The most entertaining movie of 2007. Review on Om Shanti Om

Firstly, let me inform you that "Om shanti om" (OSO) is completely a "masala entertainer" and a movie cannot get more commercial than this. So, if you have a problem with typical commercial movies, don't even think of watching OSO. If you hated Farah Khan's first movie as a director, "Main hoon naa" (which was a blockbuster just like OSO will be one), you will hate this even more. The choreographer-turned-director's tribute to the Manmohan Desai-style of film-making continues with OSO and it must be said that she has successfully done so. OSO marks the return of the "reincarnation-type" movies.

There have been many movies based on it in the past but the ones that impressed me were "Kudrat" (a Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini-Vinod Khanna-Raaj Kumar starrer classic, which didn't do well commercially), "Karz" (easily the best movie directed by Subhash Ghai of which this is a tribute... the track "ek hasina thi" continues to haunt our generation too), "Karan Arjun" (I personally don't like Rakesh Roshan's style of film-making but this one deserved to be a money-spinner and it did so) and the lesser-known "Hameshaa" (a Saif-Kajol starrer flop). Honestly, OSO doesn't make that much impact (if you are expecting a lot of drama, you will be disappointed) and you sometimes feel the movie is overhyped but it is not so. Don't look for logic and you will be thoroughly entertained. Read on.

OSO is about Om Prakash Makhija (SRK) who is a junior artist in hindi movies during the 1970s. He is in love with one of the best actresses of that time, Shantipriya (debutante superstar Deepika Padukone). Om wants to be a superstar... but one incident shatters everything. I wouldn't like to reveal the story but yes... Om and Shanti die. Om is reborn into the present day. How he takes revenge on Mukesh Mehra (Arjun Rampal as the villain) forms the crux of the movie. There are twists and turns and you will definitely like them. The final twist may be tough for some people to digest but remember OSO is commercial cinema at its best.

SRK entertains (like he always does). He is the one and only "baadshah" of the hindi film industry and he continues to do so in OSO. You really can't compare his performance here with the one in "Chak de India" (just like you can't compare the two movies). CDI is a classic and SRK deserves all the "best actor" awards (including a national award) for his fabulous performance in it. It is one of his best! He doesn't really act in OSO. This one's an entertaining performance from him. His six-pack abs are something girls will love. Deepika Padukone is beautiful, graceful and acts equally well. She was a superstar even before this movie released. She is surely going to get the "best female debutante" awards. Arjun Rampal is good in a negative role. He had attempted one in a dud called "Ek Ajnabee" but here, he excels. He is one actor who manages to look handsome even with a moustache (in the first half). Shreyas Talpade is good. Kiron Kher is passable. Music by Vishal-Shekhar is superb. "Main agar kahoo" is the best one, followed by "Ajab si", "Dard-e-disco", "Deewangee" and the others. Cinematography is first-rate. The scene just before the interval is fabulous. Direction by Farah Khan is good and she lives upto the standard she set for herself in "Main hoon naa". OSO is as good and entertaining as her first movie. My favourite scene in OSO is the pre-interval one. It was touching and very well-executed. Choreography (ofcourse, its been done by the director herself) is nice. "Deewangee" will please the masses as there are so many stars featuring in it. "Dhoom tana" (composed by Pyarelal) is something you will like watching.

Talking about business, OSO will be a blockbuster. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya" has been terrible. The verdict is out. OSO is the winner... not "Saawariya". However, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor should be given the benefit of doubt because it wasn't fair to release their first movie along with a SRK-flick. OSO is what you call a "total paisa-vasool" movie.