The Hindi film OMG 2 is directed by Amit Rai and stars Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam, Aarush Varma, Pavan Malhotra, Govind Namdev, Arun Govil and Brijendra Kala.
Where can you watch OMG 2 in the UAE?
OMG 2 is currently playing in cinemas in the UAE. You can book your tickets at VOX Cinemas and Reel Cinemas.
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OMG 2 review
- Much need message
- Akshay, Pankaj in great form
- Pavan Malhotra’s character
- All over the place towards the climax
- Questionable methods to drive home the message
First, a flashback: Umesh Shukla’s Oh My God (OMG) in 2012 had an interesting premise — God as a defendant in the court. Or close to it. An insurance company declines the claim from a man because the destruction of property by an earthquake is an act of God. The miffed man then goes ahead and sues God. He makes Godmen party to the case. The whole idea of this fantasy is to show up the so-called godmen and god women for what they are — charlatans. God, in this case, proves to be a useful prop.
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The same spirit is imbibed by Amit Rai’s OMG 2, which also uses God as a handy tool to drive home another, but equally important, message. In that sense, OMG 2 is more than a spiritual sequel to the 2012 movie. And this time, the envelope is moved further to the edgy topic of sex education. As it is, it is a sensitive theme. To use God and religious ideas to get across the point is a tightrope walk. That the film had censor troubles before its release should be no surprise, but after its release, the liberals and wokes may have a problem with how the film seeks to convey what it wants. The message may be much needed, but the method is crude or contentious. But in a mainstream movie, this problem is inevitable. The amiable acting skills of Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi do away with all your scepticism.
OMG 2 may also have a spiritual cousin in the recent Zee 5 release Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, in that both use mythological stories. In SEBKH, a vile godman is brought to the book through a religious fable. Kamasutra, Khajuraho, and Panchatantra are all cited to help spread the idea that sex education in schools is much needed today.
The bhakti-soaked environment of Ujjain (not named in the film) is established before Kanti Saran Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) is introduced as a devotee of Lord Shiva. He lives a peaceful life with his wife (Simran Sharma), daughter (Vedika Nawani) and son Vivek (Aarush Varma), when his existence is turned upside down.
Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi), an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, is a typical middle-class man with a doting family. He lives a simple life with his wife (Simran Sharma), daughter (Vedika Nawani) and son Vivek (Aarush Varma). But an MMS scandal, in which his son is caught in the act of onanism, shakes up their peaceful personal world. The son is mocked and thrown out of the school. (The character of the school chairman is played by Arun Govil (most well-known for playing Lord Ram in the TV serial Ramayan. In a film filled with religious links, this, too, is significant, in a way).
Anyway, Kanti is now mortified. He cannot take the humiliation faced by his son in his stride. So he decides to leave the town with his family. As it happens, he runs into a stranger, actually a God’s Messenger (Akshay Kumar) — originally it was Lord Shiva but changed as per Censor’s diktat — and he drives some good sense into Kanti. Now, Kanti decides to sue all (himself too) for the pitiable predicament faced by his son. His main contention is that had sex education in the school, his son would have been saved from extreme embarrassment. The school field Kamini Maheshwari (Yami Gautam Dhar), one of the leading advocates, and seeing whom Kanti’s lawyer scoot. So Kanti takes up his case, and whenever he hits a wall — which is often — the God’s Messenger with dollops of wisdom from various epics and stories from the Hindu pantheon, sees him through, much to the amusement of the judge (Pavan Malhotra).
The courtroom scenes can be problematic in the way it unfolds. But little else can be expected from a film of this nature, especially when it uses religion to bolster its point on sex. The way the Yami Gautam character is shaped is too stereotypical and caricaturish. But the exchanges between Kanti and Shiva’s messenger are winsome. Akshay, with the scope for some understated humour, is in fine form. And Pankaj Tripathi, these days, is never off-form. Pavan Malhotra has a terrific time on the court, and so do we.
The film in the final segment is a bit all over. But you put up with it because sex and its education are not just about climaxes.
What are the other critics saying about OMG 2?
Shan Prahser rallies against the unnecessary censorship the film has received from the Indian censor board, and despite all the changes made to the film, he has still liked the movie and recommends it. However, he requests the viewers to go with an open mind and try to understand what message the movie aims to deliver.
Yogi Bolta Hai gave it four stars out of five and praised the film for its story – which delivers a message about sex education in a fun way – and the ensemble cast’s overall performances.
