R Madhavan takes the lead in Hisaab Barabar, a David vs. Goliath tale where an honest railway ticket examiner stumbles upon a banking scam that’s bigger than he ever imagined. What starts as a minor discrepancy of ₹27.50 unravels into a web of corruption involving a shady businessman (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and a power-hungry minister. Sounds thrilling? Well, not entirely.
What works? Madhavan is effortlessly charming and keeps you rooting for him. The film’s core concept—an everyman taking on financial fraud—feels relevant and timely. The pace is decent, and there’s a sincere attempt to mix humor with drama.
What doesn’t? The execution! Neil Nitin Mukesh’s villain feels more like a comic book character than a real threat. The production values are average, and the screenplay plays it too safe, missing out on potential sharp satire. The narrative is predictable, with clichés taking over where gripping tension should have been.
Final verdict? Hisaab Barabar had the numbers to be a smart thriller, but bad calculations drag it down. Watch it for Madhavan, but don’t expect a mind-blowing expose. Now streaming on ZEE5!
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