The devotional country of the world, India was taken aback by storm in 2012 when Kanji Lalji Mehta aka Paresh Rawal, a Gujrati middle class atheist who runs a Hindu idol and antique shop in Mumbai got destroyed by low intensity earthquake. When everyone blames his atheism for the incident kanji lalji learns at the insurance office that the disaster claims do not cover any damages caused by natural calamities classified under as an act of God. Failing to receive any help he sues the insurance company as well as the religious group founders and brings them to court as representatives of Gods. In his battle in court Kishan Vasudev Yadav aka Akshay Kumar as Lord Krishna guides him to win the case with logic from different holy books. The court precedent put the spotlight on the unfair and blind practices in the name of religion, opening the eyes of audiences to think over their religious acts in daily lives.
After a decade, the next part of the film is back in the theatres with a powerful message of today’s time. The film is not a sequel or prequel to the previous part but a new story on a new subject under the lens of discussion through court proceedings.
Kanti Sharan Mugdal (Pankaj Tripathi) is a loving father and caring husband and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. His calm and composed life is destroyed when his son Vivek (Aarush Varma) is blamed for an immoral act (masturbation) in the school and expelled. The event takes an ugly turn when the incident is captured in the video anonymously and circulated on the internet. Drenched in shame, fear and public outrage Kanti decides to flee the town with his family. The suicidal attempted of his son and his ailing mental health shakes Kanti Sharan and he questions his own beliefs, understanding on the subject and parenting. He realises his son has been a victim of misinformation and misguidance. He decided to stay back. With divine intervention Kanti Sharan decided to sue everyone accountable for the incident including the elite school for being negligent towards the sex education to students as an educational institute. The school asks the elite lawyer Kamini Maheshwari (Yami Gautam) to represent the case on their behalf who put forth the thoughts of conservative society on sex education. The contradicting point of view is put forward with an engaging conversation crisply in front of cute, funny, lovable yet reasonable judge Purushotam Nagar (Pawan Malhotra).
Director Amit Rai clearly knots the serious subject with fun, entertainment and engaging filmy courtroom comedy drama. He dealt with the subject sensitively without offending anyone or crossing the line of sanctity of any kind. Owing to the subject he did not bring any kind of discomfort aur awkwardness to the audience in any scene. The shudh Hindi dialogs would be a little difficult to understand by the English influenced generation yet somehow it is understandable.
The film courageously addresses many issues under the subtext of the incident despite 33 cuts by the CBFC like the gap between Indian parents and children, the parenting flaws, freedom of expression to the teenagers, sex education taboo subject despite free porn on the internet, sexual crime and sex education, bullying, viral video impact, teenagers and mental health, dignity and respect to a sex worker, medical stores unlawful practices etc.
Pankaj Tripathi as Kanti Sharan Mugdal lives the character to its fullest leaving a grave impression as a guilt ridden yet protective father on the audience. Akshay Kumar as a messenger of lord shiva is the coolest character in the film and the screen lights up with his presence each time he appears. He was supposed to play lord shiva but due to objection by the CBFC the character changed to messenger. The chemistry between Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi is delightful to watch. In the film he also hums famous Gadar song “Udja Kaale kava” considering the film is clashing with Gadar 2, it was a cute moment.
Yami Gautam as a defence lawyer brought meanness to her character yet her dialogs were less effective as compared to Pankaj Tripathi which at times looks like one sided win in the conversation. Pawan Malhotra as an attention seeking cute lovable yet reasonable judge brought the funny factor in the court. Geeta Agrawal as Kanti Sharan’s wife brought fun on screen with her innocence. Aarush Varma as Vivek as a venerable teen justified the character with his performance which gained sympathy and applause from the audience. Rest of the talented ensemble star cast did justice to their character and added to the story line beautifully.
Two- and half-hour long OMG 2 is an engaging funny watch with an impactful relevant message for today’s time. Do you agree with us? Tell us in the comment section.
