Tiki-Taka

Taxi!- -Not going, not going!

You are Raju da, right?

Why, are you making me an Adhaar Card?

No...

Please tell me, it’s important.

Yes.

I found him! Come fast!

Hey! What do you mean?

Normal rate. Five Gandhi’s per hour.

It’s your first time, so 50 rupees discount.

Advance payment, only cash.

Yes- -Yes, shall we go?

Where do you guys stay?

I am from Salt Lake, he is from Maniktala, why?

You want me to explain why I asked?

If the locals interrupt your action with their reaction, would you like that?

No, Raju da, I don’t think you understand.

You find this funny? I’ll kick you out right away-

No no please! Raju da please try to understand.

Raju da please don’t mind. Please carry on.

Wait. I have to take back the place.

We’re screwed!

What is he upto?

Hey you!

Raju bhai, just… just five more minutes.

Fifty-five minutes, who is that?

Hey, you, Shaktimaan!

Put on your underwear and sort the rest!

Go now!- -Yes, yes! I will go.

Hurry up! Put on your clothes!- -There are five minutes left.

Hey! What will you do in five minutes! Get out!

Raju bhai- -What are you looking at? Out!

I’m on it! Please hurry up!

Listen, you!

An hour is an hour, one hour and a minute is two hours!

So, I’m telling you, set an alarm and get to it!

Water and condoms will cost you extra.

And the seat is brand new. Two hundred per scratch, remember.

But Raju da, our need involves you.

What exactly do you need?

Raju da, it won’t work without you.- -Yes.

Hold on.

Listen, I’m not into tripling and all that- -No, no...

We are here for a serious work.

What do you need? But let me tell you, no guarantee, no warranty.

We are here to know about your friend.

Friend? Which friend?

Khelechi.

Exactly who are you people?

Special branch or something like that?- - No no! Nothing like that.

We just wanted to make a movie about Khelechi.

You want a cigarette?

Have one, please!

Look, no one knows about Khelechi. Where he came from, where he disappeared.

We have done a lot of research.

You were his only friend in Kolkata.

That’s why we are here. If you could please tell us the story…

so many Bengali football fanatics would get to know their hero.

You guys are dangerous, eh?

You’ve hit a sixer.- -Please, Raju da. Please.

Wait, wait. I’ll tell you everything.

Just let me wet my throat.

Khelechi’s story can’t be told in a couple of hours.

It will take a long time.- -Yes, of course! We have all the time you need.

Also, there is money involved.

Listen, kid.

I’m known as Sheikh Raju in Khidirpur.

Raju Banerjee in Chetla.

Religion might have no value to me...

but friendship does.

I don’t need money, I need time. Do you have that?

Don’t you worry about time, Raju da. You can begin.

Let us go, then. Eh...

Have you had anything to eat?

I see.

Get in!

You will be bewildered at what you are about to hear!

But keep in mind, it is all real, no stories.

The tale begins a few years ago.

Before the country went ‘online’, as you guys call it.

Back then a taxi meant the good old yellow Ambassador to people.

People believed in the word-of-mouth and each other.

And it was this faith that brought Khelechi to the city.

His full name is Khelechi Agchubi.

He was in his twenties back then.

He had come from Africa, his first time ever.

Doesn’t understand a word of Hindi or Bengali.

English is broken, too, like mine.

He was in tremendous pressure.

It was a life and death situation.

Hey, careful!- -I'm sorry.

What?- -Can you please get my bag?

Take it!

Sir, this way sir! -Come, sir!

Hello friend! Sir! Sir! Myself Potla Sir! Best hotel, cheap hotel.

Sir, you West Indies? You Africa, Sir?

I love both, Sir, you come with me! Best deal I give you! Sir!- -No! Please, let me go!

Gate number 4! PK’s man.

Give them this package, they will take you.

And remember, Gate no. 4!

Do you have light?

Where brother?

PK! I want PK. You know PK?

Just landed, and already “PK”!

Yes, PK! PK, you know where?

Yes, yes. I know PK.- -Okay, take me PK now!

Okay okay. Taking you PK. PK will happen. Definitely it will.

Hello? How far PK?

Relax for PK, bhai! Night is young!

Myself young. Pampa, Jhumpa, Shyamoli, Shiuli all young!

Eating, drinking; you’ll do it all, okay!

Myself Raju, Sir! Not only taxi-driver, but also tourist guide, and supplier.

Payment only cash.- -Okay, okay! But I need PK!

It will happen, brother. PK will happen.

Brother, what is this?

PK here, brother.

Here?- -Yes, come!

Come.

What’s up, Uncle? - Hey Raju!

Move out. Make space!

Brother, sit!

'Boss, in our line of work, 'PK' in the evening can only mean...'

'getting wasted and having a blast!'

'...women, music and alcohol...'

'I didn't know the real PK.'

Brother, what is this?

Drama-queen!

Brother this welcome drinks! PK, PK!

PK!

Cheers!

Brother!

Hi, brother, how are you? Hey! Hey-

You liar! No money, no PK! Return my money, now!

Brother, money gone! But I help brother.

One chance, brother, help I help! Ah! -What are you doing? Let him go!

Hey, what are you staring at, go!

You going PK? -Yes.

Damn!

What have I gotten myself into?

'Like I said...'

'If I really knew about PK, I could have avoided the brawl on the street'

'And I could've stopped him from going.'

Where is he going?

'He handed the driver some money...'

'And the driver pushed him straight into the tiger's mouth.'

Go fast, brother, please! Go fast!

Take the metro if you’re in such a hurry.

Something’s very fishy. Where exactly is he going?

Brother! -Oh shit!

This Pk house?

I want PK.

I… friend.

Yes.

Go straight ahead, then…

slightly to the right.

Sir! Look over there! Black male with a bag.

Won’t you take any action? -Yes sir!

Hold Mullick… hold. -Thanks brother

Look here, Roger Milla!

Where are you headed?

I- Khelechi…

What now… Khelechi? Where have you played?

Brother do you think this is Eden Garden?

Who are you? I mean, what purpose visit?

This PK house, right?

I meet PK...

I have package.

Who are you?

-Yes, he is like the new moon of the darkest night. -Eh, wait, wait.

So that means…

You are that man!

Then…

Who is the one inside?

Come, mate, come.

We have been waiting for you!

You come, brother, come.

PK inside?

Ah, look

PK, Chuni, Sailen Manna, everyone's inside.

You come with us. Come.

Hello.

Don't try to butter me...

Tell me something.

Do you know of someone called PK in your line of work?

'I didn’t know him.'

'But then I did.'

'Prankrishna Dan, aka PK.'

'Son of a zamindar.'

'But calling him a zamindaar of the underworld will not be wrong.'

'He is a man of culture.'

'Has a thing for music and courtroom dancing.'

'He aspires to be a feared drug lord across the country.'

You told me to get a black man. At night I could't tell them apart.

'We have a problem, you know.'

'If the man is black, we fail to tell them apart.'

'To us, they're all the same.'

'I've made that mistake myself. The goons would definitely do the same.'

'It is unfair.'

'At the end, it was he who had to bear the brunt of their confusion.'

'He imports and exports drugs across borders right under the cops’ noses.'