Om Shanti Om - 21 yays, 11 nays, 6 okays

Dadasaheb Phalke:

I thoroughly enjoyed OSO and disagree with almost everything you've written. Once again you fail to analyse what you find wrong in the movie, choosing instead the easier path of berating the movie, the stars, dialogues, etc. I appreciate that we have all our own views. However, you have done a film appreciation course, you now seem to be part of the reviewing community so we expect more. At the very least, please be consistent. You are willing to give up your need for "resemblance to reality" for Jab We Met, but not for OSO. Why? Almost all the accusations you leveled at OSO apply to JWM too. Can't understand. And your ratings also seem weird..you're willing to give OSO's spoofy lyrics 4, while Saawariya gets only 1? Finally, can you please tell me other Hindi movie spoofs you've seen? I am referring, please, to spoofs and not to comedies. Thanks for your patience.

Sakshi:

Meetu, good review. Though I still feel that you have been kind on them. ;)

jolyon antao:

its a super duper hit movie.Howerever it a collection some old n some new we all enjoyed the
movie

Shaan Khan:

OSO is “bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai”

There are various categories and types of re-incarnation. A God denying Saddam Hussein was re-incarnated into a God quoting Saddam Hussein on losing his dictatorial powers. A girly man, Man Mohan Desai of the 70s was re-incarnated as a woman, Farah Khan, in the 2Ks. Even I, a person (while growing up), who was repeatedly told that I was selfish, self-centered, heartless, & cruel by my three sisters, was later (thanks to the hard knocks of life) re-incarnated as the only living man who knows what a woman wants. Let me assure you “What women want” is a very complex subject, and to those who are attempting to start on this path, to seek this knowledge, I would like to say, remember two sentences, i) “Really, that is awesome” (punctuate the really with a surprised look and a pregnant pause. Say this like you mean it, whenever she says anything) and ii) "Oh, my, my, you poor girl" (say it whenever you are not saying the previous sentence).

The most complex case of re-incarnation that I have seen is that of the Big Bad Bachchalan. A super star of the year 76/77, Big B was re-incarnated every decade since then as a bigger and bigger flop actor. Today he is a lame horse struggling to cross the finish line. What is more complicating is that while he still exists in the 2Ks, he has been re-incarnated as a clone as well in the form of Lil C. Here is a case where a decent actor has been re-incarnated as a non actor.

OSO is one such re-incarnation story. You do not have to believe in re-incarnation to enjoy this story. It is not as complicated as Big B’s re-incarnation saga. In fact it is a very simple and straightforward story of an unfulfilled man, who comes back to seek revenge against the person who killed him and his ladylove. Nonetheless, this sad and moving story is told in a fun filled over the top manner. The story in OSO becomes a platform to spoof the Bollywood of the bygone era (not necessarily just 70s/80s) as well as the contemporary Bollywood. The jokes, parodies & satire hit you nonstop. It is hard sometimes to listen to the dialogues because of the howling and laughter that engulfs the entire theater. I have never seen people have so much fun in any movie. I never knew this was possible. Interestingly enough everyone has his own take on the jokes. My mentor, Essac Bhai Khopdi who lives above the Sarvi Restaurant in Nagpada Bombay and has won many a Nawabi awards, thought that the blind/deaf and dumb and over the top SRK was a funny reference to Big B’s Black, while the good for nothing star son was Lil C.

Rahim Chacha, my butler, who never likes to be outdone by Essac Bhai Khopdi, has his own views. He thinks that Big B was not invited to SRK’s Bollywood bash (i.e. the “bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai” song in OSO) because Big B did not invite SRK to Lil C’s wedding. Although I may not entirely agree with Rahim Chacha, I do think in many ways, OSO is like this song. While “bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai” gives you an inside look at a typical Bollywood party, OSO is SRK’s invitation to an inside look at Bollywood itself. Farha Khan has left no leaf unturned in making sure that all feel welcome and enjoy this SRK offering, especially the common laymen with little or no knowledge of Bollywood, but it goes without saying that some knowledge of Bollywood will give a viewer a more profound reason to chuckle. In this respect OSO is not as mindless or random as it appears on a superficial level. The jokes and the sequence of the jokes are all well targeted and serve a purpose. OSO is wicked, it is a laugh riot for those who do not know Bollywood and but infinitely more so for those that do.

HR cameo was superb, but Akshay Kumar’s was even better. Govinda & Dharam Paaji were appreciated in the “bas deewangi deewangi deewangi hai” song but Kajol got the most whistles. Of all the parodies the one that I liked the most was about the insertion of a mindless item song with mindless words just to make the movie more commercially viable, yes I am refereeing to “Dar-E-Disco”. Hence, next time when you hear an item song such as “Kajra Re Kajra Re” you will know exactly the thoughts that went into its insertion. At the very least, after seeing OSO you wll know why Lil C is making a super hero film, “Darraoona”.

Thanks to the advances in the technology, the unfolding of SRK's past is handled very effectively. The scene where he witnesses himself eavesdropping Deepika and Arjun is marvelous. Finally when “the moment of truth” dawns (at the Filmfare award ceremony) the reaction is just priceless. The look on SRK’s face and his voice (while receiving the award), captures the right amount of confusion, fear, and the acknowledgment of the new truth, without letting go of the awareness of the honor being bestowed upon him. All in all the Filmfare award scene puts SRK in a league never ever witnessed before in Bollywood.

For SRK, OSO is another feather in his cap. As Om Makheja, his hamming is as believable as his seriousness was in CDI. It is a SRK you have not seen before. Just like no one could have played Kabir Khan as well as SRK, let me state that no one could have played Om Makheja as well as SRK. This is why SRK is an actor’s actor, the Don Jungli Billa KHaaaaan of Bollywood. SRK’s Om Makheja is a lovable looser, then as Om Kapoor, the brat, he kicks it up another notch. For me the icing on the cake, as far as SRK’s acting is concerned, was the underplayed and intimate scene where he tells his father that he will try to be a better son (and a better actor). Before I forget, let me state that the rest of the cast and crew, Arjun, Kiran, Shreyas, & Deepika are equally outstanding.

OSO rocks. It is an, in your face, inside look into Bollywood. It is not too late to book your tickets for the next week-end. Some shows are still open but rush, don’t walk, OSO is worth it.

meetu:

Hi morph! Good to know you enjoyed the movie. You love tearing apart my words, don't you? So, here we go -

I thoroughly enjoyed the "spot the tribute" game. Just because I "got" the jokes doesn't mean they made me laugh. A few of them made me laugh - say 10%. So as per your calculation, that makes it 7.5% of the movie, which is about 12 minutes. Add to that the 2 songs that I enjoyed watching. About 22-25 minutes, I enjoyed, and that is why I recommend watching it if you have nothing better to do.

Credit for overacting?! Had it been funny or tolerable or different - sure. But, that is just his normal annoying style, so why does it deserve extra credit?

Isn't it unfair, that pen and paper are allowed for serious movies and not for "time-pass" movies? I think the latter can be made funnier/more entertaining if the audience is not taken for granted.

meetu:

Finally, got it, morph! Our definition of "taking for granted" and so "what makes a good movie" is different. Neither is right or wrong, they just are.

No Smoking - I hadn't read the director's blog before watching the movie and had formed my opinion before reading it too. And I know many other people who liked the movie, haven't read the blog and are very happy with their interpretations of the movie.

Anyways, I enjoy the differences, so keep leaving your thoughts.

indya:

Movie was alright in bits and pieces but overall it was horrible.

As usual your review is great.

-Indya

_ram-jaane':

I enjoyed OSO just as much as if not more than No Smoking:
http://www.ramchandra.me.uk/blog/archives/2007/11/om_shanti_om.php
http://www.ramchandra.me.uk/blog/archives/2007/10/no_smoking.php

morph:

For me to interpret a movie it should engage me at some level .no smoking didnt.

My only interpretation after sitting through it is , No smoking is a bad movie.

Swat:

A C-grade movie !! Somehow the title OSO is too good for the movie. It should have been called "Phir se jali Aag" or "kaatil Jhoomar" or "lohe ka naariyal" or "Shanti ka pati kaun" or "jhulasi kalaaiyaan" or something similar.

Amodini:

I agree with your review - I've given it a below average rating myself. I was so bored in the second half - it's like the film had morphed into some terrible 70s film - direction, acting, character development had pretty much flown out of the window - the only saving graces being Deepika and Shreyas. If OSO was this bad, I quail at the thought of Saawariya.

Jahan Bakshi:

Hi Meetu- totally agree with you on Salaam E Ishq was definitely a spoof and actually quite nice but overlong- I though it was unnecerssarily and excessively criticised for no reason. Mostly agree on OSO, however loved Deepika and though Shahrukh was pathetic otherwise, he gets full marks from me for the Quick Gun Murugan bit- HILARIOUS! Lo love your reviews- keep them coming!

B4Bollywood:

I loved the movie OSO. I appreciate the attempt that Farah Khan has made, in her own style, to bring forth the hypocrisy that is still so prevalent in our Bollywood- one that adores those who succeed, and the other that totally ignores the not-so-lucky actors. She has beautifully woven the two together. Even if it is mindless, I still liked it. It is a complete entertainer.. a paisa wasool. I cant think of anyone else but SRK who could have played the 2 characters with equal ease, so what if the hair grows overnight!!!! Who claimed the movie was purrfect!!! I can't compare OSO to CDI, they are class apart.... they are theme apart. It's good to see Farah Khan doing what she loves to do ..So far as overacting is concerned, it certainly is SRK mark.. we know him for that, so what's new...the movie is MAST, and a MUST SEE.

shishir:

congretulation to SRK for his great success of OM SANTI OM

prateek:

meetu i wonder why you havent completely trashed the movie? why on earth u call this an entertainer when a it vies for the top spot in the category of manmade disasters of my life time...i hate movies whre the main characters are forced to wear a wig..cos it starts looking artificial from there on itself ..what follows later doesnt interest me at alll..srk makes the same faces gives the same expressions that he has given over the years deepika ..less said about her the better..her voice for her first film has obviosly been dubbed..and its not difficult to make an average looker look stunner on screen..so please dont get fida over her..as it is she didnt have much to do except scream..which she must have learnt real fast from farah ..i could go on ..but to date this movie remains the BIGGEST BLUNDER of 2007 after jeetendra-rishi kapoor dud...forgetting its name ..yeah

Ashish K.:

Man 31 comments :O !!!

@ Meetu

> because I have seen worse…much worse!

Hehehe :))
People like SRK, Ekata Kapur, Himesh ... etc know very well what sales, and they are good at selling it :-).

So hate them or love them... you have to accept it they RULE! Thats why OSO is the biggest hit at the box office this year :-)

Silver:

Oh My god..i just saw OSO..i generally am not critical of most films..i enjoy all sorts of genre...but wasnt expecting that OSO would be such a big let down...

this is singularly most boring and BAD film ive seen till date. WTF. i have never been so restless through a film..it was so loud, garish, over the top ....and the songs so so below par....

I felt as though i was watching a couple of music videos and snippets from a circus..everything was so bloody disjointed.
Deepika and Arjun were the only saving grace. and Shahrukh acts best when he is not really "acting"..as in like Chak De..where he was excellent minus his trademark OTT hamming... he should remain natural..he tries too hard to act..and end up overacting.

I'd rather watch the boring saawariya ...then punish myself through this clumsy self -obsessed film!!

Sakshi:

Om Shanti Om is a lovely movie.Shahrukh was simply smashing in the new era.Deepika looked beautiful during the 70s era of the movie.She deserves the greatest credit for the success of the film.

meetu:

Hi all,

What I have noticed is people either loved the movie or hated it. And no matter what, people have taken it pretty personally. As in the people who loved it will defend it no end and the people who hated it are trashing it to death.

Keep it going!

meetu:

Ashish, if I were trashing it solely on my preconceived notions then I wouldn't have liked Chakde! nor would I have liked Don. OSO was a bad movie. There were just a few laugh-worthy jokes - the story was all over the place, the acting was bad.

All I say in my reviews is what I thought of the movie. I certainly will not claim to know what types of shoes the target audience is wearing (unless it includes me :) ). On the same note, I don't think anyone can.

Nice 'I' quote! Just can't figure out how to leave "I" behind. How much ever one tries, "I" follows like Mary's little lamb. Pretty darn adamant it is.

shirubhai:

shahrukh is a great actor.
The movie is really entertaining.
keep it up! make another.

DIVYA SREE:

IT WAS REALLY AWESOM MOVIE.I ACTUALLY HATE SHAH RUKH.BUT I WAS IMMPRESSED SEEING THIS MOVIE.IT IS MOVIE EVERYONE CAN SEE IT AND I HAVE NO MORE WORDS TO APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU

sursh:

this is the my best film .ilike thi film very much.this film taught me that true love never dies.

Milon:

OSM is kind of freak movie which is just fucked the time.

fatima:

u have to see it few times it will grow on u..

deepika:

a gr8 movie.deepika padukones sandy was humerous nd shanti was gr8.srk as usual superb.arjunis wonderful.thanks 2 farah khan

shyam:

It 's sober storey and entertainment with good composer and a loving music and afterall it was of a Shahrukh khan a loveld Indian Diva. God Bless him.

jkk:

jkkppoooo