REVIEW OF "LUCIA"

I can use all the best adjectives in English and still someone will describe my review as “under-appreciative”. In the time of troubled Indian cinema especially regional cinemas, with Hero-centric, songs-filled (though unnecessary), heroine-exploited (though they can act) films, this is a ray of hope. In the middle of such a Saharan cinema, “LUCIA”, is an oasis.

Psychological thriller, if taken proper care, can turn into an artistic marvel and Pawan Kumar (Director) has done precisely the same. Lucia is the story of an insomniac who seeks the need of a sleep inducing pill that confuses him between dream and reality causing life-threatening danger.

Touch of sheer brilliance glimmers throughout the movie, with the director leaving clues to the audience which a sharp-eared fan can capture to understand “the twist” before it is revealed. The alternate usage of color and black-n-white adds depth and clarity to the movie. Songs, though present, move along with the screenplay aiding the pace. The satirical comedies are also sprinkled throughout (result of illiterate meeting foreigners).

The director deserves credit for multiple reasons: usage of an epic production idea, bringing the movie as close to reality as possible, usage of minimal characters in the maximum possible extent, drawing wonderful comparisons between dream and reality. The cast, though I am not familiar with Sandalwood, has done exactly what was needed: neither did they under-act nor did they over-act.

Lucia is definitely the kind of movie that we can recommend to International audience.

Let this attempt be an example for everyone else will follow.