One must congratulate the brave soul producer Ashwin Varde for doing a sequel to Umesh Shukla’s 2013 film Oh My God a mildly amusing debate on atheism versus religiosity . Since then the country has lost its sense of humour about religion.
The film had kicked up an uproar during a time when Hindutva was not a major issue.Today when religious sentiments are touching sky-high, a film on the subject of, ‘Does God Exist?’ seems fairly suicidal.
A member of film’s core team confirmed the sequel saying, “It is not a controversial subject like the first part. It’s a sweet innocuous look at God and his relationship with human beings.”
Akshay Kumar returns to playing Lord Krishna while Paresh Rawal is replaced by Pankaj Tripathi as the disbeliever.”
The biggest loss that this sequel would have to come to terms with is the dropping out of Umesh Shukla from the project. Sources the producer were eager to have him on board for the sequel, But Shukla didn’t want to do more of the same.
“The subject is too tricky and dangerous. Umesh wanted nothing to do with it,” a source close to the director said.
Amit Rai who directed the well-intended Road To Sangam in 2009 has been roped in to do the sequel.And we can only wish him all the best on this road to controversy.