Title: Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!Year: 2008
Cast: Abhay Deol, Nitu Chandra, Paresh Rawal
Thank goodness for the independent-style cinema revival in India- if it wasn't for it, we would be bereft of the awesomeness that is Abhay!
Superficially, the movie may not appear like much- especially because the story is paper thin, and seems like a desi version of Catch me if you can.
But then you take a closer look- and you have to appreciate the movie for its black humor, Abhay's swagger + the spirit of East Delhi that it captures.
Lucky (Abhay) is a thief, who has grown up in the streets of middle-class East Delhi- he could be any of my friends who grew up there, and car-jacked for a joke (yes really!). Lucky grows up, and his horizons broaden- the petty thefts have widened in scope to embrace stealing truckloads of stuff- with victims ranging from policemen to shop-owners, in every state.
Does Lucky get his just desserts?- decide for yourself!
Notes:
1- I love love Abhay Deol, and I love love Delhi, so to see the 2 come together in one place was absolutely a fun ride. Because of this, I can look over the fact that the conclusion doesn't meet justice.
2- Neetu Chandra is a revelation- I really wish she gets more movies that showcase her talent.
3- Paresh Rawal- whoever did the casting was spot on- Paresh exhibits every mood just right- making you laugh, making you sympathise or making you completely revolted- brilliant!
4- I'd have liked it a tad more if we could have been treated to more of Delhi the city, rather than just its moods and nuances; but I quibble.
5- Abhay has begun to resemble Dharam as he grows older- I didn't notice the likeness so much in his earlier movies, but I definitely saw it here- did you?
6- The first time an almost real jugni has been included in a soundtrack- love it! A jugni is essentially a Punjabi folk song popular in Delhi- episodes of about 4 stanzas each, extolling the exploits of the elusive, chirpy girl named Jugni, these vary from community to community, and can even be raunchy at times.
Conclusion: See it. And then know that Abhay completely rocks it.
17 comments:
Yours is the second review I've seen to applaud Abhay...given how much I love his uncle, I'm there!
:-)
I really hope u like it- I am totally in love w/ Abhay :)
oh yes, I'm a big Abhay fan too.
Not knowing Delhi that closely, I didn't know this was East Delhi. But to me, the mileu was fantastic. You see it so rarely in Hindi films now, a real space, with real characters.
I agree that the story was paper thin, specially the second half didn't lead anywhere, and became repetitive. But Abhay and Delhi are stupendous.
Neetu Chandra was good too, her look as well, and her sister. And I loved Archana, she did that mix of greed and hypocricy so damn well.
I love Delhi too! In fact, I was really looking forward to see 'Oye' because its director, Dibakar Bannerjee made one of my all-time favorites, Khosla ka Ghosla, which I liked as much for its quirky plot and peformances as for its depiction of Delhi life and culture.
Speaking of Abhay and Delhi, have you seen him in another Delhi-oriented film, Ahista Ahista? The film wasn't much good but it was largely set in Chandni Chowk, one of my favorite Delhi spaces.
I also heard good things about Abhay in Manorama 6 Feet Under. It's great to see him going all out for alternative cinema - his debut film, Socha na Tha was so much fun!
Banno: Totally w/ u on all points! Archana totally reminded me of my Delhite aunts and cousins- greed, hypocrisy, loudness et al - heeh :D
Priyanka: I liked and hated Ahista Ahista- I cant reconcile myself to beleiving that Soha leaves Abhay for that that that... Munshi person! It makes me so mad :| Manorama was good, but I think unnecessarily complex- Abhay and Vinay Pathak were gr8 though. I really got to see Socha Na Tha- soon I hope :)
Oh, you definitely have to see Socha Na Tha - provides glimpses as to why Jab We Met was so endearing and of course, early Abhay and Ayesha Takia (think it was one of her first movies too).
I'm eagerly waiting for this movie. I've seen all of Abhay's other movies and have been impress with him.
I've never heard of Abhay--but you've made me want to see this now---really badly!:)
I've only seen Abhay in Manorama 6 Feet Under and thought he was great. Dont know whether it was the film or him, though. This one is definitely on my to-watch list - how can it possibly be bad with Delhi in the picture!
Priyanka: Tell u y I've been proscrastinating- its 1 dvd in my pile of over 1000 cd/dvds- I'm scared to touch that monster. But I will try to tackle it this weekend :D
Nicki: Abhay's a doll. truly.
Nida: you wont regret it. he is cute. but there are perhaps other abhay movies which may be better to begin w/- ahista ahista is a v good place to begin to appreciate the man :)
Bollyviewer: If you liked him in Manorama, I think u will like him here- I do want to know if you think (as I do) that he is resembling Dharam more now than ever before :)
I've never seen an Abhay film; at least I don't think so; but Manorama Six Feet Under is next on my list to view, so hopefully...
Havent u ride on 'socha na tha' wave?
Ride that ride. Its worth. Fresh breezy romance.
Abhay is excellant always.
Be it serious writer in 6 ft under or be it mad mad super hero cum super lover in honeymoon travels.. He's always pleasure to watch.
P.s.
Thanx for 'JUGNI' insight. Good one.
I am just about to watch it. I will tell you how things went. But I can't wait to watch Dev D. I think Abhay would play a better Devdas than SRK. Well I will see.
Darshit: Abhay's the best. About Jugni: yeah, I guess I picked up a lot of cultural stuff in Delhi :) I'd like to hear a completely honest Jugni in a movie though.
Stella: I hope you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to Dev D as well, but a bit surprised that Abhay has nothing else lined up after it- just means a longer wait for us I guess.
Actually 'Jugni' means something else. In the early part of the last century (Sometime in the 1910s) the Victoria JUBILEE Torch came to India and was taken from town to town ceremoniously. In Punjab it was followed by two itinerant folk singers who composed small ditties about what happened where ever it went. Since JUBILEE was a linguistically a alien word it got corrupted to JUGNI. This gave birth to a whole new genre of folk music which is enjoyed till today.
Some people claim that it is a talisman (Taviz)worn around the neck to ward of evil spirits. Not so.
As an aside, the main hospital of Govt Medical College Amritsar was renamed and known for quite some time as the Victoria Jubilee Hospital
I just remembered the names of the two village bards - Bishna and Manda. The year 1906, to celebrate 50 years of Queen Victoria's coronation.
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