Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014)

Ohm Shanthi Oshaana: Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph. With Nazriya Nazim, Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Vineeth Sreenivasan. A spirited young girl would stop at nothing to get the first love of her life, even if it takes seven years and several heartbreaks.

“Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who made PG Wodehouse come alive in India, still manages to influence movie-makers, the good ones esp., whether or not theyu0026#39;re aware of that fact. One of the happiest movies (yes, a movie, a work of art, can also be a happy thingummy) Iu0026#39;ve seen after Sally Hawkins live it up in the eponymous u0026#39;Happy-Go- Luckyu0026#39;, u0026#39;Om Shanti Oshanau0026#39; (Or, u0026#39;Ohm Shanthi Oshaanau0026#39;) is light, vibrant and breezy all through, right from its beginning to (oh why did it have to) end. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEvocative of u0026#39;Guddiu0026#39;, without all (OK, most) the clichés that one paraded around with, this is a one of the best coming-of-age romantic comedies Iu0026#39;ve seen in any language since a long time, thatu0026#39;s just so FRESH!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe movie, for some, might seem to belong just to Nazriya Nazim, who owns every scene sheu0026#39;s in, and sheu0026#39;s in every damn scene. Its completely about her, and when sheu0026#39;s not in frame, sheu0026#39;s in our heads (ahem, sheu0026#39;s also the narrator). Believe me, I ainu0026#39;t complaininu0026#39;, not one bit. However, its not just her(s). The director, Jude Anthany (not a typo) Joseph, owns every frame heu0026#39;s conceptualized, and shot, along with having the other character come-to-life: one of the most inspiring soundtracks ever rendered (Shaan Rahman, returning after a strong, yet a tad unoriginal work in u0026#39;Thirau0026#39;, that Iu0026#39;ve reviewed here earlier). I simply canu0026#39;t get it outa my head, and am not sure I wanna.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd oh, the creep factor, that couldu0026#39;ve u0026#39;creptu0026#39; in, doesnu0026#39;t. Not to me anyways. Nivin Pauly is serviceable, the strong/silent type, that every woman just falls for, and none of the supporting characters falter even a bit. The surprises keep coming, and the leadu0026#39;s flights of fancy are sequences to look forward to, while also savoring everything that comes in-between. Fully fleshed out characters seem as easy to Joseph as ripping his shirt off is to a Bollywood dumb-hunk who shall remain nameless for now. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis oneu0026#39;s pitch-perfect – Do Not miss it at your local multiplex – this oneu0026#39;s having a wide release too, so Iu0026#39;m sure itu0026#39;s playing in most cities all over the world. And yes, it has subtitles, but you wonu0026#39;t need them, since its all about lives that few among us are fortunate to lead, and for the rest of us, we have Nazriya Nazimu0026#39;s rendering of rainbows.”