Zebra Review

So there's one more banking bonanza out for us. Hot on the heels of Lucky Baskhar, which dissected the anatomy of banking frauds, comes Zebra, a movie that trades realism for high-octane entertainment. If Lucky Baskhar whispered the proverb "behind every great fortune is a great crime", Zebra screams "even the smallest slip can snowball into chaos". Set in the vibrant chaos of a fictional banking world, Zebra blends comedy, action and drama, though not without a few hiccups.

Surya (Satyadev), a savvy bank employee, finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble when his love interest and colleague Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar) commits a seemingly innocuous typing error. What starts as a simple mistake spirals into a web of convolutions involving Rs 5 crore mistakenly transferred to an account that belongs to a menacing gangster, Adi (Dhananjaya). Adi's ultimatum? Fix the mess in four days or face the consequences.

From here, Surya embarks on a frantic quest to recover the lost amount, navigating banking loopholes, high-stakes negotiations, and the ire of a no-nonsense antagonist. The narrative promises thrills, but ends up becoming a potboiler left too long on the stove.

Zebra starts strong, drawing you in with wacky character introductions and turning the mundane banking setup into an entertaining playground. However, as the plot thickens, it becomes harder to suspend disbelief. Critical questions - like how banks deal with erroneous transactions or the mental toll of such crises - are only superficially addressed.

The tension fizzles in the second half, where the movie trades its initial intrigue for logical loopholes and filler scenes. At 164 minutes, the runtime drags, and the pacing suffers. By the time the climax arrives, the narrative feels like a leaky boat patched together with cinematic liberties. Finally, Zebra reminds us that a stitch in time saves nine or, in this case, crores, but not so convincingly.

Amidst the narrative's missteps, the cast delivers noteworthy performances. Sunil, playing the quirky Gupta, steals the show yet again. His transformation from comedic roles to menacing characters such as the mafia kingpin in Pushpa and the land-grabber in Mechanic Rocky have been nothing short of remarkable. Here, he balances humour with menace effortlessly.

Satyadev shines as Surya, embodying the street-smart bank employee with charisma. However, when the script demands that he transition into a larger-than-life action hero, the shift feels jarring, like watching your accountant suddenly turn into a pro wrestler. Priya Bhavani Shankar as Swathi does justice to her role, while Dhananjaya as Adi exudes raw energy, though his character lacks dimension, perpetually brooding and ready to brawl.

Satya, as Surya's goofy yet loyal friend, injects much-needed humour into the proceedings. His antics feel like the comedic relief you didn't know you needed (due to the unnecessary plot drags), delivering LOL moments with impeccable timing.

Where Zebra truly excels is in its technical aspects. The production design cleverly incorporates fictional banks like KDFC and BOT, creating a universe that feels larger-than-life. The cinematography captures the bustling world of banking with flair, while the music complements the action-packed narrative. Every frame screams big-budget brilliance, and the attention to detail in set design is commendable.

Zebra is far from flawless, but it also offers enough entertainment. The performances, especially by Sunil and Satya, are delightful, and the production value adds significant weight to the otherwise shaky narrative. While the story's logical lapses might make you roll your eyes, the comedy and action are enough to keep you hooked. The movie has its ups and downs, but it's worth stepping into, if only once.