Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Review: Tharun Bhascker shines in this faithful remake that falters in the final act

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Review: Tharun Bhascker steals the show with his amazing performance, but the uneven last twenty minutes spoil the fun

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Review

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Story

Shanti (Eesha Rebba) grows up in a very conservative family and wants to study further. However, her father gets her married to a businessman, Omkar Naidu (Tharun Bhascker Naidu), who sells fish. Omkar’s dominating nature and patriarchal behaviour shock Shanti, and she decides to teach him a lesson. Whether Shanti succeeds or not forms the crux of the film.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Review

For starters, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is the official remake of the Malayalam hit Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey now streaming on OTTplay Premium. A. R. Sajeev directs the remake, and he does a decent job adapting the original.

The film is set in the Godavari region, where patriarchal behaviour is still rampant in certain sections. The characters, backdrop, production design, and supporting cast are impressively set up and give the film a strong start.

The director wastes no time in establishing the contrasting traits of the lead characters, and the manner in which the couple gets married feels organic. The first half works quite well. The way families function in small towns, how sons dominate their parents, and how educated wives are treated is portrayed effectively.

The empathy and trauma that the wife goes through are presented organically, and the way she retaliates is handled well, especially in the first half.

Even those who have watched the original will appreciate how the first half has been adapted. Credit must go to the makers for choosing the right cast. Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba fit their roles perfectly, with Tharun delivering a standout performance.

However, the major issue arises in the second half, where the emotional depth falters. The trauma and pain Shanti goes through are not explored adequately, and the emotional connect built in the first half does not carry forward.

Things move too quickly, making the climax feel forced. A silly court episode featuring Brahmanandam further dilutes the drama. While the original showcased pain and emotional realism, the remake suffers due to uneven narration in the latter half. Shanti’s retaliation needed stronger justification, which unfortunately does not happen, leading to an abrupt ending.

Performance-wise, Eesha Rebba shines in what is arguably her best role to date. She conveys pain and resilience beautifully, especially through her expressions.

Tharun Bhascker, however, steals the show. Playing a character from the Godavari region is no easy task, but he gets the diction and mannerisms spot on. Brahmaji provides a few laughs, and the supporting cast complements the narrative well.

The production values are top-notch, with strong visuals and lighting enhancing the small-town setting. The music and background score are effective, though the editing feels rushed in the final 20 minutes.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is a film that has a great story and solid performances. The remake is almost done right but it is the final act that falters and ends things on a weird note.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Verdict

Overall, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is a fairly faithful remake of Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. Strong performances by Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba, and a fun first half work in the film’s favour. However, the weak emotional payoff in the second half affects the overall impact. Those who haven’t watched the original can still give this film a try.

Also Read: Eesha Rebba on Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi: I wanted a role with substance not stardom

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