Movie: Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: S Originals, Movie Verse Studios
Cast: Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam, Eesha Rebba, Brahmaji, Surabhi Prabhavathi, and others
Music: Jay Krish
Dialogues: Nanda Kishore Emani
DOP: Deepak Yaragera
Art: Vishnu Vardhan Pulla
Producers: Srujan Yarabolu, Aditya Pittie, Vivek Krishnani, Anup Chandrasekharan, Sadhik shaik, Naveen Sanivarapu
Screenplay and Directed by: A R Sajeev
Release Date: Jan 30, 2026
Eesha Rebba and Tarun Bhascker have been in the spotlight lately due to reports about their relationship, sparking widespread curiosity. Naturally, the film that marked their first on-screen collaboration also drew attention.
Let’s see how it fares.
Story:
Omkar Naidu (Tarun Bhascker), a fisheries businessman from the Godavari district, marries Prashanti (Eesha Rebba), who is about to begin her graduation. Firm in his belief that a man must behave a certain way, Omkar turns violent and raises his hand on her.
Prashanti initially dismisses it as a one-time incident, but soon realizes it is a pattern. After enduring his abuse multiple times, she finally retaliates and overpowers him, turning the tables.
Omkar later apologises, wins her back, and begins treating her affectionately. However, when Prashanti becomes pregnant, she uncovers his true plan. What is it, and how does she deal with her life thereafter?
Artistes’ Performances:
Eesha Rebba leads the show with a fine performance as a middle-class young woman. She fits the role well in both shades — as a simple, submissive girl and later as a woman who stands up to her husband and the men around her. Her portrayal is especially effective in the latter half.
Tarun Bhascker is believable as Omkar Naidu and manages the Godavari accent fairly well.
Among the supporting cast, Brahmaji stands out with a hilarious and well-written role, while Surabhi Prabhavati delivers a solid performance as the mother.
Technical Excellence:
The film is largely shot in the Godavari region, with the cinematographer capturing its scenic beauty effectively. The production values are adequate.
However, the editing lacks sharpness in the initial act. A few dialogues stand out, while the music is mostly forgettable.
Highlights:
Eesha Rebba’s performance
Some lighter scenes
Overall message
Drawback:
No match to the original Malayalam movie
Some episodes are not convincing
Inconsistency in narrative
Analysis
“Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi” is the Telugu remake of the Malayalam hit “Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya He” (2022). In the original, the female protagonist was named Jaya, which inspired the quirky title. In the Telugu version, the character is renamed Shanti, and the title is accordingly tweaked. While the core plot remains intact, several scenes have been altered, and the second half deviates slightly from the original narrative.
At its heart, this is a film that addresses domestic violence. Initially, the narrative appears to revolve around a wife teaching her abusive husband a lesson by giving him a taste of his own medicine. However, as the film progresses, it attempts to move beyond this premise and underline a stronger message — that women should walk out of toxic relationships and lead independent lives. While the intent is commendable, the execution is neither fully convincing nor consistently engaging.
The Malayalam original employed humour far more effectively to drive home its message. In comparison, the Telugu remake struggles in the comic department. Although a few humorous episodes do click, the overall impact of the comedy is diluted.
A particularly problematic aspect — present in both the Malayalam and Telugu versions — is the track where the husband undergoes karate training to retaliate against his wife after she fights back. This not only comes across as silly and absurd but also undermines the seriousness of the issue being addressed. While domestic violence by men is a harsh reality, this exaggerated subplot works against the film’s core message rather than strengthening it.
Tarun and Eesha Rebba deliver competent performances, yet there is a visible sense of strain in living up to expectations. The lack of natural ease in their portrayals prevents the characters from fully resonating with the audience.
Overall, “Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi” is neither an effective remake nor a dismissible film. It tries to stay faithful to the original while making intermittent deviations, but ends up falling short of the impact created by “Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya He”. The message and performances register to an extent, but the film as a whole does not. It is better suited for an OTT watch than a theatrical experience.
Bottom-line: So So
