Review of Om Shanti Om (2007) by Steve R — 10 Aug 2008

Ahhh, Bollywood. Pure fantasy where all youâ??re required to do is just sit back and enjoy. The nice thing about these films is that they do come up with some neat plot twists sheathed in predictable settings.

Our story begins in the 1970s with a small time actor (junior artiste) named Om (Shah Rukh Khan) who, like his parents before him, makes a living scraping by with small roles and castings as an extra.

Into this hollow life he falls in love with a big-time actress Shanti (introducing Deepika Padukone) on a billboard. Through a quirk of fate while attending the premiere of her latest picture called â??Dreamy Girlâ?? (part of her sari gets caught on his bracelet), Om and Shanti are introduced.

Later, as an extra on a film, Om saves Shantiâ??s life when a fire set gets out of control. They meet secretly until Om, stalking Shanti, overhears her producer declare that his career is over because Shanti, who is revealed to be his secret wife, is pregnant. Being Bollywood, he kills her in a over the top fashion, (sets fire to a stage set with her on it) and drives away, His hired goons beat up on Om, who is trying to save Shanti, and after leaving him to die, Om breaks into the set only to be blown out of it and then hit by a car.

Now heâ??s dead.

Thirty years later this thirty-year old guy, named Om, is the famous actor son of the director who was supposed to work on the film, called Om Shanti Om, that Shanti was killed on the set of.

Through a series of only-in-Bollywood circumstances, we learn (surprise) that he has been reincarnated and must get justice for Shanti. To do so, his plan involves making the film that was never made.

Itâ??s the usual love tragic dramatic comedy story. And itâ??s fun!

We are treated to a Bollywood number called the â??Pain of Discoâ?? which is a good description of winking at the audience that is going on throughout this movie. There are a parade of stars coming through and tons of references which can only be gotten if youâ??re familiar with Bollywood in the first place.

It is a send up and homage of Bollywood films and the neat thing is that itâ??s tucked tightly into a film with bookends of a story.

Not the best but a very fun film. Good songs (the title song is an ear-worm) and a great looking cast doesnâ??t spoil the two and half hour experience.

And this film has the entire crew, like gaffers and camera guys, treated to the red carpet at the end. A very nice touch.