Masand's Verdict: Omkara fascinates

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Rajdeep Sardesai

26/11: Terror comes precariously close

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Perhaps it is the fact that Vishal combines his skills as a composer and a writer-director that results in such original and imaginative ideas.

Of course at the heart of Omkara are its actors who add colour to Vishal's palette.

Ajay Devgan as Omi is suitably stylish and conveys volumes through his eyes. Konkona Sensharma proves she is unlike any other as she blends convincingly into the canvas, never once attempting to outshine the protagonists. Bipasha Basu is brought in to lend oomph and she succeeds in doing just that.

Vivek Oberoi, unfortunately the only one saddled with a loosely-written role, seems ill at ease doing little else but standing around while the others steal the limelight.

Vivek Oberoi is saddled with a loosely-written character and others steal the limelight

Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor is a revelation, making her ever moment on screen truly memorable. She gives Dolly depth and meaning as she alternates beautifully between playful and pained.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Saif Ali Khan who just becomes Langda Tyagi. Gone is the actor's boyish charm, gone are his stylish touches. Instead you get a foul-mouthed, spiteful cad who just controls the dynamics of the story.

This is easily Saif's most difficult role yet and he performs it remarkably.

In complete control of his devices, Vishal Bharadwaj rarely loses his voice as he sets out to re-interpret the Bard once again after Maqbool, his spectacular take on Macbeth.

He delivers a credible film in Omkara, a movie that's way above the ordinary, a movie that's earnest and well-intended.

So that's three out of five and a thumbs-up for Vishal Bharadwaj's Omkara, the kind of entertainment you're not likely to find too often in our local cinemas. This is one time Shakespeare won't turn in his grave.

Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)