram) a money-minting machine.

Chitrashi Rawat as Shortcut – a Pakistani camel racer and an ambitious 16-year-old who stands 4 feet tall. She dreams of buying a Lexus with the big money she earns by testing her luck.

Ravi Kishan as Raghav Raghuvan – nicknamed ‘ring killer’, he is a rapist who was luckily acquitted from prison due to his failed hanging. He is deceitful and laughs freakishly while he keeps a close eye on his target, Ayesha.

Mithun Chakraborty as Major Jabbar Pratap Singh – a retired Major whose only resort to save his ailing wife is to play game of luck.

Shruti Haasan as Ayesha – a disturbed girl who has returned to Musa’s syndicate as a player of luck to seek revenge from him. Her relationship with Ram becomes the reason for her fallout with Raghav.

The Crew:

Director: Soham Shah
Producer: Dhilin Mehta
Production House: Shri Ashtavinayak Cine Visions, Indian Films
Distributor: Shri Ashtavinayak Cine Visions, Indian Films
Music Label: T-Series
Screenplay: Rensil D’Silva, Soham Shah
Story: Rensil D’Silva, Soham Shah
Cinematography: Santosh Thundiyil
Action: Allan Amin
Choreography: Remo
Music Director: Salim-Sulaiman
Lyricist: Shabbir Ahmed, Anvita Dutt Guptan
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti K. Haasan, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa, Ravi Kishan, Chitrashi Rawat, Snita Mahey

What Worked:

'Luck' opens with an electrifying sequence – a blindfolded Dutt who crosses multiple railways of fast moving trains. What’s more, Allan Amin’s action takes the viewer on parachutes, underwater with sharks and atop more speeding trains.

Cinematography by Santosh Thundiyil captures stunning visuals in the rugged terrains of Nambia, South Africa.

Rensil D’Silva’s script has hit the bulls-eye as he manages to weave together a slick action thriller and a full-on entertainer.

Soham Shah’s scores high with casting since all the characters seem to fit the bill pretty well. Sanjay Dutt has mastered the ‘bhai-type’ roles and plays it off once again. Imran Khan strikes a chord with the audience once again and this time, his impressive back-breaking stunts such as jumping from a helicopter on to a burning train keep the viewer at the edge of their seat! Debutante Shruti Haasan’s confidence translates onto the screen and she delivers an overall good performance.

Salim-Sulaiman’s music also goes perfectly with the film.

What Didn't:

While you are hooked in the beginning sequence of the film, the middle portion slows down and heavily relies on character establishment, which eventually becomes boring. It’s really post-interval when all the action begins.

There are few light moments but not enough to keep viewers hooked. For a thriller, one would expect a few more twists and turns to make things more exciting. The only twist in the tale comes in the climax and involves Ayesha’s identity. Things only pick up towards the pre-climax.

The Soundtrack:

Salim and Sulaiman have composed some hip and edgy tunes in this soundtrack. One of the numbers ‘Aazma’, sung by Shruti Haasan is a powerful track. ‘Luck Aazma’ sung by Sukhwinder Singh, ‘Laaga Le’ and ‘Jee Le’ are rocking tracks that will stay at the top of the charts. The romantic number, ‘Khudaya Ve’, sung by Mohit Chahuan, has beautiful lyrics and melody.

Slated or Rated:

'Luck' is a slick mega action thriller that is full of death-defying stunts, breath-taking locales, and a racy soundtrack. If you’re ready for an adrenaline rush, gamble no further and go see 'Luck'!

Rating: 3.5/5