POV: How Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar’s OMG! made me re-think my relationship with God!

As the court-room drama turns 13 today, let's take a look at how OMG! Oh My God was a courageous film that dared to ask the right question!

Growing up in a traditional Indian family, religion always had and still has a considerable impact on my lifestyle choices. Not that I was an extremist, but the way I looked at God was different than the way I do now, and if there is a film that made me re-think my relationship with religion, it definitely has to be Umesh Shukla’s OMG! Oh My God. Starring Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar, the film wasn't just a box office success but an audacious venture that dared to ask the right questions in a fairly conservative society. 

Ironically enough, as a land that always had philosophers and social reformers who, time and again, challenged the rigidity of religion and were critical of the regressive aspects of it, dating far back as the 6th century BC, we rarely saw movies touching the subject in an independent India where the makers actually have freedom of thought and expression! Hence, the premise of OMG! was an act of cinematic courage- an atheist, Kanji Lalji Mehta(Paresh Rawal), suing God after an earthquake destroys his shop, with the insurance company refusing to pay, citing an ‘Act of God.’

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The events and arguments that followed directly challenged the relevance and authority of the mighty nexus of self-styled godmen, gurus, and religious commerce, across faiths. The courtroom proceedings questioned the self-proclaimed religious custodians who encashed common man’s faith and have built empires worth billions, milking fears that have long been peddled to benefit a few. Kanji’s prosecution was a class act that reeked of humor, sharp analysis, and hard-hitting questions that forced the viewers to differentiate between genuine faith and superstition. I remember being particularly influenced by Kanji’s idea of directly helping the needy instead of offering items at religious centres or putting in the effort to understand the true spirit and essence of various hymns or mantras that were shoved down my throat during school prayers or aartis at home. Most importantly, I was inspired to introspect and made to realize the importance of asking the right questions when it comes to age-old beliefs that benefit a few and deter all-round progress of humanity, especially the disadvantaged! 

A dialogue that hit me the hardest was when Mithun’sLeeladhar Maharaj asserts Kanji that no matter the verdict of the court or the new wave of public support he is enjoying, people will still turn to religious leaders like him, for they are God fearing and not God loving, and that completely shifted my concept of religion. From blind ritualism, I was rather inspired to inculcate spiritual consciousness and look at God as a loving friend who only wants the best for me, instead of a rigid parent who will punish me if I put a foot wrong. The intelligent inclusion of Akshay Kumar’s character as Lord Krishna elevated the narrative and humorously delivered the message that God is found in humanity, kindness, and introspection, instead of costly idols, overflowing donation boxes, or the darbars of these self-styled godmen!

OMG! remains a classic case of humor and satire headlining a social awakening. The way the film handled such a sensitive, high-stakes philosophical concept without compromising on its entertainment value ensured the right message reached the maximum audience and forced the masses to re-think the true essence of their religious beliefs!

What do you think about this film? Tell us in the comments below!

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