Anshuman Jha starrer Lakadbaggha is released on Friday, a new concept that was not explored in Indian Cinema. The film is an attempt to portray a vigilante who is an animal lover.
Lakadbaggha is a brilliantly conceived movie that pits a vigilante animal lover against a cruel animal abuser. It is touted as the first Indian movie about an animal rights vigilante, but it falls short. The movie moves too slowly to keep the audience interested. Additionally, the focus of the movie is on Arjun’s pet dogs rather than the title Lakadbaggha, which is not the main focus until the very end. It could have been made more concise by removing a few scenes, or it could have been made stronger by including more.
The story is set in Kolkata, where a regular Bengali boy Arjun Bakshi played by Anshuman Jha is a dog lover and cannot stand by anyone who abuses his dog friend and as a result, he bashes them to death. Anshuman can be compared to other Bollywood action stars like Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jamwal because of his Bruce Lee-inspired hairstyle and talent for displaying fluid martial arts movements. With her calm and cool demeanour, Ridhi Dogra seemed like the ideal candidate for a police officer. She was also able to ace the action sequences like a pro.
Bakshi is a martial arts trainer for kids and a courier boy during the day and an animal lover vigilante during the night. One fine day his dog Shanku goes missing and during his hunt, Arjun comes across a black-striped hyena, a Lakadbaggha in Hindi. Soon after that, he learns about the illegal animal trade in the city. Whereas Riddhi Dogra is a crime branch officer who is on the hunt for a vigilante and unknown to her the illegal trade is run by her brother played by Paresh Pahuja. The villain turns out to be the heroine’s blood brother is like an unshaven bearded stranger in a banquet room filled with suave guests. The villain Aryan played by Paresh wears a cloak of causticity throughout, as though he knows at the end he must die a sticky death.
Arjun Bakshi becomes friends and falls in love with Ridhi Dogra’s police officer. Arjun cannot find one of his animal friends and uncovers the aforementioned animal trade.
The action sequences are well choreographed from start to end as Arjun Bakshi beats the criminals to their graveyards. The fighting scenes are from Israeli martial arts – Krav-Maga. Anushamna Jha performed all the stunts at ease and his acting is commendable. Paresh Pahuja has slayed his performance as the antagonist while Riddhi Dogra gave her best on the big screen movie as a debutant.
If you are animal lover, then definitely watch this movie. Despite its many inconsistencies, Lakadbaggha is a watchable film that will keep you interested.
