Review: Omkara
Posted by Prabal GoelÂ
In my last review I commented on the current tendency of Indian films to always borrow ideas from elsewhere. Well here we are again with Omkara, Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
In Bhardwaj’s adaptation, Othello the Moor is Omi Shukla, lead henchman to a politician Bhaisaab. The embittered and scheming Iago takes the shape of Langda Tyagi. Fair, gentle Desdemona shows up as Dolly. And the unfortunate Cassio appears as Kesu Firangi. The backdrop of Omkara is the rough Indian countryside of Uttar Pradesh, a region where politics and crime are virtually synonymous.
August 21st, 2006 at 7:16 pm
I have seen Omkara a few weeks ago in London. There were not many people to watch it. May be 20-30 people of teenage to adult age group.
On the whole I did enjoy the film and there was no part that is boring.
Everybody acted their characters very well including Kareena Kapoor. She did act very well her character.
I strongly recommend to watch this film with one’s spouse and enjoy. It is definitely better than the usdual Masala movies.
August 24th, 2006 at 11:53 am
I liked the film too - and like you (Pakira), there were not many people in the film when I went to watch it.
It was different, that’s what I liked.
August 28th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
This is an awesome movie. Ajay Devgan is perfect as the strong, sensitive man. The scene where he shows off his abs crushing sugarcane is really well-done. Can you take off your shirt more often, Ajay?
Kareena does her role well. Vivek is likeable as the misunderstood underling that Saif Ali Khan keeps putting in trouble. Konkana Sen is strong and believable. Bipasha’s dance numbers are hot. Saif Ali has an author-backed role and does well too. I think Ajay did a better job than him.
The music is WONDERFUL. Loved the title song’s energy as well as the 2 dance songs picturised on Bipasha.
Indianisation of the names from Othella has been done well. The dialogues were very suitable. Why are rape scenes accepted as okay viewing material for kids, but not love-making or prositution?