Om Dar-B-Dar (1988) Review—Can’t Ignore This Absurdist Film

It’s hard to come across Indian postmodernist and absurdist films because it seems they’re restricted to a small circle (for whatever reason). Om Dar-B-Dar is one such film that got its start with hushed whispers and leaked copies, but now, it has become a force of its own.

Director Kamal Swaroop’s eclectic vision is a story like no other, one that compares the humane to the divine while also critiquing social realities like the caste system, a for-profit capitalistic view, and the commodification of…well, everything.

Om Dar-B-Dar is a film that makes a statement — but it is so much more.

Om Dar-B-Dar (1988) — Review at a Glance

Story: 4/5
Acting: 3.5/5
Direction: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Cinematography: 4/5

Must-Watch: Yes (even if it’s for the sheer absurdity of the film)

Pros: A truly thought-provoking story told unconventionally

Cons: Ironically, its unconventionality has been a turn-off for some; plus you will need to pay attention throughout (though personally, it’s not really a con)

Om Dar-B-Dar (1988) Review — A Deep Dive

Bold, wacky, one-of-a-kind — these are just some of the words that aptly describe Om Dar-B-Dar.

At its core, it’s the story of an aimless boy who stumbles across different opportunities, finding some level of success throughout because his talent is a profitable one. So as to not give out spoilers, that’s all I will say for now.

It’s evident that Om Dar-B-Dar is a labour of love and that it takes a certain level of genius (or foolishness, depending upon your outlook) to make a film like this. While the story might seem straightforward on paper, the actual experience of watching it is anything but normal.

(Trust me: try explaining the events of the film to someone who hasn’t seen it and watch their reactions. You’re going to spend the whole evening just laughing)

Om Dar-B-Dar has a non-linear narrative and at many points in the film, you’ll feel like you can’t decipher the meaning of the scene. Then, a few minutes later, you’ll feel like you’ve found multiple interpretations of the same scene.

And every time you rewatch Om Dar-B-Dar, you’ll question if you even understood anything in the first place.

But that is what makes it beautiful. It makes you wonder what is going on while also making you feel like a superstar when you finally click the dots — and then you’ll spiral back into a place where you don’t even know what you think/feel anymore.

It will make you feel a wave of emotions simply because of its disconnected plot and scenes, and whatever cerebral exercise you get from this film, it’s going to be worth it (if you enjoy such films).

On the other hand, there are multiple reviews online where people argue that Om Dar-B-Dar isn’t a real film per se because it doesn’t do things the conventional way. But that’s the point of this absurdist film — it isn’t meant to be just another watch. (So consider yourself warned: if you’re looking for something easy breezy, then you might want to put off watching Om Dar-B-Dar till later).

In what is, perhaps, even more ironic, although Om Dar-B-Dar’s soundtrack is meant to poke fun at generic Bollywood tracks through nonsensical gibberish, its music is banging. Ardent cinema lovers will know that the song Meri Jaan A… Meri Jaan B served as the inspiration for Emotional Atyachar in Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D.

But my favourite song from this film is Bablu Babylon Se, and it’s been stuck in my head the whole weekend.

Yeah, the music is choppy and random and doesn’t make sense — in what is an apparent extension of the film’s overall narrative style — but it’s still catchy and original and in a league of its own.

So, at the end of the day, no matter how you like your cinema (be it simple or chaotic), one thing is guaranteed: if you watch Om Dar-B-Dar, you’re going to have strong opinions about the film.

And isn’t that what “good” cinema is supposed to do?