Omkara...

Short Review: Go watch it.
Potential Spoilers ahead...

Much of our ranting against most Hindi movies we have seen in recent times has been about the lack of a decent script. But Omkara definitely doesn't lack in that department. If anybody could tell a good story, the bard could. That given, how do you tell an English story, especially in Hindi.

Vishal Bharadwaj shows you how. We are envious of all directors who can write scripts (Nyattu Shyamalan belongs right up there)as well as VB can. But we will possibly kill to be as gifted as a scriptwriter who can compose music and an excellent score at that (Ray da is the minority of minorities. The man up there doesn't make them like him anymore)!Rituparno might get there, although.

Omkara is based on the timeless Shakespearean tragedy "Othello" - which links the characters Iago, Desdemona & Othello. Omkara tells the story of Langda Tyagi, Dolly, & Omkara (almost respectively essaying the same roles as in the original). The transcription to an Indian setting is fairly successful. The characters of Kesu, Langda's wife (Man, Konkona can't stop rocking, can she?!) Bibbo and Bhai Saab (Naseeruddin Shah who cracks this neat joke at the wedding. Don't miss it)add colour to the rather serious tale.

Langda is Omkara's right hand man. Omkara is the "bahubali" (strongman) of Bhaisaab. When Bhaisaab enters formal politics, Omkara enters a slightly more legitimate role leaving behind a place to be filled for the new bahubali, which is where the story begins...

You go see the movie to watch the plot unfold. I will tell you what I like and what to watch out for.

The dialogue is very risque & coarse in parts - definitely not for kids, unless you want them running around the house abusing your lineage. But then neither is Shakespeare for kids! The music is fresh and original. Gulzar weaves a tale with some fantastic Hindi verse. The music is so good that you could listen to the songs and still understand what the movie would be about. Now that is what makes a great soundtrack. Bipasha shows why she continues to be Bollywood's No.1 item girl (although we are yet to be convinced that she is anything more).

Konkona Sen Sharma and Saif stand out with roles of different efforts. Konkona is the handy advice-dishing housewife one moment and woman with firm ideas of how to manage a man's 'hunger' the next. Saif is perhaps best in the negative role (perhaps next to his comic roles) (Anyone who's seen Ek Hasina Thi will testify to that). He is very convicing as the scheming strongman. Ajay Devgan does his usual, angst-ridden, strong role. Viveik (why do they change their spelling?!) Oberoi has this ordinary role and he manages that well. He has a long way to go in the acting department.

The movie is perhaps a trifle long, but is never boring. There is enough buzz about the movie to keep you in your seats on both sides of the interval. Definite watch