BEYOND REELS

A MODERN EPIC: THE DASAVATHARAM REVIEW

It’s not everyday that you become speechless, and it’s not everyday you become speechless after a movie; no I am not trying to exaggerate. I confess I have been a Kamal Haasan fan from ever since I got into watching celluloid; it would be irritating for me to go into my history but then this movie certainly requires more introspection than what my co-so called critics have given, people have given the movie a rather hasty review I do not know why. Dasavatharam is a movie to be watched closely and enjoy it as it proceeds like poetry which should be given more after thought.

Coming back my personal history, I do not know why I was hooked to Kamal Haasan, of all the actors the Indian Panorama could offer I chose Kamal Haasan which is still a mystery to me, the man certainly has something and ever since I have been an avid watcher of his productions, my first interaction to Kamal cinema being the funny Singaravelan, quickly other acclaimed films like Indian, Nayagan, Thevar Magan, Anbe Sivam and lots more really funny movies barring the above mention and not mentioned serious capers.

Three movies that I could claim anywhere in this world would be Moondram Pirai (probably the best tamil movie ever made) and then the classic MichaelMadanaKamarajan(again possibly the greatest comedy ever made) and finally my very personal recommendation Pushpak/Pesum Padam( better than anything anybody has to offer, his intelligence continues to amaze me)

Coming to Dasavatharam, I will try to give the best shot at my review skills. I ask myself and my friends “Is this gimmick by kamal to play 10 roles?”

Kamal playing 10 roles is possibly the highlight of the movie and by which it is being marketed; but for an American/European or anybody for that matter watching the movie would definitely take time in relating to the ten characters and some of which are hardly recognizable which is a credit you have to give it to the man himself for the hard work and research and detail put into each and every character in the film (imagine 10 roles,10 body languages,10 different voices and 10 different costumes more importantly 10 different point of view and ideas, only Kamal could do pull it off)

I really don’t want to rush into the review, taking time to recollect the importance of every role. The movie begins spectacularly in the 12^th century where as Kamal says “people did not have different religions to fight about and hence fought among themselves” tells the story of Rangaraja Nambi(a contemporary of Sri Ramanujan, wrongly mistaken as Sri Ramanujan himself) who does not budge into the King’s wishes of praising the lord of the Saivities and continues his unparallel devotion to Lord Mahavishnu as a result to which he is drowned along with his lord, the story does not end there but takes a Herculean leap to the 21^st century United States where bio-scientist Govind (Kamal again role 2) who strives to convince people around him about the ill-effects of the bio-weapon which has just been developed.

Fate and time playing an important role in the movie take him to his homeland and on his tails is Christian Fletcher (no3) and his newly-wedded wife Mallika Sherawat (oh I forgot her character name-and it is not kamal doing her role) the ex-CIA agents, then comes one of the greatest comic acts of tamil filmdom Balram Naidu(no4) you really have to watch him to believe him(personally feel it’s a tribute to Peter Sellers)as a bumbling RAW agent,meet Avtar Singh(no5) the cancer-battling Pop star and Jayapradha as his wife(the pair being back again after a brilliant Salangai Oli).

When the bio-weapon makes it’s way to Chidambaram we come to the traditional Iyenger Brahmin household where we meet the heroine Andal (Asin-no2,laudable performance in both characters; no present heroine would have cared to do other than wear low-hip chiffon sarees and dance in some senseless duet in Switzerland or Germany) and Krishnaveni Paati (no6 at a 98 year old paati-this is indeed a revelation), the further adventures of Govind and Andal chances upon the tallest man Kalifulla Kahn(no7 do I have to mention it again) and his family including all time favorite Nagesh,the socially conscious Vincent Boovaragan(no8) and the Japanese martial art-trainer Shingen Narahasi and finally the cheeky George Bush himself taking a dig at present day political scenarios.

I don’t have to mention it, the performances have defined themselves and this is no old highway tale-believe me every scene counts back but a good screenplay. The dialogue again by Kamal Haasan has greatly improved compared to his previous box office dud Mumbai Express,kudos every character; everyone(kamal/non-kamal) have something special except perhaps the martial arts trainer but that too is well portrayed. Christian Fletcher is the one of best villains in recent times. Yes, the story movies in some supersonic speed and three hours moves like nothing. The graphics employed are far more superior to any other Indian movie and I hope others to follow suit.

Coming to the final part, is this really the greatest Kamal Haasan has to offer?

As the actor himself would agree this is not his best but come in my list of All-time enjoyable films but is it Pushpak?-i would say nah!

An open question Kamal, if you’re reading this (I hope you do, but seeing more truly you wouldn’t)

“You talking to me?” is this a Taxi-Driver tribute, yes or no I loved the film and honored to write the review.

As I stand up to praise your effort in giving a good movie for me to relish upon, thank you, you didn’t let me down.