Om Shanti Om [2007] [DVD] [NTSC]

I'm a white London guy (just saying that so you can see how all types of folk will enjoy this movie) and, although I have watched a few Bollywood films just for fun, this one is absolutely THE BEST ! It's BRILLIANT !!
Yes, of course, you have to completely suspend any sort of belief right from the start and accept that it's a kind of fairytale.
There will be some folk who just won't ever "get it" but, if you DO, then it's a treat.
Shah Rukh Khan (Om) is completely winsome in this role, which is so suited for him & his talents. He is excellent at over-the-top comedy, sings well, can dance, looks good (he worked-out in a gym for 3 months to get that body for his reincarnation "Pain of Disco" number) and is truly a Star.
Deepika Padukone (Shanti) is absolutely beautiful .... my God !

Yes, ok, there are flaws.... yes... ok.. how did he get in the building just by smashing a small pane of glass? ... blah...blah... forget it... just enjoy the drama of it all !
Farah Khan did an excellent job with her movie (I like the in-joke cameo appearance by her, with SRK, at the start!)
The 1st half is very funny & takes the piss out of the 1970s Bollywood films, but it's also quite touching. I love all the banter between him & his brother, and his romantic song with Shanti.
But the 2nd half really shows what Shah can do. The scene when he gets reunited with his Mother & brother is truly tear-jerking, but the scene is played honestly & tenderly, with no melodrama.
The final shot of Shah at the end as he sees his Shanti for the last time is great stuff .... real emotion, torment & pathos showing in his face and, when Shanti turns, smiles & sheds a tear, it's a wonderful moment. Aaaaah!
I just happened to watch it when it was shown the other weekend on Channel 4. I immediately bought the DVD & then watched it 8 times in 2 weeks.
Am really surprised to like this movie as much as I do, but I find something extra in it everytime I watch it.
The music numbers are just great ! Sing along now .... "All hot girls wave your hands in the air. Om Shanti Om. All cool guys c'mon make some noise. Om Shanti Om". !!
Take the plunge & buy it. Accept it. Enjoy it. Love it.

Being a white westerner bollywood films are a new experience for me - Ive only seen a handful up to now and i can easily say this is my favourite up to now, i absolutely ADORED this movie! Myself and a friend saw this at the cinema and we laughed our way through the movie - you cannot help but love Shah Rukh Khan after seeing this! Of course the storyline is incredibly dramatic but it just makes it more fantastic! The acting is amazing and the music just outstanding. Being a huge fan of the phantom of the opera stage show i loved the homage to that - there were homages to old bollywood movies, a lot of which obviously i didn't get, but for true bollywood fans i think they would doubly love this film. Oh but a love of 'cheesy' movies is an absolute essential to appreciate this film!

The plot summary is as follows: Om (Shah Rukh Khan) is a lowly actor in the 70s trying to make it in Bollywood. Throughout his journey in the film industry, he has idolized and fallen in love with Shanti (Deepika Padukone), a big time actress. Eventually, the two meet and strike up a friendship; however, a tragic series of events sees Om being killed and then reincarnated in modern day Bollywood, where there remains some unfinished business to resolve from his previous life.

The director, Farah Khan, manages to successfully pay tribute and mock the film industry and its actors and cliched scripts. For Shah Rukh, this has been a perfect film for his brand of (over)acting and Padukone could not have wished for a better launch into the industry's A list: she is definitely going to be one to watch in the future! For the Bollywood fanatics, many actors from today and yesteryear make guest appearances throughout the film: and at one point, no less that 31 guest appearances in one song! Some of the songs are great and extreamly catchy, whereas others are more average. All in all, Om Shanti Om is a fantastic film to watch because it is so different; while some of the special affects are not perfect, the 70s theme throughout the film is a great reminder of a by-gone era in Indian cinema.