OSO - A Personal Review (possible spoilers ahead)

So, incredible news first. I saw Om Shanti Om, first day last show. And in D row. That bit is incredible because until 30 mins before the show began, I had almost packed my bags to go home. Wasn't feeling great too - light headache and bodyache. But things turned out surprisingly differently and I had a great time watching the most publicised movie of all time.

Coming to the story itself, I knew it would be total timepass because after Main Hoon Na, if I learnt anything it was that Farah Khan can tell a story in an entertaining way. I find her movie making style very David Dhawan-like, but a couple of notches higher. And of course, Shahrukh over Govinda helps.

The story then is quite simple and very Karz inspired, and although she may have said she doesnt like remakes, one look at OSO is enough to convince you otherwise. So there is one Om who is a junior artiste and lives life happily with his best friend (Shreyas Talpade) and hyperactive mom (Kirron Kher, surprisingly over-the-top). Along the way he is also in love with superheroine dreamy girl Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone) with whom he chats via a poster and later after saving her from a fire (Sunil Dutt-Nargis anyone?), he chats with her in real life, asking the same silly questions (tum mujhse bore toh nahin ho rahi naa?). Enter baddie Arjun Rampal (well acted, for once) who turns out to be a producer and kills Shanti to save his studio and name by not getting Shanti to tell the world they are married and are about to have a baby.

Hero sees all. Hero is killed. Hero is reborn. Hero wants to turn the tables. Hero gets what he wants. End of story. That's the second half by the way.

Along the way, questions about the script arise but are not answered properly. Where did Shanti's duplicate come from suddenly? Why did baddie not put his foot down being a hotshot Hollywood director himself to SRK's obvious gameplan?

The first half is entertaining and keeps you engaged. Farah lets her viewers see the arcane world of moviemaking. Shahrukh is good as usual, his energy levels unsubsidised by his advancing age. And he had the six-pack to prove for it.

The surprise package is Deepika Padukone. She acts right, her facial expressions are great and is not the plastic models Bollywood imports from time to time in its movies. Here is someone who will go beyond Aishwarya in the movie making business. Top heroines, better start working harder now.

All in all, OSO is good, worth one watch, if nothing then for the spoof on Bollwood Farah so endearingly touches upon. Aamir Khan, Sooraj Barjatya, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra and of course Manoj Kumar, take a bow.