OMG 2 (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – An unhappy civilian will ask the court to mandate sex education in schools in a dramatic yet amusing courtroom play.

My Take – It is surprising that despite being currently the most populated country in the world, the discussion about sex or sex education is still considered a topic of debate or insensitive in most parts of India. And while films like Khandaani Shafakhana (2019), Made in China (2019), Helmet (2021), Janhit Mein Jaari (2022), Chhatriwali (2023), and others have tried to put forth a debate about its importance, to various mixed degrees, the taboo around sexual health and wellness continues.

However, this latest effort from writer-director Amit Rai (Road to Sangam) is a better, more refined and hard-hitting tale on the importance of sex education inclusion in the school syllabus. Acting as a spiritual sequel to writer-director Umesh Shukla’s OMG – Oh My God! (2012), the film seamlessly weaves entertainment into the critical discourse on sex education, addressing pertinent topics and societal taboos with a remarkable blend of sensitivity and depth.

It does not shy away from the challenges and stigmas that surround this topic, and it does a great job of showing the importance of sex education for both young people and adults. It’s rare for a sequel to outshine its predecessor and writer-director Amit Rai’s clever and crisp courtroom comedy fulfills this mammoth task.

It also helps that the film is well-acted, with Pankaj Tripathi particularly giving a standout performance as the new lead. All the while proving how a film can be entertaining, socially relevant and informative at the same time. One doesn’t need to leave their brain behind to have a good laugh.

The story follows Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi), a simple hardworking man, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, a loving father and a caring husband, who wants the best for his family and children. However, their ordinary life changes when a video by an anonymous person capturing Kanti’s troubled teen son Vivek (Aarush Varma) in a comprising position goes viral. Blamed for immoral conduct on their premise, Vivek ends up being chucked out of school.

Ashamed of his son’s vulgar act and fearing the public outrage, Kanti at first decides to flee with his family to a relative in another city, but upon realizing his son’s declining mental health owing to humiliation and bullying, with the help of a divine intervention from the messenger (Akshay Kumar) of Lord Shiva, he is compelled to open his eyes and question his own understanding of being a parent and an adult.

Motivated by the messenger, Kanti cancels the planned trip and drags everyone involved to court, particularly the school administration. He holds the elite educational institution accountable for being negligent towards their student’s need for sex education and right to information. However, his decision to prove that his son did no wrong isn’t going to be an easy one as the school appoints the well-respected English speaking Kamini Maheshwari (Yami Gautam) as their defense lawyer.

The courtroom drama between Kamini and Kanti becomes the spark that ignites the entire narrative. Through compelling arguments by Kamini and unexpected yet powerful rebuttals from Kanti, the film takes the audience on an engaging and thought-provoking journey.

Here, writer-director Amit Rai masterfully pens each and every scene along with top-class direction that keeps the narrative engaging. Navigating this courtroom spectacle, the film effortlessly portrays a society grappling with deep-seated taboos surrounding sex education. The dynamic interplay between these characters not only adds a layer of intrigue, but also serves as a mirror to broader societal struggles and challenges.

Sex education in India is still considered a taboo and the film breaks the shackles by sending out the right message in an apt way. Yes, the film does take a few liberties in depiction of the court proceedings, but one of the things that makes the film so effective is its realistic portrayal of sex education in India.

The team deals with sex education and masturbation with maturity and manages to leave a message but in a very entertaining manner. The writing challenges the status quo and yet upholds the sanctity of religion, dignity and India’s family values. It calls out the parental flaws that have been long buried under the garb of culture.

Performance wise, Pankaj Tripathi is brilliant as always. He excels in all the monologues while fighting the case, and mouths all those one-liners in his typical poker face style. He downplays himself in the first half and then rises to the occasion in the second half. Akshay Kumar, in his limited screen time, is also good and brings his own brand of charisma to the role. His screen presence and dialogues never fail to bring a smile, and you can sense a feeling of accomplishment towards the finale.

Yami Gautam is also another standout, pushing the envelope in the courtroom and on the screen, that she gets under your skin and rightly so. In supporting roles, Aarush Varma, Pavan Malhotra, Arun Govil, Govind Namdev, Brijendra Kala and Geeta Agrawal bring in stellar turns. On the whole, ‘OMG2’ is a well-made drama that educates on a very important subject without being preachy.