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Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! backdrop

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

28 November 2008Hindi2h 6m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 8 critic reviews

Charming and Delhi-specific, but too niche to win over all audiences.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: atmospheric Delhi setting and tone
  • Criticised: limited appeal beyond northern audiences

Audience

User score 7.0 out of 10 from 3 ratings, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

Critic consensus

What 8 critics are saying

Critical reception for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! is broadly positive, with most reviewers appreciating its atmospheric evocation of Delhi and its portrayal of a charming, morally ambiguous protagonist. Critics frequently praised the film's light, non-preachy tone and its immersive sense of place and character detail. The main reservations centred on its limited geographic appeal — several reviewers noted it would resonate primarily with northern Indian audiences — and some felt it lacked a conventional narrative structure. A minority found it fell short of expectations set by the director's previous work.

How the 8 scores spread

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (8)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    ...after very gratefully handing it four and a half stars, in case you asked -- that this is a movie to love. And one that makes the audience feel just like the hero: really, really lucky.
  2. Top critic

    Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    It's fun without ever being preachy or pretentious. In fact, it's just delirious, wagging its tale away like one of those stolen poms. Ha ha OK Please.
  3. The W14

    Film review ·

    This is an altogether atmospheric film; the sorts where the sum of sweetly stirred parts and details is so much superior to the whole. How often do we watch a Mumbai movie whose setting alone we can smell from our seats. It's the cheapest ticket to experience another place. We should feel lucky to have this.
  4. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    ...another delectable tale about a superchor who transforms stealing into a fine art. Cineastes may have problems with the morally ambiguous tenor of the story which transforms Lucky, a lad who lives on the wild side of the law, into a lovable character.
  5. SKJBollywoodNews

    Film review ·

    ...is a sly, shimmering mirror of a dysfunctional society always craving for more... not knowing where the greed to be upwardly mobile finally ends.
  6. Glamsham

    Film review ·

    A film with a feel of the eighties, OLLO will identify well with the viewers from the North. But yes, if you want a quiet, funny outing to lighten your mood, watchining OLLO is not a bad option.
  7. Sify

    Film review ·

    Writer-director Dipankar Banerjee cannot live down the expectations Khosla Ka Ghosla brings with it. Banerjee does meet those expectations, however Oye Lucky! is a different product altogether. More than a beginning-middle-end story, Oye Lucky! is more a peek into Delhi?s belly, into the characters? lives, and into complex bitter-sweet relationships.
  8. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    ...is a well-executed enterprise, which has its share of limitations. At the box-office, the film caters to the Northern audience mainly -- Delhi and Punjab specifically. Besides North, the plexes in Mumbai should fare slightly better.

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

3 ratings · user score 7.0

  1. 7/10

    It is an original Delhi-based story. Chaunk gaye naa? Sure, this Abhay Deol, Paresh Rawal starrer has enough chaunkane waale moments to enjoy, where there is a thief and there is an impeccable setting of modern West Delhi. The best part of the story is its writing and direction, both by the wonderful and masterclass filmmaker Dibakar Bannerjee of Khosla Ka Ghosla. It is feel-good and exciting, equal parts.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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