Om Shanti Om
2007 · Directed by Farah Khan
Original language: Hindi
- comedy
- thriller
- drama
The story
In the early 70s, aspiring actor Om Prakash Makhija, and a famous starlet Shantipriya, are murdered. Thirty years later, his reincarnation Om Kapoor sets out to discover the mystery of their demise.
What it’s like
Saturated, almost garish color that gleams like a dream of 1970s Bombay: Kodak-bright sets, glittering sequined costumes, and sweeping crane shots over huge studio dance numbers, then a cooler, glossier 2000s digital sheen as the story jumps three decades forward. Its vibe is giddy nostalgia with a sharp edge, the sort of film that feels like a fan letter to old movie magic. The pace is brisk and loud, with big musical set-pieces interrupting broad slapstick and melodrama, and the tone swings between romantic comedy and a revenge-driven whodunit. Its central figure is an earnest, self-mocking dreamer who slowly learns to love the industry that shaped him, and the story is a love letter to showmanship and second chances. Violence is present but stylised: a murder in the opening act and a later confrontation, shot with theatrical flair rather than gore, with no sexual content and little real fear. Best for comfort-watching fans of Bollywood spectacle, musical energy, and a warm, cheeky movie-lover's sense of humour on a lazy weekend or a group night in.
More films like Om Shanti Om
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Om Shanti Omand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
