In a deeply religious country like India, the movie “OMG: Oh My God” dauntlessly challenges the rampant commercialization of religious traditions, making it a remarkably bold endeavour. It’s essential to understand that the film doesn’t promote atheism; instead, it raises important questions about blind faith.
Paresh Rawal’s movie “Oh My God” is an adaptation of the renowned Gujarati play “Kanji Virudh Kanji” portraying a cunning businessman named Kanjibhai. He goes to extreme lengths to sell his products, which are figures of various deities, even though he personally lacks any belief in the existence of God. The story takes an intriguing turn during the Janmashtami festival when an earthquake destroys his entire shop in the city.
Devastated by the earthquake, Kanji approached the insurance company seeking compensation, only to have his claim rejected because the disaster was considered an act of God, which fell outside the policy coverage. Feeling let down from all sides, he decided to take an unusual step and file a case against God himself to seek the rightful compensation.
In his view, the religious leaders were mere salesmen representing God’s offices, and he intended to challenge the commercialization of Religion & Worship of Godmen, particularly the questionable donation norms and impractical rituals of the Hindu religion. Surprisingly, the story takes a twist when Lord Krishna makes a grand entrance and the narrative evolves into a noble fight against these practices.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, Kanjibhai’s unconventional arguments manage to sway the initially sceptical high court judge, who allows the trial to proceed. The seemingly absurd petition gradually gains credibility when presented convincingly. What makes Kanjibhai’s character intriguing is that his atheism doesn’t stem from past grievances with God or scientific beliefs; instead, it arises from his disdain for the exploitative business that exploits blind faith, strengthening his disbelief in divinity.
Overall, “Oh My God” may appear as an improbable and fanciful tale at first, but the way it presents the story with conviction and originality becomes the film’s standout feature. Kanjibhai’s journey leads him to discover a deeper meaning, and he ultimately emerges victorious in his case with the help of the wisdom found in the records of the Gita, Bible, and Quran.
The plot challenges conventional perceptions and offers a thought-provoking exploration of belief, religion, and the influence of commerce in matters of faith.
Umesh Shukla, the clever writer-director behind this movie, skillfully avoids blaming God for any wrongdoing. Instead, he blames human greed, making it the central issue. The film takes a bold stand, bringing religious leaders to trial and targeting their blind followers.
It fearlessly exposes how religious traditions, like pouring milk on idols in temples or offering flowers in mosques or candles in churches, are nothing more than money-making schemes, all done in the name of God.
The film doesn’t shy away from pointing out the hypocrisy of devotees who readily give divine donations but neglect acts of charity for those in need. Despite having a protagonist who doesn’t believe in God, the movie surprisingly endorses the presence of the Almighty, portrayed in human form. Rather than solving problems directly, this depiction of God serves as a guiding force through life’s challenges.
The film emphasizes a unique perspective on devotion, promoting a love-driven approach rather than a fear-based one. “Oh My God” transcends the boundaries of a typical entertainment medium and becomes a thought-provoking experience that encourages audiences to reevaluate their religious practices and spiritual beliefs.
In this gripping movie review, the author skillfully balances a delicate edge while discussing the film’s strength, especially its powerful climax. The fear of a potential letdown after a robust buildup is palpable, but thankfully, the director saves the best for last, leaving us satisfied.
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The film relies heavily on thought-provoking dialogues due to its argument-oriented nature. These lines are so masterfully written that even the most improbable scenarios become convincingly plausible. Kanjibhai’s impactful statement, “Dharm insaan ko bebas banata hain ya antankwadi,” captures our attention, while Krishna’s enlightening words, “Tum kisi se uska dharam mat cheeno, phir who tum he apna dharam banalenge,” resonate deeply.
The movie’s thoughtful and sensible content can be attributed to the Gujarati play ‘Kanji Virrudh Kanji,’ which serves as its foundation.
Paresh Rawal, an immensely talented character actor, shines as Kanjibhai, carrying the film effortlessly on his shoulders. His performance is solid, leaving viewers in contemplation. Akshay Kumar, as the ever-smiling Lord Krishna, adds grace and charm to his extended special appearance, with his trademark keychain-spinning act.
Mithun Chakravarthy, portraying the sissy spiritual guru, effectively conveys emotions with limited lines but expressive acting. Govind Namdeo gets ample scope to showcase his theatrical skills, while Om Puri and Nikhil Ratnaparkhi deliver decent performances in their respective roles.
It is indeed bold and daring for a popular actor like Akshay Kumar to address the concept of idol worship in his film. ‘Oh My God’ delivers a profound moral lesson without sounding preachy, making it a movie that not only entertains and inspires but also enlightens its audience. You simply cannot afford to miss this gem of a film!
Casting Akshay Kumar as the Bollywood hero representing God proves to be a seamless choice, given his charismatic looks, infectious grin, commanding screen presence, and immense fan following. Whether he’s on a superbike or playing the bansuri as Krishna Vasudev Yadav from Mathura, he fits the role perfectly.
However, ‘OMG: Oh My God!’ takes a step further by offering a place on the screen for an actor who has predominantly portrayed more human roles throughout his career. Paresh Rawal’s acting prowess has never been in question, and in this film, which interestingly, he co-produces with Akshay, he rightfully takes centre stage, becoming the star of the show.
That element is quite intriguing. As a comedian, Paresh has a tendency to steal the spotlight even in movies with bigger star casts. However, until now, he has only played prominent roles in serious films like ‘Sardar’ and ‘Tamanna.’ ‘OMG’ breaks that pattern, marking his first lead role in a comedy setting.
The film is directed by Umesh Shukla, who previously helmed the disappointing movie ‘Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge’ in 2009. Shukla co-writes this film with Bhavesh Mandalia, incidentally the writer of the original Gujarati play that serves as the film’s basis.
Shukla and Mandalia take a unique twist in the plot early on. An earthquake strikes the city, and miraculously, while no one or nothing else is harmed, Kanji’s shop is destroyed. However, his insurance claim is rejected on the grounds that it’s an act of God. Outraged, Kanji decides to take God to court, and surprisingly, the court accepts his case.
The movie aims to make scathing remarks about reducing God to a mere industry, showcasing a group of fraudulent godmen who must defend the Almighty in court against Kanji. Mithun Chakraborty, Govind Namdeo, and Poonam Jhawar portray various holy personalities in the film, and though these characters may feel somewhat underdeveloped, the movie still manages to entertain for two key reasons.
The film “OMG” effectively delivers its message without excessive exaggeration. Despite tackling a provocative subject, the movie shows no intention of insulting faith. This script idea could have quickly gone wrong, especially since film adaptations of plays often become overly melodramatic. However, “OMG” skillfully avoids falling into that trap.
Furthermore, the film’s success can be attributed to its lead pair, Akshay and Paresh, who portray God and a man on a journey to accept the positive presence of God in life. Their chemistry is vibrant and contributes significantly to the film’s appeal.
In this movie, the term “Act of God” refers to events beyond human control, usually natural disasters like floods or earthquakes. The film shows how religious Godmen manipulate people, exploiting their fear of God to make money. Additionally, the movie emphasizes the importance of insurance and cautions viewers to thoroughly research available options in the market before making any purchases.
Kanjibhai lost his shop due to an earthquake. While he struggled to get his claim and fought against the system to emerge victorious in the end, it teaches us that while it is impossible to avoid a natural calamity, we can ensure that we can avoid the financial complications related to it. There was a particular scene in the movie where Kanjibhai was rescued by Lord Krishna from a group of thugs who were after his life. Kanjibhai later requested Krishna to drop him at his house, to which Krishna replied that his job was to show Kanjibhai the path and not to complete his journey.
The movie teaches the importance of being aware of one’s needs before purchasing a Life Insurance policy. Hence, the movie not only showed us that it is important to have an insurance policy but it is equally important to know the type of insurance product we should purchase for ourselves.
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Authored by Daksh Jain, a 2nd year Student at National Law University Odisha.