Nearly a decade ago, a film with Paresh Rawal in the lead and Akshay Kumar playing the character of god was released without much ado. Despite some controversies, the satirical comedy-drama gradually turned out to be a success.
In OMG- Oh My God, which was a courtroom drama, an atheist (Rawal) was pitted against the organised system of godmen and self-styled gurus who mislead people in the name of religion and instill fear in them. The film did not shy away from raising questions on matters of belief.
A decade later, OMG 2 makes another bold statement and unmasks the hypocrisies of people. This time, the makers choose to speak up on the issue of sex education. While the first installment had an atheist raising some pertinent questions, in OMG 2, it is a staunch believer, Kanti Sharan Mudgal, played by Pankaj Tripathi, who stands up against an unspoken evil –vilification of sex in society.
When Mudgal’s son is caught masturbating in school, the child is publicly shamed and suspended from school. A broken but supportive Mudgal takes on the responsibility of addressing the shame related to self-pleasuring and sex which is still considered a taboo in the society. There begins a court case between him and the school authorities and self-proclaimed sex doctors who claim to provide treatments to increase the length of the penis, often leading to disastrous results.
The film puts forth an argument that should have been addressed by the education board and asks for reforms that have been long-awaited in the education system. It argues for the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum that goes beyond basic biological processes and teaches good and bad touch, consent, and the differences between the male and female genitals, respect and autonomy of a woman’s body, self-pleasuring and more.
This is certainly an important film for parents, educators, and youngsters. It addresses how and why sex became a societal evil in the land of Kamasutra and how shame was attached to it; how the ancient Indian scriptures and monuments talk about the art of sex and pleasuring oneself and how colonialism began viewing it all as a taboo; and how the education system is in need of reforms.
The film follows the structure of its first installment. Akshay Kumar shines this time as Lord Shiva who comes down to help his devotee in trouble. In fact, Kumar’s Shiva rendition can be labelled as his best performance in recent years—the actor had a string of poor-performing films and bad content to his credit in recent years. Tripathi is his usual brilliant self and Yami Gautam as a lawyer is a strong presence. The film does not preach but does not also trivialise the sensitive matter. Instead, it deals with the topic with utmost maturity and sensitivity.
OMG 2 is a cinematic delight with an important message. The makers of the film deserve an ovation for time and again creating theatrical masterpieces that not only educate the audiences but also entertain them.
Film: OMG 2
Language: Hindi
Director: Amit Rai
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, Yami Gautam
Rating: 4/5