Omkara - A Review

Shakespeare seems to be in demand in Bollywood.. As seems to be Vishal Bharwaj’s favourite. He, first adapted Maqbool from Macbeth and now Omkara from Othello.
Maqbool was a medium level success in monetary terms but was rated as a good film by the critics. I think it would be the same story with Omkara.

The Movie -

Bhardwaj makes his hero in his second Shakespearean outing a gang leader with political connections. Omkara (Ajay Devgan) names Kesu (Viveik Oberoi) his chief lieutenant. Seething with fury, the other pretender to the post, Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan), hatches a conspiracy to systematically destroy Omkara and everybody he loves. He has two allies: His wife, Indu (Konkona Sensharma), who helps him unwittingly and Raju, his crony.
In love with Dolly (Kareena Kapoor), Omkara falls into Tyagi's trap as he poisons his chief's mind with tales of her supposed love affair with Kesu. Tyagi engineers a tragedy that sucks everyone into its vortex and ends with Omkara realising, only too late, his tragic error of judgement. Indu also discovers how she had played into her husband's hands
Bhardwaj opens the film with Omkara's gang stopping a wedding procession (Dolly's father is marrying her off) and 'rescuing' her so that she can marry the chief. The action of the film tragically ends on the night of her wedding with Omkara.
Bhardwaj is ably aided by his star cast, all of whom seem comfortable in an interesting mix of Hindi and Bhojpuri. Devgan puts in a restrained performance, while the crude and crafty Tyagi is perhaps Saif Ali Khan's best portrayal ever. Oberoi looks like he is all set for a resounding comeback. Konkona and Kareena and lend credence to their roles.

Saw it on the weekend.. The things that catch your mind are –

1. The intensity of love between Ajay Devgan and Kareena is not portrayed will enough
I think the whole story of Othello revolved around the intensity of his love.. The movie lets the audience assume this part. – First Negative

2. The Language
There is an extensive use of filthy Hindi slang to give it a “realistic” feel.. I think it is over done

3. Speed
The movie is slow and quite a few scenes (and songs) could have been avoided,

4. Acting
I feel is above average.. Especially Saif Ali Khan, Konkana Sen and Vivek Oberoi.
Saif seems to be maturing well with age. Bipasha is a waste in the film.

5. To Summarise
Despite all the above, I kinda liked the film.. Well directed except for the point no.1 above and watchable.. (That’s quite a positive from me.. who usually cannot sit in a theater for more than 1 hour)