Life does not give a second chance to all so when it gives, how is one supposed to respond to it? Should one be the way they are or mend ways for a better outcome or become a better version of oneself? Well, that’s what forms the crux of Thank God, with Sidharth Malhotra at the helm.
Like the trailer gives out, Ayaan Kapoor, a real estate broker, falls into big debt post demonetisation and meets with an accident while driving a car and lands in swarg’s (heaven) court of law where he meets Yamdoot aka YD (played by Mahesh Bajraj) and apsaras, followed by Chitragupt aka CG (played by Ajay Devgn) in a futuristic set-up with floating digital screens and transparent cell phones. And as Ayaan battles for his life in the five-hour operation back on earth, in this celestial world he is forced to play a game, with different levels involving lifelines as well. He is put through different situations that test his vices including jealousy, greed, anger, self-centeredness, and profit-oriented mind and with the help of the swargwasi’s vote who will fill his paap ka ghada (swanky crystalised vessels) with either white (for good deeds) and black (for bad deeds) he will win the Game of Life. As expected, his paap ka ghada fills up fast with black balls while the container for white balls is empty. Will it reach the full level as the game nears an end or will Ayaan have a sudden transformation and emerge victorious and stay in heaven and not fall prey to the fire of hell?
Coming from the stable of director Indra Kumar whose repertoire has films from both ends of the spectrum — making blockbusters like Dil, Raja, Beta and Ishq throughout the ’90s and then comedies like Masti, Dhamaal, Double Dhamaal, Grand Masti and Total Dhamaal in the aught and post-aught years — this one comes as a surprise. Thank God is in the comedy genre that his recent films conform to, but it’s not a mindless comedy punctuated with tasteless jokes and a bunch of people running about for a big bounty.
Thank God is a family entertainer, sans any over-dramatised song-dance sequence, with a dollop emotional element as well that might touch your heart and even moisten your eyes. However, it’s preachy in many parts, which matches the tone of the film that trains a judgmental lens on the main protagonist and expects him to become a different person altogether, overnight.
With a predictable and unpredictable turn of events towards the end, Thank God, inspired from the 2009 Norwegian film Sorte Kugler (What Goes Around), is a smooth watch keeping the audience hooked to Ayaan’s story.
The VFX, though remaining restricted to the swarg scenes, deserves mention for not going over the top and adding the right dose of effects to the entire cinematography.
Let’s talk about the acting department. With Singham’s swag up his sleeves, Ajay Devgn is effortless, looking suave in a crisp three-piece suit and well coiffured hair. Rakul Preet Singh who plays Ruhi, Ayaan’s wife, does her job well and it’s the same with other actors, including Seema Pahwa, Kiku Sharda and others. However, one would have expected the main protagonist on whom all the cameras are trained, to do more and give more to the audience than looking plain handsome in simple shirts.
Watching Nora Fatehi move her body to Yohani’s viral song is a treat to the eyes, like always. Apart from this sultry number, Jubin Nautiyal’s Haaniya ve and Anand Raaj Anand’s Dil de diya make for romantic earworms.
Overall, with its 121-minute running time, Thank God is an apt watch for the festive season that essentially celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
