Omkara, Vishal Bharadwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, is one of those rare best movies which are stunningly true in details and spirit to the original despite the substantial changes necessitated for contextual picturisation in Uttar Pradesh. This is one of the finest Hindi movies made in recent times. The characters are crude and their language is coarse, in a way that compliments the feel of the film perfectly. Missing are the escapist dream sequences and melodramatic dialogues that Hindi movies are generally associated with. It is instead rooted in realism with even the song-and-dance sequences being what are existent in a real-world Indian lifestyle.
Omkara (Omi) (Ajay Devgan) is a gang-leader in the state of UP. Bhaisaab’s (Naseeruddin Shah’s) election win promotes him, leaving his "Youth Leader" seat empty. In a logical political move, Omi selects Kesu Firangi (Vivek Oberoi) as his successor ignoring his loyal right-hand-man Langda Tyagi (Saif). Jealous, Langda slowly starts poisoning Omkara’s mind against Kesu leading him down on a dark path. The beauty of Omkara lies not in its portrayal of Othello, but the fact that it uses Othello as a platform to weave an intricate tale of love, obsession, treachery and tragedy. Yes, Omkara is an adaptation of Othello, but that is not the strength of the movie. The real strength of the movie lies in the performances of all the characters, and the gripping narrative.
The acting throughout the film is splendid. Each of these actors has portrayed his character flawlessly as if no other actor could have done them better. Ajay Devgan as Omkara ascends to new heights of emoting, using his eyes to convey so much more than he could ever say. The obsessive lover, the ruthless gang leader, a man eaten up by his inferiority complex and the doubts borne thereof, Ajay lives every moment of his character. Kareena Kapoor has also done some quality work, proving that she’s a lot more than the glam girl she often portrays. And of course, Saif Ali Khan, in particular, is extraordinary as the wily, manipulative Langda Tyagi. He portrayed the character perfectly. Saif represented wickedness without being wicked. And this portrayal has made him stand out among other performances.
Omkara should well be appreciated for its technical brilliance. With bulk of shooting in Maharashtra, giving it the authentic appearance of a North Indian village is really commendable. The cinematography was sheer pleasure and many shots were so aesthetic that it felt like watching mesmeric work of art in motion. Also, the jerks in camera in some of the shots depicted realism- as if the people watching it are standing there. Apart from that, the film also has a combination of great music and wonderful cinematography, especially in a dark atmosphere.