UTV has been on a roll this year jutting out hit after hit. So when the promo’s for Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye (OLLO) first appeared on the air, my first thoughts were “Oh no, what is Abhay Deol doing this time and why is UTV a part of this film?” I was impressed with Deol’s debut film and then his career or rather choice of scripts took a serious nosedive causing one debacle after another. However, OLLO has actually managed to extract something unique from the young actor. The movie is inspired from the real life story of Super Chor Devender (remember Bunty from Bunty aur Babli – same one) and on screen is transformed into a situational comical reel-life movie. While Deol’s performance has struck a chord, take a look and see if the movie will manage to stick around at the box office.
The movie is about Lucky Singh (Abhay Deol) who seems to be constantly vying for his father’s attention, which is diverted by his “aunty” also known as his father’s girlfriend and their son. The younger Lucky in his heyday make up the best scenes in the movie as he tries to impress his friends and his lady luck. He grows up to become a compulsive-obsessive robber, who is also a master of words and manages to talk himself out of the worse situations. He is, however, loved by all, even the authorities, who give him chance after chance while he robs everything in sight from the rich. Lucky then sells these affluent items, which include televisions, cars, radio systems, dogs (yes, the woof-woof kind) and cars, to other funny characters in the movie. He meets his ladylove Sonal (Neetu Chandra) who taunts him about his uncanny ways of living and asks him to mend his ways. It is Paresh Rawal’s triple whammy role of Lucky’s father, a stage singer, and a greedy doctor who reforms Lucky.
The strengths lie in the script and the simplicity of how the movie has been executed. Filmed predominately in Delhi and Mumbai, the movie makes the locales a part of the film instead of just background. However, on a grimmer side, the movie does have it flaws. How does Lucky manage to steal so quickly without getting caught? Additionally, was it really necessary to give Rawal three parts to play? It really makes the plot complicated and leaves the audience scratching their heads attempting to figure out where this new Rawal has appeared from at different points during the movie.
The movie is Abhay Deol’s crowning glory. It tells the story in humorous manner and the one liners are spot on. Deol’s enactment of a poor gone wealthy thief who cannot see beyond stealing to make a living really shows that he has great promise and untapped talent. However, this is obviously completely due to the great screenplay written and directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The rest of the cast too are commendable: Paresh Rawal is funny; Neetu Chandra is interesting as she plays the straight forward girlfriend to Deol along with supporting cast who add spunk and comedy to the movie.
This one could have easily been named “The Adventures of Lucky Singh.” It also makes sense as to why UTV have chosen to stay with Dibakar Banerjee on this project, as he too impresses with the innovativeness he has taken to create another joy ride in the form of a robber’s life from childhood to adolescence. The expectations were high post the Khosla Ka Ghosla success and Banerjee has lived up to his reputation. He clearly knows how to take a simple topic, add humor and make it into an enjoyable movie experience. OLLO is a good watch on a Sunday along with some chai and pakoras. Watch it to have a good laugh and finally see Abhay Deol in a new and improved avatar.
