Omkara: the review

Omkara--Vishal Bharadwaj's re-enactment of the Shakespearean Othello, breaks away from the shackles of mediocre Bollywood at many levels.

Since I have not read Othello I cannot comment on how much Omkara sticks to the original play. Penned and directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, Omkara is set in the gangworlds of UP. Ajay Devgan (Omkara), Saif Ali Khan (Langda) and Vivek Oberoi (Kesu) form the three pivotal characters of this drama, all part of the UP gang world. Kareena Kapoor and Konkona Sensharma form the feminine parts of the story. The story about how Langda poisons the mind of Omkara about his would-be wife because of the promotion given to Kesu over him in the gang hierarchy, and how Omkara chews on the bitter poison fed to him and commits the unthinkable...

Firstly, a comment on the star cast. Konkona Sen sharma has a smaller role, but one that she performs with elan and sincerity. Kareena has probably looked the best she ever can (which isn't saying much). We're used to seeing Ajay Devgan in these roles, as the gangster with steely histrionics, and he performs the part well. Vivek Oberoi looks a shell of himself in Company.

My greatest praise is reserved for Saif Ali Khan. His overall get-up is quite creepy, and Saif complements it with some powerful acting. As the crude, cursing, handicapped right-hand man to Omkara, Langda is jealous and scheming.

The movie is a must-see for Vishal Bharadwaj's effort, irrespective of one's awareness of Shakespeare' s works. Among the writer and the director, the writer in Vishal Bharadwaj wins this time. The plot is pretty much watertight, and although the overall story is quite routine, it has been written extremely well. There is no guillability on Omkara's part when he is brainwashed by Langda, there are no lucky breaks that Langda gets in his evil plans, and there are no Bollywoodian jerks to an otherwise extremely realistic story and setting. He has succeeded in seamlessly applying Shakespeare to UP politics and gang atmosphere, and comes up with a gem of a script. His direction, which just demands that the good script be executed with maximum realism, just complements his writing. The movie has the stark realism of a Satya, and is almost Pulp Fictionesquely ruthless and unapologetic about how UP is portrayed. Almost no songs keeps the overall film quite tight, although the story does appear a bit slow at times.

Overall, I highly recommend a watch.