Movie Review : Omkara

MUST SEE : OMKARA

Cast : Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Vivek Oberoi

Direction : Vishal Bharadwaj

This is the space where feudal, caste ridden, male dominated cow belt political meets Shakespeare.

But the film is pure Bollywood.

It has Bipasha Basu doing "Item" numbers in remote Uttar Pradesh Police stations in front of lecherous rural cops, slimy politicians and the likes ....she describes her role herself as that of a "village entertainer" in an interview aired on NDTV. Now you may ask was that really required for an adaptation of Othello...

But then how good is a bollywood film without a couple of "item numbers" and atleast an "item girl"...they have to make money don't they.

Having said that, Village entertainers are very much a part of rich rural areas and small towns and they do look as glamorous as bollywood actresses...so the directer is too much off the mark in his realistic portrayal.

But the best performance over all was that of Saif Ali Khan. He plays "Langda Tyagi" to perfection. Although the film could have done without his muttering "Chu###" and "Behen@@@@" in every scene. The audience seemed to get a kick out of it though...there were peels of laughter when these pearls fell from his mouth. Does put him in the race for a second national award.

Ajay Devgan was rock sold as always in the lead role of the strong, silent and brooding Omkara. Understated, subtle...perfect.

Konkona Sen Sharma is flawless. She has no trace of a bong accent...wonderful over all.

I generally don't watch films starring Kareena Kapoor...but what is good about this film is the fact that she does not have much of a role here. The best bit with her came towards the end when she is killed by Omkara. Her portrayal of a dead woman is so realistic...but I don't know if she would get a national award though.