Plot

Ayaan Kapoor, a selfish real estate tycoon in Mumbai, is facing crushing debt and marital issues when he gets into a car crash and wakes up to find himself in Heaven. To prove himself deserving of a second chance at life, he must face the angelic moderator CG in a game of ‘good vs bad’. The premise of Thank God offers an interesting take on the afterlife as a game show, but the simplistic story and predictable events leave little to the imagination.

Acting

Sidharth Malhotra leads the cast as Ayaan, but his performance falls short in delivering the depth and emotion needed to make the judgement and transformation more gripping. Ajay Devgn plays CG well, but his role is too simplistic to showcase his acting chops. Rakul Preet Singh as Ayaan’s supportive wife is decent, and Seema Pahwa and Kanwaljeet Singh make cameo appearances as Ayaan’s parents.

Cinematography

The CGI effects used in Thank God appear gimmicky in some parts, and could have been improved with more attention to detail. However, the modern avatars given to apsaras and YD make the viewing experience more enjoyable and relatable. The use of flashbacks and ‘lifelines’ also helps to break the monotony of the mostly dialogue-driven premise.

Direction

Director Indra Kumar’s simplistic take on comedy, which worked well in the 90s with hits such as Raja and Ishq, falls short in Thank God. The moral binary constructed in the film lacks insight and imagination, and the use of broad strokes for comic effect fail to land most of the time. However, Kumar’s direction does deliver an entertaining message about moving on from tribulations, the importance of family, and being humane.

Overall

Thank God may not be groundbreaking cinema, but it does make for an easy watch and offers a clean entertainer with a message or two about karma. While it falls short in providing substantial theatrical experience, it may find favour with audiences looking for a mindless yet enjoyable two-hour escape.

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