Plot
The film begins by depicting the media's obsession with 31-year-old Lucky, a skilled thief operating across various Indian cities. The narrative then shifts to Lucky's teenage years, highlighting a tumultuous family dynamic when his father, Jani (Paresh Rawal), introduces his second wife—a moment that not only deepens his sense of abandonment but also ignites his desire to rise above his circumstances. In one memorable early scene, a young Lucky is seen impulsively stealing motorbikes with the help of his friend, Bangali, initially driven by the simple wish to impress girls and escape his harsh home life. As the story progresses into his adult years, Lucky and Bangali find themselves exploited by Gogi (also played by Rawal), a flamboyant marriage contractor who pulls them into a more organized world of crime. During this phase, Lucky's audacity grows; one important sequence shows him deftly navigating a high-society gala, using his charm to blend in while orchestrating a daring heist that underscores his ingenuity. It is also during these years that Lucky develops a tender yet conflicted romantic relationship with Sonal, the sister of a dancer once associated with Gogi. Their relationship, marked by moments of both passion and disillusionment, becomes a crucial counterpoint to his criminal exploits. After enduring further mistreatment at the hands of Gogi, a turning point arrives when Lucky travels to Mumbai. There, he encounters Dr. Handa (another character portrayed by Rawal) and assumes the alias Sunny Arora—a reinvention that signifies his attempt to escape his past. In a parallel narrative, a determined police officer, Devender Singh, intensifies his pressure on Gogi to reveal information about Lucky's activities in Delhi, setting up a tense game of cat and mouse between law enforcement and the criminal underworld. Back in Delhi, Lucky reconnects with Bengali and embarks on an audacious plan to rob the home of reporter Babul Awasthi, who had infamously dismissed him as a “normal thief.” In a suspenseful sequence, Lucky consults Dr. Handa—unknowingly seeking guidance on infiltrating the reporter's heavily guarded residence. The plan succeeds in a dramatic heist scene, only for tragedy to strike when Awasthi, in a fit of frustration, kills his own dog, symbolizing the deep disconnect between public perception and personal reality. In the film's final act, after narrowly escaping capture, Lucky flees with Sonal and Bengali. Along the way, he confronts his estranged brother and learns of his parents’ long-standing separation—a revelation that forces him to reevaluate his life. This introspective encounter, coupled with the cumulative betrayals and losses he has endured, ultimately prompts Lucky to leave his life of crime behind and settle down with Sonal.Cast
* Abhay Deol as Lovinder 'Lucky' Singh / Sunny Arora *Soundtrack
Reception
Critical reception
''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!'' received positive critical acclaim. Raja Sen of Rediff gave it 4.5/5 stars, saying that "All I can say is – 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." Naresh K. Deoshi of Apun Ka Choice gave the movie 3.5/5 stars, concluding that "Grab a ticket. If you're broke, steal it." Nikhat Kazmi of ''Times of India'' gave the movie 3.5/5 stars, commenting that "''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!'' works perfectly as a simple story of a young boy (Abhay Deol) who is driven to crime not because he is hungry, poor, starving." Syed Firdaus Ashraf of Rediff gave 3/5 stars, concluding that "The film only fails in the music department, by Sneha Khanwalkar. The dhols and drums get too loud from time to time, and get very annoying. If you can overlook this minor discomfort, go for it!" Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave 3/5 stars, stating that "Watch it because it's a film that respects your intelligence. And films like that are hard to find." Sonia Chopra of Sify gave it 2.5/5 stars, saying that "Writer-director Dibakar 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." Martin D'Souza of Glamsham gave 2.5/5 stars, concluding that "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, watching ''OLLO'' is not a bad option." Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the movie 2/5 stars, saying that "On the whole, ''OYE LUCKY! LUCKY OYE!'' 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."Box office
''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!'' was an average grosser, with nett in its lifetime, releasing two days after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.Production
Originally,Awards
* 2009:References
External links
* {{National Film Award Wholesome Entertainment 2000s Hindi-language films 2008 films Films about con artists Films set in Delhi 2008 crime comedy films Films about organised crime in India Films directed by Dibakar Banerjee Films shot in Delhi Films scored by Sneha Khanwalkar UTV Motion Pictures films Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners Indian crime comedy films