The story is very detailed, plausible, convincing yet simple. It is a primer on information security (info-sec) and mainly describes the exploits possible by social engineering. There is nothing of the sophisticated, hi-tech software and device hacking which we are accustomed to associating with online frauds.
A young man succeeds in stealing a voluntarily retired person's money (INR 5 million/50 lacs) from his savings bank account. This retired person has a young daughter. That young man, in furtherance of his fraudulent scheme, also hooks up with the young daughter and secretly video tapes his amorous first date (involving physical intimacy et al.) with her. He then offers the intimate video online for payment in bitcoins. The father does some important, amateur detective work while taking the help of the law to nab the culprit, recover his money and bar his daughter's video from getting on the internet.
Interpersonal relationships between the parents and their kids have been portrayed sensitively and effectively. Several psychological aspects have been explored quite well. These include the parents having to deal with two young, grown up kids one of whom is (unthinkably) in a live-in relationship on campus in the USA, and the other, a daughter on her first affair through online chatting. The story also delves into the mind of the fraudster. Then, very relevantly, the story touches on the travails of a friendly family and the fatal rebelliousness of their young daughter. This is interspersed with the worrisome situation in the life of the Inspector, whose long unemployed engineer son takes money from his dad for his expenses.
The movie rightfully points out that many, especially older folk, are computer, internet and smart phone challenged and averse to embracing and fully understanding modern technology, gadgets and internet banking including their risks, challenges and safeguards, and how that very aspect is exploited by fraudsters, with dire consequences.
Two episodes are particularly memorable: The daughter telling her online boy-friend that she subconsciously scored mediocre in her exams to not outshine her low achieving parents (this was deep, by the way), considering that her USA studying brother had excelled; the pent-up and devastated father's outburst at the traffic signal because the youth behind him was honking even when the red light was on.
Mahesh Manjrekar (as Inspector Pawar) was the highlight in the acting lineup. He was very good and his role as an unpretentious cyber crime policeman provides several lightly amusing laughs and that makes the movie more rounded. His role was a happy contrast to the eccentric baddie which he has been in most Bollywood movies.
The diminutive Parna Pethe (as the daughter Sanika) performed exceedingly well, with great sensitivity and nuance. She was another highlight.
Sachin Khedekar (as Sudhir Deshpande, the father) was a treat to watch, as usual. In fact, all the actors in this movie were good.
The movie has a happy ending and that, though not immediately obvious, makes it enjoyable. And, the success of the police has been achieved without any undue heroism or histrionics; its just sincere, painstaking detective work.
The background music score was noticeable but not ostensible and helped to keep up the suspense in the story.
A special thumps-up to Mahesh Manjrekar for his endearing portrayal and producing this excellent can-be-watched-more-than-once movie (in fact I watched it twice).
