Canadian drama film. Set in modern-day New Delhi, India, it tells the story of a poor autorickshaw driver, Amal Kumar.
Famous mostly for it's Genre Deconstruction of Bollywood films, while still being charming and heartwarming.
Tropes featured include:
- As Himself: Dr. Shiva and "Tabla Guy".
- The Atoner: G.K. Jayaram. It's heavily implied that he was some sort of Corrupt Corporate Executive with more than complicated family life. Now he's searching for worthy person to become his heir.
- Bilingual Bonus: Since the whole film constantly swaps between English and Hindi, almost all dialogues have some.
- Bittersweet Ending: Sure, Amal and Pooja are together and he got a new autorickshaw. But he missed opportunity to gain huge inheritance and in near future his job will be useless, as the metro is about to be finished. But for Amal and Pooja it's more like Happily Ever After.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Vivek inherits everything. Nobody learns he was the one who killed Suresh. Since Amal never even met him or learned about his existence, he's also the case of Outside-Context Problem.
- Being Good Sucks: Amal is barely earning enough to sustain himself, since he charges exactly as much as the taximeter says and never takes tips. Later, he sells his autorickshaw to pay for medical care for a thief, ending up unemployed, hired as a floor sweeper at postal office.
- Crapsaccharine World: As long as you are rich, India is a perfect place to live. Just don't mind that everyone around is struggeling to survive.
- The Cynic: G.K. Jayaram is just oozing with cynical remarks toward people.
- The Don: The crime lord who Vivek owns money. He is even called Godfather.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: No-one of his family nor friends really understands G.K. Jayaram last will.
- The Gambling Addict: Vivek, to the point he owns mafia lots of money and it's lampshaded he will gamble away his inheritance in no time.
- Genre Deconstruction: of Bollywood films - Amal gets the girl, but the inheritance is lost and he will soon loose his job when the metro is finished. Not to mention they don't sing and dance and everything is treated dead serious.
- Gold Digger: Simran, Vivek's brother wife. If Harish won't get the inheritance, she will simply leave him.
- Grumpy Old Man: G.K. Jayaram, and how! Though it could be just a pose.
- Greed: 300 million rupee is quite huge pile of money and everyone wants to get his slice.
- Happily Ever After: Amal and Pooja.
- Honorary Uncle: Vivek adress Suresh as uncle, even if there in no family relation between them. Suresh was simply a life-long associate of G.K. Jayaram and old friend of his.
- Karma Houdini: Vivek kills Suresh and arranges for Amal to not be found and then... inherits everything from his deceased father.
- Kick the Dog: Zubin asks if he should call a rickshaw for Amal after Amal just sold his own.
- Laser-Guided Karma: For Priya it took literally seconds for punishment. The unpleasant bar owner from opening also counts.
- Never Learned to Read: Done realistically with Amal, in a form of Twist Ending. Exactly what did you expect from poor autorickshaw driver in India?
- Offscreen Teleportation: Suresh left Amal's autorickshaw this way, making Amal puzzled where is his customer.
- Old Beggar Test: But unlike typical example, G.K. Jayaram does live as a beggar, purposefully so. There is still a lot of money and property tied to his name, but he's not using it for anything while searching for the right man to pass inheritance.
- On One Condition: There is just a month to find Amal, only knowing his name and trade.
- Poor Communication Kills: and don't let you get the money.
- Posthumous Narration: G.K. Jayaram provides closing narration. Also when someone is reading his letters, the voice-over is in his voice.
- Redemption Equals Death: Suresh is killed before even finishing explaining why he now wants to fulfil last will of G.K. Jayaram.
- Secret Test of Character: G.K. Jayaram is as rude and offensive as possible to everyone he meets, just to check their reaction and find out if they are worthy to be his heir.
- Stupid Good: Amal is so good, that he can't even accept a 3 rupee (which is about 5 cents) tip and later sells his autorickshaw to help a thief. Said thief nicked from his customer.
- Unexpected Inheritance: Averted - ultimately Amal is left with nothing, as he left the attorney's office, unable to read the crucial letter that would kept him around.
