Zebra movie review: Satyadev, Dhananjaya, Sathyaraj power an intriguing but convoluted cat-and-mouse game

ALSO READ | Lucky Baskhar movie review: A terrific Dulquer Salmaan powers this brilliant Venky Atluri film 

Zebra gives a sense of being overwritten, considering the various detours it takes to give us an understanding of how the banking system works. However, after a point, all those quick lessons about the rules and regulations of the bank are forgotten because we are anyway in for the ride without these snippets of information. They say robbing the bank is the only way out of a conundrum? We only want to know how they pull it off. When one group says they have easily transported crores of rupees through various security checks, we don’t mind the suspension of disbelief at all. And why do we give the film this leeway? Because even when the stakes are really high, people are at gunpoint, some others are at the verge of being at the centre of a massive economic crime, Zebra never forgets to have fun. 

We are also willingly in for this ride because Eashvar manages to keep a half-decent grip on the emotional core. Why does Suriya commit the fraud? Why is he forced to enter a convoluted maze that endangers his near and dear ones? Why does Adhi not bring out the violent side of him sooner? What was the blood-soaked Adhi actually doing in Kolkata before becoming the suave businessman of today? Each of these questions has a detailed answer, and there are no loose ends per se. However, some of these answers are definitely overlong, and add very little value to the narrative because there is a clock ticking, and yet, we don’t feel the urgency. 

But Satyadev sells that urgency with every move of his. His performance reminded me of the terrific Aamir where the suave Rajeev Khandelwal is in a race against time. In fact, comparisons with Abhishek Bachchan’s Bluffmaster is par for the course because Satyadev plays Suriya with a confident elegance that keeps the film together. Sathya as his sidekick is the perfect foil and ensures the smiles are plastered on our faces even if the laughs are scarce. Similarly, Priya Bhavanishankar gets a solid role that gives her a chance to exhibit her comic flair, and she is impressive in the same. While Dhananjaya, yet again, plays a role that he can sleepwalk through, there are certain nuances that he brings to Aadi. There is a sense of constant vulnerability in his eyes even when he brings to the fore his unadulterated bravado. And the icing on the cake is undoubtedly the extended cameo from Sathyaraj, who is a hoot and a half as the A to Y Baba. Incorporating those little MGR touches adds an interesting layer to his character that we know little of. In fact, this is a fascinating aspect of the protagonists of Zebra. We are made to believe that we know a lot about them, but, in reality, do we? 

Also Read | Jolly O Gymkhana movie review: Prabhudeva, Abhirami-lead ensemble shoulder this slightly funny but sloppy comedy

Sunil, Priya Bhavanishankar, Satyadev and Sathya in a still from Zebra.

The film is essentially about how dubious the field of banking is, and the ease with which our hard-earned money does more work for the bank than for us. In many ways, Zebra is like an interesting PSA that asks us to read the fine print before operating a bank account. It also tells us how luck favours the brave because they take the risk of failing. Many of us are happy with surviving, and what we believe to be thriving. Many want to break out of the clutter. And the rest, just like watching the rich get richer, and support the not-so-rich get rich because we love living vicariously. Not everyone can risk it all to live a life in a palatial bungalow overlooking the ocean, and have people doing our bidding at the snap of our finger. But we can dream. And as is the case for a section of people, their dreams are in black-and-white, just like a Zebra.

Zebra Movie Cast: Satyadev, Dhananjaya, Sathyaraj, Priya Bhavanishankar, Sathya

Zebra Movie Director: Eashvar Karthic

Zebra Movie Rating: 3 / 5