By Hemacharya

Mangaluru, Sep 4: I am sure many of us may have watched the epic film, ‘Treasure Island’ the classic novel, by Robert Louis Stevenson. In this film a young boy Jim Hawkins finds a map to the coveted treasure of the notorious pirate Captain Flint. Jim enlists Dr Livesy and Squire Trelawney to prepare for the voyage. Along the way, the likes of infamous pirate Long John Silver and other nefarious swashbucklers join the crew, and they set sail on the Caribbean Sea aboard the Hispaniola. It is a full-length comedy that is set around the search for a treasure which they find and lose within no time due to back biting, nefarious intentions, and selfishness.

The writer – director – vfx – editor – producer Rayan Magneto’s first venture, ‘Lucky Draw 777’, reminds us of the above film. Before saying so, I must applaud the strength and courage of a new comers imitative, which according to my information was both against all odds and challenges. I also should say, he has portrayed a rural Kinnigoli – Kirem – Balkunje – Thudam hamlet and green spaces that no one has ever portrayed so far in films. Although I was born and brought up in this surrounding, I hardly had watched some of the places so vividly shown in the film.

Like I said, three musketeers (not pirates, though) get started with the hunt of a ‘Lucky Draw 777’ ticket after Lestu (beautifully portrayed by Leston) comes to know of their luck after they jointly bought a ticket for a meagre amount of Rs 30. It is a big howl for Rs 5 lac bonanza. The other members in the con gang are the director himself, Rayan Magneto (Rayan) and Kelvin Saldanha (Kellam) It is difficult to judge who has excelled in the role for all three are equally good at stabbing and swindling each other behind ones back.

What I liked was the social message revolved around the treasure hunt. The story starts with a pretty girl (celebrated singer Velita Lobo) visiting an old lady, Carmine Bai (Carmine Sequeira) in a Home for the Aged. She reveals how a well to do couple Kelvin and his notorious wife, Pullubai (played by Lucy Lobo, a seasoned actress on Konkani stage ) have dumped her in the old age home. This fact irks the Gurkar Maxi’s (Alwyn Danti Pernal) tall glamourous wife Joylin (D’Souza) who keeps on taunting Kellam that they have abandoned their mother. But when the couple realize their mistake, it is too late for the lady meets her end in life. The film narrates how selfish the human beings can be, as there is no respect for the elders in the family; we see similar situation meted out to another old lady, a mother Preethi Mathais being kicked out from the house by the English loving daughter in law (Jonisha D’Souza) and her husband, (Aron Prince).

The story also depicts how much self-centered the human race could be. The trio conmen despite drenching in the filth of a piggery - the dirty pigs moving around – struggle to find the special scheme ticket. They succeed in getting it though and by fooling the other partners bag the prize money. But what is the result? Like they say themselves, one need not look around for ways to spend the prize money but the ways open themselves unto them. In this case, a branch of a tree comes down heavily on them and they join the emergency section of a hospital.

What is the lesson? The greed for money and selfish intentions don’t succeed in life but they keep on adding more partners and problems in your struggle.

The film has a strong star cast that also includes Rishal Permannur, Louis pinto Kateel, Melwyn Pernal, Preetham Noronha and Vinson Mathias.

Other supporting cast include Alton Samuel Saldanha, Sharol D’Souza, Prem Saldanha, Yashwanth, Praveen, Stella Rodrigues, Roni Fernandes, Molly Fernandes, and others who drawn from different parishes of the diocese.

Cinematography is brilliantly captured by Stany Niddodi (SJ Photography) accompanied by Allwyn Sequeira of icandid studio. Naizil Rodrigues, Jeevan Dcosta and Hanson Rodrigues have provided the Drone Service. Jaison J Sequeira of Dennana Recording Company has done the dubbing and script editing. While Shivshanker has helped in make-up, title design has been provided by Editive design. All in all, it looks like a team effort which is a very encouraging initiative in a language - which is considered to be - on its way to extinction. But watching this film it provides hope and confidence that the language and the people speaking it will keep it going for more years to come.

A film every person irrespective of language or otherwise should watch and find pure entertainment that carries a strong social message. The film had its houseful premier show on September 2 at the Bharat Cinemas in Mangaluru.