Average Lukamari

Movie: Lukamari

PC: facebook.com/lukamarimovie

Director: Shree Ram Dahal

Screenplay: Binod Khatiwada

Actors: Saugat Malla, Karma, Bikram Singh Tharu, Surabina Karki, Rista Basnet and others

In My Eyes: 2.5/5

Lukamari is a suspense drama packed inside a box of comedy. The basic storyline is how two police officers go undercover to investigate a crime and how they carry their task. It is, as the title suggests, a hide-and-seek between cops and criminals.

Good things first, Lukamari carries good content. The presentation is well and so is the characterization of lead characters; the performances compliment it rightly. Making the movie not get overly serious by the use of comic factors helps the entertainment value of the movie. The punch lines and the few scenes make sure to get audience lol. The nuances of basic Kathmandu life in the first half are well-displayed. The last half hour is dramatic and keeps you hooked.

The main drawback lies in the writing itself. The first half seems to focus mostly on generating laughs only rather than moving the story forward. The character of Rista Basnet seems out of context and half-baked in the story. The comedy comes across as forceful in several places. The movie raises momentum in the second half but then again, it feels hurried. Even though the last half-hour is actually the core, the happenings unfolding then is shown quickly, which could have been shown more convincingly and aptly.

Cinematography is good. Editing is okay. Background score is average. Songs and actions are okay.

Coming to performances, Karma steals the show with his portrayal of unique character. He proves his versatility. Ditto for Saugat Malla, he effortlessly sinks into his character. However, these are not their best works. Bikram Singh Tharu is first-rate in his role. Surabina Karki and Rista Basnet are average. All other supporting actors are okay.

Final Say:

The mediocre writing and direction make Lukamari just the average one. Worth watching once.