OMG – Oh My God!

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Kanji Lalji Mehta, a middle-class Gujarati atheist, owns a shop selling Hindu idols and antiques in Mumbai. He routinely mocks the religious practices around him until a low-intensity earthquake strikes the city, destroying only his shop. While his family and friends blame the disaster on his skepticism, Kanji attempts to claim insurance. The insurance company rejects his claim, citing an exclusion clause for natural calamities classified as an "Act of God". Left with no financial recourse, Kanji decides to sue God, but is rejected by every lawyer he approaches. Hanif Qureshi, a working-class Muslim attorney, eventually helps him file the lawsuit, allowing Kanji to represent himself. Legal notices are sent to the insurance firm as well as to prominent spiritual leaders—Siddheshwar Maharaj, Gopi Maiyya, and their organization's leader, Leeladhar Swamy—summonding them to court as God's earthly representatives.

As the bizarre lawsuit gains media attention, Kanji faces intense harassment and threats from religious extremists. His bank forecloses on his home, and his terrified family abandons him. He is rescued from an angry mob by Krishna Vasudev Yadav, a mysterious man claiming to be a real estate agent from Gokul, Uttar Pradesh, who quietly displays supernatural abilities. Following Krishna’s advice, Kanji takes his grievances to television networks, sparking a massive public response. Countless disaster victims join the lawsuit, which expands to include Christian priests and Muslim clerics as co-defendants. When the judge demands written theological proof that natural disasters represent the explicit will of God, Krishna guides Kanji to study the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, and the Holy Bible. Kanji discovers specific passages in each text stating that the universe and all occurrences within it are driven entirely by divine will, significantly strengthening his legal standing.

During a heated court session, Kanji suffers a stroke that leaves him comatose and paralyzed. A month later, he awakens in the hospital to find Krishna, who reveals his true identity as Krishna and completely cures Kanji's paralysis. Krishna explains that while he created the universe, organized religion was entirely manufactured by humans. He admits to orchestrating the localized earthquake to destroy Kanji's shop, knowing that an outspoken atheist would legally challenge the commercialized religious system and expose the fraudulent godmen who exploit divine fear for financial gain. Krishna adds that he does not reside in temples or desire materialistic offerings, preferring that resources be directed toward alleviating human hunger. He reveals that he assumed human form to guide Kanji towards demonstrating that the divine exists within all living creatures, rather than in structures of stone.

Kanji learns that the court has ruled in his favor, ordering the religious organizations to pay massive compensations to all affected plaintiffs. However, in his absence, the public has begun worshiping Kanji himself as a divine entity. Leeladhar, Gopi Maiyya, and Siddheshwar have capitalized on this shift by constructing a lavish temple dedicated to Kanji, accumulating millions in new donations. Krishna reminds Kanji that his role as God is simply to illuminate truth, leaving humanity to exercise its free will. Moved, Kanji rushes to the temple, smashes his own idol, and publicly admonishes the crowd for relying on fraudulent godmen who turn faith into a business. He urges them to seek the divine within themselves and each other. After dispersing the crowd, Kanji turns to thank Krishna, only to find that he and his motorcycle have vanished. Reunited with his returning family, Kanji spots Krishna's flute keychain on the ground. As he prepares to pocket it, he hears Krishna’s voice warning him that clinging to religious relics and fear was the very mindset he had just fought to dismantle. Kanji smiles and tosses the object away, watching it disappear into the sky.

Producer Akshay Kumar announced the film in 2012. Paresh Rawal who appeared in the original play Kishen vs Kanhaiya was cast in the lead role with Akshay Kumar playing the role of Krishna in the movie.^[1] Mithun Chakraborty played a supporting role in the film. The filming was reported to have begun in January 2012.^[10] Director Prabhu Deva appeared in an item number along with Sonakshi Sinha.^[11][12][13]

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The soundtrack of OMG – Oh My God! was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, Sachin–Jigar and Meet Bros Anjjan whilst the lyrics were penned by Shabbir Ahmed, Kumaar, Swanand Kirkire and Subrat Sinha. The album features vocals by Reshammiya, Shreya Ghoshal, Kailash Kher, Benny Dayal, Ash King, Suraj Jagan, Keerthi Sagathia, Zubeen Garg, Meet Bros Anjjan, Arya Acharya, Mohammed Irfan, Aman Trikha and Parash Nath. The full audio album was launched on 12 September 2012 by T-Series. The song, 'Go Go Go Govinda' is based on the song 'Govinda Aala Re Aala' from Bluff Master (1963), sung by Mohammed Rafi.

OMG – Oh My God! released worldwide on 28 September 2012.^[1]

OMG received positive critical reviews.^[14]

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that OMG – OH MY GOD! was a "thought-provoking adaptation of a massively successful play. A movie tackling a sensitive and an untouched subject matter, it will find its share of advocates and adversaries, but the social message the movie conveys comes across loud and clear and that's one of the prime reasons why OMG becomes a deserving watch".^[15] Sukanya Verma of Rediff rated it 4 out of 5 reviewing "A brave and absorbing blend of satire, fable and fantasy that brings our attention to the misuse and commercialisation of religion".^[16] Faisal Saif of Independent Bollywood rated it 4 out of 5 and said "Strongly Recommended. Fearless concept with some Fearless performances".^[17]

The film had a low opening but showed good growth on its 2nd and 3rd day and collected ₹30 million (US$310,000) nett in its opening weekend.^[18] Despite a slow start, the film managed to gross collections of ₹357.4 million (US$3.7 million) nett in its first week.^[19] The film collected ₹220 million (US$2.3 million) in its second week.^[20] The film continued its successful run in its third week and make a total of around ₹725.0 million (US$7.5 million) in three weeks.^[21] The film raked another ₹62.4 million (US$650,000) in its fourth week to make a total of ₹782.4 million (US$8.1 million) in four weeks.^[22] Overseas, OMG – Oh My God! grossed US$2.5 million in 10 days.^[23] At the end of 17 days, OMG – Oh My God! had grossed ₹104.5 million (US$1.1 million).^[24]

OMG – Oh My God! was awarded the Best Hindi Film Award by the Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS) during the second IRDS Hindi Film Awards for social concern. The film has won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 60th National Film Awards.^[25]

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