Since a very long time I was planning to write the review for this film titled ''Oh My God!''. This movie appealed a lot to me and thus I could not stop myself from doing this endeavour although I have not written a movie review ever before. Also, the word ''religion'' has a very wide meaning and every person on this planet associates himself or herself directly or indirectly with this.
“Religion
is like opium” – these words uttered by Karl Marx in 19th
century are pertinent even today. It became very controversial even then and a
tug of war is going between reformists and conventionalists since then. Consequently, Religion has
been a matter of hot debate. Recently, in India this question also became the centre of attraction after the release of a critically acclaimed feature film starring Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar – OMG (Oh My God).Bollywood
films are notorious for instigating various social and political issues but for
the very first time a feature film started a bustle that too on a very sensitive issue with which probably everyone could
relate themselves to.
Though OMG is a stereotypical Bollywood formula film but it caught the attention
of the masses because it is a beautiful satire made on the organized religion in India.
The main idea of the film is to antagonize the idol and temple worship
which is quite a common phenomenon in each and every religion of India. This
movie also countered and questioned the need of the priestly class which is
also present unfortunately in every major religion of the world. This
class falsely act as a mediator between the person and the Almighty. This has been
in prevalence since the time of yore and just because of these acts this class is
in possession of various prerogatives. The film highlights all these issues in
a very humorous manner.
The main idea of the film has been borrowed from a Hollywood Film – ''The
Man who sued the God''. But all praise to Director and screenwriters of the film
who have transformed this very sensitive idea into a very entertaining and
Indianized version. The storyline is very simple. The main protagonist
–Kanjilalji Mehta- an atheist man from Mumbai decides to sue the God when
his only earning tool, i.e. his shop is devastated after an earthquake. His main
ordeal starts when the insurance company refuses to pay his claim because this
earthquake is an ACT OF GOD for which that insurance company is not liable to
pay. Now the main question is that who will pay for the damage caused –
Insurance Company or GOD(or their agents). Following this is an interesting
tale of events which shows the dramatic and conflicting court room
scenes between the self proclaimed God men and the main hero of the movie. In
between is the presence of the sublime GOD himself who is there to help our
hero facilitated through the epic Bhagvad Geeta. The movie culminates with the transformation of Kanji from an atheist to
a true theist.
The movie is intended for every age group and because the masses enjoyed it a lot, almost in every part of India, it was declared a surprise
hit of the year. Performance wise it is Paresh Rawal who has stolen the show.
Akshay Kumar too was brilliant while portraying the role of the God.
Other characters have also done justice on their parts. The film’s message is
very clear – God is with you always and everywhere, don’t search him in
idols and temples. Keep doing the good work based on honesty, and you will find Him one day. The music of the film is also very soothing with Himesh
Reshamiya being forayed once again in the arena of traditional Gujarati folk. All
Kudos to Umesh Shukla – the director of the film – to make such a plausible and
wonderful film with a pragmatic end. Fine cinematography by Sethu Sriram and a crisp work of editing by Tushar Shivan and Rajesh Panchal must also be commended in full volumes.
