A movie that just blew my mind, with its cinematography, performances, screenplay and the brilliant direction. Vishal Bharadwaj deserves every award he has won for this movie.
The movie opens with Langda Tyyagi (Safi Ali Khan) breaking up a baraat and informing the groom that his bride to be, Dolly (Kareena Kapoor) has eloped with Omkara (Ajay Devgan), Tyyagi’s boss and head of the ‘gang’. It’s impossible to describe the genius-ness in these shots - rural Uttar Pradesh, with its pathos filled dusty landscape, the colourful wedding decorations and Raju (the loser Dolly is supposed to marry) falling off a moped when he tries desperately to get help.
The story, based on Othello, has stayed true to the original, much like Vishal's previous Bard-tribute, Maqbool. As the plot unfolds the first wisp of doubt settles in Omkar's head when Dolly's angry father mutters "Jo ladki apne baap ko tugh sakti hai, woh kisi aur ki kya hogi" (roughly translates as - the daughter who wasnt faithful to her own father, can never be faithful to anyone.)
All goes fine for a while. Dolly and Omkara pick a date for the wedding and in the meantime live together. Omkara and his gang of henchmen enjoy good fortunes after they help the local politician (Naseerundin Shah) get elected. Omkara then appoints Kesu (Vivek Oberio) as his successor or 'bahubali'.. a post that Tyyagi had been eyeing for himself. Upset, he then seeks to get his revenge by cleverly manipulating Raju and dropping deciteful insinuations to Ommi that Dolly is having an affair with Kesu. There are several artistically captured moments in the movie, like this one, where Langda Tyyagi admits that he thinks the two are having an affair. The train's headlight, the rain and Tyyagi lying wounded with Omkara standing above him almost makes you hear that last nail getting hammered into the coffin.
The plot is something we all know, but the screenplay grips you nevertheless. The usage of the Kamarbandh, an ornament that is tied around the waist, are just some of the brilliant adaptations Vishal has done. Right up to the end (and no matter how many times I see it) the build up to the climax, the tension apparent on Ajay's and Kareena's face during the wedding, is rivetting. The sense of doom palpable. The final scene with Kareena rocking on the jula over Ajay Devgan's dead body is a piece of genius. I have used the word again I see :)
The performance of each and every one in the cast is stellar. I of course love Ajay's performance (how can you not?). Kareena and Oberoi (who would have ever casted them as Biharis??) have done justice to their roles, convincing in their semi-urbanness. Even Bipasha Basu's character of Billo had meat! Konkana Sen is the only role that felt incomplete in some way. Like there was more to her character of Indu (Ommibhai's adopted sister) than shown. Perhaps her character evolved in scenes that were later edited? But the absolute mind blowing, oscar worthy even, performance belongs to Saif Ali Khan. When and where did he get to be so brilliant? When you think of his earlier movies, Dillagi remember? and see how far he has come with Dil Chahata Hai, Being Cyrus and Omkara, you really want to stand up and applaud this man.
Music is aptly set. I loved Sathi Re and was surprised to discover that Vishal had lent his voice to it. The lyrics of Jag Ja (Jag ja re gudiya, misri ki pudiya, meethe lage do naina) are so authentic that it sounds like some old North Indian lullabay. I found it hard to believe that Gulzar had actually penned them. Of course everyone knows Beedi Sarailay and Namak. But the rest of the music is equally powerful.
The movie won plenty of awards. It seems like anyone who was anything in the movie got an award from someone. And why not? When you see the movie you'll know why.
Rating: the full monty ***** and one more * !
The offical site
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