Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The 2012 film “OMG: Oh My God” was a rib-tickling, witty court drama about an ordinary shopkeeper taking God to court when his shop is destroyed in an earthquake and his insurance company refuses to compensate him, citing the tragedy as an “act of God.” The movie entertainingly challenged blind faith and self-styled Godmen/Godwomen. Amit Rai endeavors to recreate cinematic magic with his 2023 sequel “OMG 2,” which prominently features religion as one of its central elements. However, its primary theme is entirely different: the Indian education curriculum.
Written and directed by Amit Rai, “OMG 2” stars Pankaj Tripathi as protagonist Kanti Sharan Mudgal, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva who owns a small shop outside a major temple. Kanti finds his devotion tested when his son Vivek Mudgal (Aarush Varma) is expelled from school over an embarrassing viral video which shows him masturbating in the school’s washroom by bullies. While Kanti initially blames his son, he soon realizes that the problem lies with the school. He decides to take legal action against the administration for failing his son, following the advice of a wise stranger (Akshay Kumar plays an unnamed messenger of Lord Shiva). This leads to an unexpected, amusing court drama, which captures the media’s attention and sparks a nationwide debate on whether sex education should be a part of the curriculum.
While a linear chronological sequence typically serves as an effective storytelling method, “OMG 2” might have benefited from a more dynamic timeline. The initial half-hour isn’t as comedic or entertaining as one would expect from an “Oh My God” sequel. The pace is slow, there’s serious and excessive focus on Vivek Mudgal’s ordeal, while the kid is practically forgotten in the latter half of the film. Instead of starting off with how Vivek was expelled, “OMG 2” could’ve started with witty court exchanges and then revealed the root of the problem in a flashback.
With a 2 hour 36 minute runtime, “OMG 2” earnestly becomes engrossing only in the last 90 minutes, when Kanti Sharan Mudgal stands by his son and starts to legally fight his case against the school, demanding that they take him back. Yami Gautam plays the confident, fierce Kamini Maheshwari, the lawyer defending the school, while Pawan Malhotra is pretty entertaining as the judge presiding over the peculiar case. Pankaj Tripathi is comfortable in his own skin as Kanti, a small-town North-Indian man, who is devoted to his family and God. Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva’s messenger is like a hippie on a spiritual trip to India, doling out cryptic advice to Kanti. While their scenes are quite fun, the fact that Kanti needs divine intervention to solve his problems doesn’t sell convincingly in the tale. But you need a star like Akshay Kumar to draw the audience. So that’s that.
Given that it tackles a taboo subject in Indian households—sex and masturbation—”OMG 2″ cleverly draws from ancient Indian texts and heritage to underscore the significance of sex education in schools. While the court drama is undoubtedly exaggerated and theatrical, it’s like a classic play – meant to be over-the-top yet carrying a potent message. One wishes there could have been more father-son scenes between Kanti and Vivek, or at least just one scene where they talk things out, since, admittedly, as acknowledged by the movie itself, the school can’t be solely responsible for educating children on sensitive topics. “OMG 2” definitely misses out on creating a pivotal cinematic moment featuring a father having a compassionate conversation with his son. What starts out as a private matter soon becomes overshadowed by public perception, leaving the Mudgal family lost in the background.
The climax is reminiscent of the 2012 original, yet it comes as a total surprise as it doesn’t significantly impact the plot and merely serves as a callback or nod to the Paresh Rawal film. Overall, “OMG 2” is an entertaining addition to the “Oh My God” universe.
You can stream the film on Netflix.
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