Old Review - Omkara

As I am gradually taking out the old blog. I am just copying some good posts of mine here :) So the Omkara review goes here.

Okay let me attempt blogging once more. And let me start by my favourite pastime – movies. I was raring to watch Omkara ever since I heard of it being an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. I saw it on Saturday so I had time to look over the reviews :) If you dont know the story of Othello then well you have spoiler ahead. Otherwise everyone knows the story so no spoiler.

Personally I was bowled over by the movie. I was like WOW. Though I am 100% sure and which was confirmed later than Varun didnt understand the language 99% (which was completely UP dialect). Also he told that the story he has seen in so many movies. I mean definitely it says its the adaptation so hence the story is same.

And Vishal Bharadwaj has not diverted from the story at all. I just wanna ask, tell me dude just how do you make such an impressive adaptation. When I read any fiction (or play) say Shakespeare, I always fail to relate the setting to my comtemporary world, my life, my city. I just picture that period setting itself. Just how Vishal manages it, I have no idea. And that too Screenplay, Direction, Dialogues, Music and singing too. My god he does everything.

The story in short. Ajay Devgan plays Omkara (Othello from the original) who is the leader (Bahubali) of a gang. I presume the gang being like those political associations that policians and warlords have :) He works for Naseeruddin Shah (Bhai sahab), Duke of Venice in the original, who is an MP. I dont remember the name of the original character here. In Omkara’s gang is Ishwar Tyagi (Iago in original), played by Saif Ali Khan, who is known as Langda as he is limp. Well we all know this character is the villain whose villainous deeds are just for the heck of it. Pure jealousy. Also we have Kesu (Cassio in original), played by Viveik Oberoi, a young college student who is also in this gang.

Omkara loves Dolly (Desdemona), played by Kareena Kapoor, and on the day of her marriage to another person, Raju (a hilarious and powerful performace by debutante Deepak Dobriyal), Rodrigo in the original, Dolly elopes with Omi. Her father is of course angry as Omi is half Brahmin. But Omkara is brave and powerful and with the blessings of Bhaisaab, everything is set. While leaving Dolly’s father tells a sentence to Omkara which stays imprint in his mind, “A woman who can cheat her father can be no one’s own”.

Konkona Sen Sharma plays Indu (Emilia in original), Langda’s wife and she readily befriends Dolly when Omi brings her home. Also in a small role is Bipasha Basu who plays Billo Chamanbahar :) (Bianca in original) who has her own orchestra and gives small stage shows and Kesu is in love with her.

When Omkara is promoted in Bhaisaab’s camp he decides to make Kesu Bahubali instead of Langda. This is to gather all the support of the youth of the constituency which will ensure election of Bhaisaab. But Langda doesnt understand this and he is completely pissed off and he hatches a conspiracy and forces Omkara to believe that Kesu and Dolly are having an affair. Indu steals a jewelry, gifted to Dolly by Omkara, just for her own pleasure but Langda skillfully transfers this to Kesu who gifts it to Billo. When Omkara sees the jewellery with Billo he thinks that Dolly really has an affair with Kesu. Also many other circumstances (all created by Langda of course) makes him suspicious of Dolly and Kesu. We all know how it ends. On the day of their marriage, Omi is confirmed that Dolly is unfaithful and he kills her on their marital bed. When Indu barges in the room and reveals that the jewellery was stolen by her and not given to Kesu by Dolly, Omi realises his mistake but the damage is done :( Omi locks himself and commits suicide. Also Indu in her wrath kills her husband for the menace he has created and afterwards I think commits suicide by jumping in the well.

Yeah yeah it is a tragedy I knew it because Othello was. But the way the story was adapted and depicted on screen was marvelous. Each and every scene I loved. In terms of performances, I felt Saif was the best. His look and getup was completely different and so was his acting. Ajay Devgan also gives a power packed performance. Konkona Sen Sharma, I just love her in all her movies and despite fewer scenes in this movie she outshines everyone here. Kareena Kapoor, who I really hate, did a great job. I dont like Kareena but I loved her in many movies especially Dev, Chameli and now Omkara. Truly speaking Viveik Oberoi didnt have much to do. Many of his scenes were just to stay a spectator and he knew that and did ok. Bipasha’s role was credited as Special Appearance and it was. And she played the role of the dancer perfectly and was really nice in her two item numbers. And the supporting cast were also perfect.

I loved many scenes. The one where Kesu teaches Dolly the English song was really sweet. Also where Indu tells Omkara not to bring the baraat for marriage if he has even little doubt about Dolly’s faithfulness. Many dialogues were really powerful.

Music was excellent too. I love ALL the songs. Especially I love Naina, sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The 2 item numbers Beedi and Namak are also nice and spicy. Laakad is also hummable. The only let down I felt was the Title Song which I didnt like :( I loved the way the songs were with the flow of the movie and hence barring Beedi which almost had the full song no song was shown complete and they went with the story.

Okay I know I told good things about each aspect of the movie and I think you got the point. I need not go further. Omkara is excellent. Whether it does well in the box office I dont care as I loveddd it :)

Go for it if you havent already !!!

Comment

1. The language of the movie was very difficult to understand.

   — Tara · Oct 9, 05:07 PM · #

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