Om Shanti Om is the first major reincarnation themed film that has adorned Indian cinema for a long while (the last one of note was Karan Arjun). The storyline is cheesy and at times slow, but the film has the right amount of humor, romance, glitz and an overall positive feeling for a decent entertainment experience.

The first half is based in the 1970s, and is about a small time actor named Omi (Shahrukh Khan) who is deeply in love with an actress named Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone – a newcomer). In the film, she’s a superstar and way out of his league, but somehow they become friends and Omi thinks he’s in with a chance. But it turns out that they remain just friends as she’s secretly married to a big time film producer, Mukesh Mehra (Arjun Rampal). Mukesh loves his career far more than her, and therefore keeps their marriage a secret from the public.

The portrayal of Indian cinema back in those days is quite authentic with regards to clothes, hairdos, mood of the masses etc. This was quite a nice touch. But the storyline is really slow, and the songs dodgy. The only interesting bits are a few funny lines here and there, and the tragedy which concluded the first half – in which Shantipriya is killed by a mysterious fire with Omi dying trying to save her.

Omi is re-incarnated as the baby of the couple who brought him into hospital when he died (the woman was pregnant). The couple happened to be big shots in the film industry. The second half commences with Omi’s new life. The child has grown up to be a star, but doesn’t remember anything from his past life. His name is Om Kapoor and he has a scar the shape of an Om in the same position where Omi (previous incarnation) used to have an Om tattoo.

However one day his acting career takes him back to the place where he died, causing him to have flash backs from the past. Gradually his memory comes back including the sinister circumstances regarding his and Shantipriya’s death, which was engineered by her own husband. Om Kapoor is determined to gain justice for her, as her death had been officially dismissed as an accident, and Mukesh Mehra had continued to prosper.

It so happens that Mukesh Mehra is returning to India after having lived in the USA for many years, during which time he had a successful career in Hollywood. He wants to work with Om Kapoor in a new film project, which provides the perfect opportunity for revenge or justice (whichever you prefer to call it).

The casting and acting in Om Shanti Om is pretty good, with all the large and small rolls being filled by suitable actors and well executed. The storyline is not realistically crafted (what do you expect from Bollywood?), but at the same time has an overall positive feeling in it, bringing out a sense of cosmic justice in which everyone pays for their crimes and also for the pure heart all wishes ultimately granted. There is a line repeated a few times in the film that goes ‘when you truly want something, the whole universe conspires to help you get it, and if the ending isn’t happy then it isn’t really the ending’, (if not in this life then in the next).

The funniest bit of Om Shanti Om is in the second half when a young Gujarati film producer is planning a film in which the hero can’t talk and can’t walk – you won’t understand it with me explaining it to you but if you ever watch it, it will make your belly ache with laughter. The title song (Om Shanti Om) has cameo appearances from over three quarters of the biggest current Indian film stars, which pulls of quite well.

Overall – I would say that you won’t be disappointed by Om Shanti Om. It isn’t as dodgy as the terrible posters would have you believe. Despite some ridiculous bits here and there. You’ll get a good few laughs and walk away with a genuine smile.