A Small Gem

Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye chronicles the life of a real crook who made headlines about five years ago. He would steal everything and anything - expensive cutlery to washing machines - possessions that were considered to be symbols of the rich in the India of the 90's.

In the beginning of the film, we are introduced to a young Lucky and his domineering father who is a small businessman. When his father accuses him of keeping back some money from the day's profits, Lucky angrily returns the money and walks away to the next room. Here he steals some money from his father's shirt hanging on a peg before running out to meet with his friends. That scene sums up Lucky and the director's style - the nonchalance with which he has learn to steal and the tongue in cheek humour story telling.

Not since Chasme Badoor has Delhi been captured so well in a film and not since Satya has the urban landscape been such an integral part of storytelling. Of course the Delhi shown in Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye is different from the images one identifies Delhi with - India Gate or Red Fort/Chandni Chowk. This is West Delhi - full of cramped lanes and unauthorised constructions. The houses are one or two room sets with a shared courtyard. Where garages abut greeting card stores. Where telephone and cable lines crowd your view. Here boys impress the girls with a borrowed bike. And then end up running a huge bill at a fancy restaurant. They are living on the fringes of the New Economy.

However the rich are never far away and everyone wants to be like them. They all want the imported cars, the flashy watches and television sets. Lucky is no different. This starts him on a journey - to acquire things that the rich have. Since he knows that others too want them, he starts stealing and selling them. Initially he is working for other people but soon he realises that he is better off alone. The entire story of his rise into this world is told as a fun tale. Once when he is caught he starts telling the police about his crimes and they initially find it unbelievable but start writing it down. After two three hours they are bored. When they take a break, he escapes using the police officer's bike.

But the biggest difference between Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye and many other films on Delhi is that it has been able to create the mileu from where the protagonist emerges. This is mainly done through the clothes they wear and how they speak - a version of Hindi which has Punjabi and English words twisted around and spoken with a Jat accent. The attention to detail is amazing. The film is able to capture the exact tone and pace of speech of a sub culture much like Trainspotting.

The director achieves a balance between making the protagonist neither a hero or a villain. Abhay Deol who plays Lucky has that mischievous look everytime he comes on screen - whether he is plotting his next crime, talking to a police man or charming a girl. He is not evil but he is not good either. While the law catches up with him twice in the film, the story also make us see things from his point of view. However there is no analysis or even a resolution at the end. Lucky is caught. There is a huge press conference to celebrate the police's success. But he escapes once again.

What is the message? There is none. It is rare for a film to take that stand.