Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Review and Rating

Movie Title : Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Casting: Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam, Eesha Rebba , Brahmaji  and others

Director: AR Sajeev

Producer(s): Srujan Yarabolu, Aditya Pittie (joint production under S Originals and Movie Verse Studios) 

Music Director: Jay Krish

Dialogues: Nanda Kishore Emani. 

Cinematography: Deepak Yaragera.

Editing: AR Sajeev (credited as editor in some reports). 

Production Designer: Vishnu Vardhan Pulla 

Action Choreography: Wing Chun Anji 

Release Date: January 30, 2026

Filmycycle.com Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi: Passable family drama (3/5)

Tollywood director and actor Tharun Bhascker, young heroine Eesha Rebba, Brahmaji, and others play key roles in the family drama Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.The film is written, scripted, and directed by A.R. Sanjeev. It is produced by Srujan Yarabolu, Vivek Krishnani, Anoop Chandrasekharan, Sadiq Shaikh, and Naveen Srinivasavarapu.This movie is a remake of the successful Malayalam film Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The makers have adapted the film with suitable changes to match Telugu audiences’ tastes and local sensibilities. Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi has released on January 30th. Let’s Review it.

Synopsis:

Prashanthi (Eesha Rebba) dreams of sharing all the love in her life only with her husband. An affair she has with a lecturer ends in a breakup. Later, she gets married to a businessman named Omkar Naidu (Tharun Bhascker). However, due to a lack of understanding between them, their life turns into a series of daily arguments and conflicts. In the course of these events, Prashanthi also suffers a miscarriage. She files a complaint in court against Omkar over his harassment, but refuses to grant him a divorce. What happens next in their lives forms the rest of the film’s story.

Performances:

One of the biggest strengths of Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi lies in its powerful performances. The casting feels absolutely apt, and every actor does justice to their role. Tharun Bhascker, who is usually seen in light-hearted and quirky roles, delivers what can easily be called the best performance of his career as Omkar Naidu. Playing such a flawed and negative character requires conviction, and Tharun pulls it off effortlessly. What’s impressive is that despite the character’s nature, he never becomes unlikable. Instead, he ends up being a major source of entertainment, seamlessly balancing comedy, intensity, and vulnerability especially in the scenes where he is visibly intimidated by Eesha’s character.

Eesha Rebba, too, gets a meaty role after quite some time and fits naturally into the role of a homemaker. She brings sincerity and strength to her character, and her on-screen chemistry with Tharun feels organic and engaging. The supporting cast, with Brahmaji in a prominent role, adds solid backing to the narrative. The presence of seasoned actors enhances the film’s humor and emotional depth, contributing significantly to the overall impact.

Analysis:

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is the official Telugu remake of the Malayalam hit Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, a film that already enjoys strong popularity through its dubbed version on OTT platforms. While many cinephiles are familiar with the original, the makers felt that audiences from interior regions may not have fully accessed the film, prompting the decision to remake it. Putting that debate aside, director A. R. Sajeev deserves appreciation for making a fairly faithful adaptation that suits a Telugu backdrop.

The film does well in laying its foundation. The setting, casting, atmosphere, and core theme are neatly established, and the performances are a definite plus. Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba deliver convincing performances, and the narrative benefits from their screen presence. The first half, in particular, is engaging, with clear character introductions, a well-defined conflict, and dark comedy that effectively arises from serious situations.

However, despite the solid setup, the film falters in building emotional depth. The biggest drawback is the lack of a strong emotional connect. The psychological and emotional suffering of the wife, after she comes to terms with her husband’s true nature, needed to be portrayed with much more intensity. Instead, the film’s consistently light and humorous tone works against it. As a result, the audience never truly empathizes with Eesha Rebba’s character or feels the weight of her trauma when she is abandoned.

The second half further loses momentum, and the climax turns out to be the weakest part of the film. The resolution feels hurried and is diluted by a routine and overly playful courtroom episode featuring Brahmanandam. While the fun-driven narration works effectively in the first half, the latter portions demanded a more serious and emotionally grounded approach. Unfortunately, the director fails to strike that balance.

In the end, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi feels like a missed opportunity. With a stronger emotional arc and a more impactful portrayal of the protagonist’s inner turmoil, the remake could have been far more compelling. Instead, it comes across as undercooked and forced, making it a largely forgettable watch despite its promising premise.

Technical Department:

Music director Jaya Krish delivers a pleasant and understated score that blends seamlessly with the narrative and never feels intrusive. His background music supports the mood of the film without overpowering the scenes. On the technical front, the production values stand out, offering a polished visual experience throughout. The film looks rich and well-mounted.

A special mention must be made of the production design, which plays a key role in enhancing the storytelling. The house interiors, the rooted small-town atmosphere, and the scenic Godavari backdrop are captured with elegance, adding authenticity and visual charm to the film. The dialogues are crisp, straightforward, and effective, serving the narrative without unnecessary dramatization.

That said, the editing proves to be a weak link in the latter half. From the pre-climax onwards, the narrative feels rushed, with scenes moving too quickly and lacking proper breathing space. Despite these shortcomings, debutant director A. R. Sajeev manages to put together a fairly competent adaptation of the original film, showing promise in his execution even though the film falters in parts.

Verdict:

Altogether, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi is an passable family drama that is largely convincing due to the lead pair performances. On the flip side,lack of emotional depth in the characters and writing part especially in the second half, disappoints to the core. All we suggest is keep a check on your expectations before watching this family drama that is set against the backdrop of Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh.