Hail Vishal

I normally catch up movies the week they are released ..but been extremely lazy past couple of weeks, and probably too lazy to go flat out to book tickets. Rather, I prefer to wait till the clamour for the movie has died down... and then i can book aaraam se.
Omkara was a much awaited movie for me, especially since I had seen Vishal's Makdee as well as Maqbool, and was pretty much in admiration for Vishal direction in getting out good performances from his actors as well as involving the audience spellbound with his narration and depiction of events.If Makdee and Maqbool were good movies, then Omkara goes even several rungs highers. I have not read Othello nor have i seen screen adaptations of the same...but I am pretty much sure that if Shakespeare was alive and kicking , and he knew a little bit of Hindi , then he might be definitely impressed with what Vishal has to offer to the world. For starters, the casting is superb ..with actors like Ajay Devgan, Saif, Naseruddin Shah,Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen and others...you can rest be assured about performances, with Vishal wielding the megaphone. Secondly, the story might be an adaptation of Shakespeare, and in essence revolves around the basic plot of jealousy and deceit. But , to depict it on the screen is a different skillset, and to involve the audience in the process requires a fine balancing act between doing it right and overdoing it. Magically, Vishal manages to do just that. The characters of most esp Langda Tyagi(Saif) and Omkara (Devgan) is well sketched out...but characters like that of Keshu(Oberoi) and Tiwari (Naseeruddin Shah) are not much focussed on.. but then the great Shah's role is not central to the basic premise of the plot. Ajay devgan is the usual brooding self, and is shown to be a man of great control and restraint, but
then his insecurities are exploited by Saif ali khan, who does justice to the great character provided to him.Konkona sen is the surprise package, and does good even with the comparitively teeny role given to her. Kareena kapoor is good, and Vivek oberoi just passes muster. Overall , everybody seem to be doing their bit to make the movie look realistic. Dialogues written by the great all rounder Vishal Bharadwaj, smack of a distinctive UP-ish rural
dialect, and though some of the dialogues are offensive and brutal, you cant but help but chuckle. Music by again Vishal is restricted to 2-3 songs , but they do pass the muster.
Building up the jealousy factor was key to the storyline, and the director does it well (though Saifs evil strategies seem to be all going suspiciously all too well fo you to be entirely convinced), and ends it up well.
All in all, a movie that i will watch again....but a movie to avoid if you hate violence and abusive talk.