Totally new for Indian cinema, this unconventionally structured film brings freshness by its style and charm. The story concentrates on the extraordinary adventures of two street hustlers in their search for a huge 201 carat diamond that inexplicably disappears and reappears after they have stolen it. This fairy tale plot is situated in today’s Mumbai where people are trying to become rich and happy overnight. The two small time crooks, shaped as comic book characters, react funnily and unpredictably in weird situations and circumstances in a city that pulsates fast around the clock. With humour and lightness the plot is brimming over with incredible coincidences and chaotic moments. The dynamic and visually appealing photography supports the loosely structured dramaturgy. The film is the director’s début and an extremely low budget movie. For only $ 8000 US, including the whole process of postproduction, the filmmaker attempts a new cinematic language using digital video. Although he is nothing like a criticaster of Indian popular cinema – he takes pride in having grown up with the Bollywood dreams that are ‘bigger then life’, as he puts it – his film is a kind of author’s cinema that is very different from anything else coming from India. It is fun to watch and invites contemplation. (RS)
