REVIEW OF Thank God: A Heartfelt and Uplifting Tale

Thank God is the story of Ayaan Kapoor (Sidharth Malhotra), a successful real estate agent who suffers a major loss after the demonetization of 2016 and is struggling to sell his bungalow. Ayaan is temperamental and often takes out his stress on his wife Ruhi (Rakul Preet Singh) and daughter Pihu (Kiara Khanna). One day, while driving recklessly, Ayaan is involved in a severe car accident. When he wakes up, he finds himself in the company of Yamdoot (Mahesh Balraj) and CG (Ajay Devgn), who tell him that he can only survive if he successfully plays the “Game of Life.” Ayaan must complete various tasks, and if he fails, the audience watching the game will throw black balls into a cylinder, and if he succeeds, they will fill a second cylinder with white balls. If the cylinder with black balls overflows, Ayaan will go to hell, but if the cylinder with white balls overflows, he will survive. The rest of the film follows Ayaan as he navigates the game and learns important life lessons.

Thank God is based on the Danish film What Goes Around and features a novel and entertaining story by Aakash Kaushik and Madhur Sharma. The screenplay is straightforward and easy to follow, although the film could have used more consistent humor. Director Indra Kumar keeps the film simple and avoids preachiness while delivering an uplifting message. The film is suitable for families and begins on a strong note, introducing Ayaan and his bungalow woes. The bank robbery sequences stand out, with the first one being particularly hilarious and the second one being touching. The second half focuses more on emotional moments, particularly Ayaan’s conversations with his mother and sister. The twist at the end is unexpected and well done, and the film ends on a positive note.

Performances

Sidharth Malhotra gives a solid and understated performance as Ayaan, and Ajay Devgn is entertaining in his supporting role. Rakul Preet Singh has limited screen time but makes the most of it, and Kiara Khanna is cute. Mahesh Balraj overacts, but Seema Pahwa, Urmila Kanetkar, and Kanlwajit Singh leave strong impressions in their cameos. Kiku Sharda and Abhay Deol have brief appearances, and Sumeet Vyas has a small role as a doctor.

Music and Technical Elements

The music of Thank God is pleasant, with “Banno” and “Lori” standing out. The background score by Sandeep Shirodkar is suitable for the film. Ravi Varman’s cinematography is good, and the production design by Rajat Poddar is fine. The costumes by Manish Malhotra and Sheetal Sharma are fitting, and the make-up and prosthetics by Vikram Gaikwad are convincing. The action choreography by Javed Eijaz is decent, and the VFX by Reliance MediaWorks is satisfactory. The editing by Sanjay Sankla is crisp.

Conclusion

Thank God is a heartfelt and uplifting tale about the importance of understanding and controlling one’s emotions. While the film could have used more humor, the performances and technical elements are strong, and the message is delivered effectively.