Review: Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Malayalam films are known for their strong content, and one such film that made a lot of noise on OTT was Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, which had Basil Joseph and Darshana Rajendran in the lead roles. The Telugu remake, titled Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi, features Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba as the main leads and was released today. Read our review here.

Plot

Shanti (Eesha Rebba) is an educated girl who is forced to marry a local fish seller, Omkar Naidu (Tharun Bhascker). After marriage, Shanti is subjected to physical abuse, which deeply disturbs her. She decides to teach her husband a lesson and gives it back to Omkar Naidu by beating him black and blue. Things escalate when Omkar hatches an evil plan to suppress his wife. What that plan is and how Shanti deals with it form the crux of the story.

Performances

One of the major assets of Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is its strong performances. The casting is spot on, and everyone delivers well. Tharun Bhascker, who has mostly done fun roles in the past, gives his best performance to date as Omkar Naidu. It takes a lot of guts to play such a negative character. Interestingly, one does not feel upset with Tharun. In fact, he becomes the fun factor of the film. His comedy, serious avatar, and the way he gets scared of Eesha are showcased well.

Eesha Rebba gets a strong role after a long time and fits perfectly as the housewife. Her chemistry with Tharun works well. The supporting cast, led by Brahmaji, is also good. The noted actors bring an added fun factor through their presence.

Technical Aspects

Jaya Krish has composed the music, and his score is soothing and does not disturb the flow of the film. The production values are impressive, with great visuals and setup. The production design deserves special mention, as the house setup, small town vibe, and Godavari backdrop are showcased beautifully. The dialogues are simple yet effective. However, the editing falters in the second half, especially from the pre climax, as things are hurried for no reason. Director Sajeev, who makes his debut, does a decent job adapting the original.

Positives

Performances
Production values
Light hearted comedy

Negatives

Abrupt ending
Lack of emotional depth
Weak character arcs

Analysis

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is the official remake of the Malayalam classic Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The dubbed version of the film is available on OTT and is widely watched. But the makers of Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi say that a section of the audience from the interiors did not watch the film, hence the remake. Keeping that aside, the remake is directed by A. R. Sajeev, and he should be credited for adapting it well.

The film scores good when it comes to setting up the story, star cast, backdrop, and basic theme. The performances are also top notch, as Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba do well. But it is the emotional connection that goes missing. The first half is set neatly, with all the characters getting proper introductions, and the conflict point is also brought out well. Even the dark comedy generated from serious situations works nicely.

But sadly, after setting up the story so well, the director fails to elevate it further. The pain that the wife goes through after realizing the true nature of her husband should have been more dramatic. But in the remake, you do not sympathize with Eesha’s character at all. As the setting is made fun oriented from the beginning, the director fails to add a strong human angle and showcase the trauma the wife goes through when her husband leaves her.

The climax is even more disappointing, as it is rushed and made silly with a mundane court episode featuring Brahmanandam. The idea of narrating the film in a fun angle works in the first half, but things should have been made serious at least in the latter part. As the director runs out of ideas and fails to showcase the drama effectively, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi ends as a dull watch. Had the emotional turmoil of the character been stronger, the remake would have made more sense. Instead, it feels half baked and forced.

Final Verdict: Half baked family drama.

Rating: 2.5/5

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