#VISHWAROOPAM
Let me make it very clear at the outset
and this may be treated as the disclaimer. I have always been a huge
admirer of #Kamal Hasan as an actor and pace him at a high pedestal
with respect as a complete actor. I was somewhat miffed with him for
his mis calculated attempt to gain publicity for his latest film
Vishwaroopam by trying to exploit the democratic right to free thinking and free speech under the garb of an under dog and trying to whip emotional issues over what is basically a business project for him. I also
aprreciate the fact that a movie project has the commercial element
to address and the maker has to make necessary adjustments. It is
very easy to review and criticise a movie but the efforts put in to
make it are beyond question. As Kamal Hasan has not intended to hurt
anybody in particular, I also do not intend to hurt his feelings or
that that of his countless fans. Diehard Kamal fans may stop reading
further and better watch the movie themselves.
Saw the movie in its
Hindi version -#Vishwaroop last night at Max Cinema, Nerul. Despite
the movie having its plus points, I was disappointed on the
whole with it. The big weakpoints of the movie are its background
music and the editing. Inspite of a very good camera work and a good
screenplay,the narrative gets boring because some scenes are too long
drawn. The visual effects are of high quality but does not leave a
mark because the execution drags on for more than it is necessary.
The music is a
total disappointment. It is very dramatic instead of being subtle.The
eternal problem of the Indian filmmakers taking their audience
as morons and trying to explain everything through
dialogue,flashbacks and lyrics of the songs hamper the sophistication
of the movie. When will they understand?
Coming to the
movie plot,it is designed as a #terrorist thriller where the
nefarious designs of a terrorist group to explode a dirty bomb in NY
city is foiled by an Indian operative who lives a dual life unknown
to his wife,who is much younger to him. Shades of Arnie's True Lies
and Mission Impossible series. The technical portion of visual
effects,action,location,design etc.match the international standards.
But the storyline is very short and simple without too many twists or
elements of suspense built so the length of the movie is a heavy
burden to carry.
The harsh and
stark #Afghan landscape are very well portrayed, almost in a
documentary style and the restrain showed in depicting the jihadis is
commendable. The action scenes are very good and the acting also
matches it. There is a lot of dialogues in pashtu which makes the
characters very realistic. The exploration of the jihadi psyche is
however not fully done as the main story of the protagonist takes
over in flashbacks. The dialogues are short and not sermonising. I
believe that the full humour in the dialogues between the hero and
his wife in the face of stress was somewhat lost in translation and
maybe the Tamil version would be more interesting.
Another good
point with the movie is that there is no item number, titillating sex
scenes, mindless violence or unnecessary distractions which do not
pertain to the main storyline. One should commend the makers to
desist from the temptation of following the ageold formulas to lure
audience. This is actually a very brave thing to do with such a high
budget movie and all praise are due to Kamal for this.
Coming to Kamal
Hasan himself, he has again shown what a great actor he is . He is
one of the rare actors who his the master of all the Nava Rasas and
integrates his body, voice, eyes and mind into his acting . Here also
he has given a powerpacked performance. Particularly the scene where
the real identity is revealed to his wife and the transformation from
an effeminate dancer to a killing undercover agent through an action
sequence is shown, is electric and stands out. But again, I was sad
to note that the ravages of time has not spared him . From the slim
and fit young man who ignited our imaginations in the late seventies
and eighties , he is now a older person with jowls and paunch, both
showing up. Though the character is that of a older person, it is
clear that maybe he should take a hard look before doing action
again.
After seeing the
movie one will realise that why I said and still maintain that the
recent controversy was a publicity gimmick gone awry. There is
nothing in the movie which should offend anybody. You cannot expect
to show Afghan jihadis and terrorists as Christians , Jews, Sikhs or
Hindus. They have to be Muslims, isn't it ? And religious fanatics
have to be depicted by their prayers, isn't it ? There is nothing
wrong in that. Those who opposed the screening of this movie are a
bunch of baboons . That's my personal take on the controversy.
Maybe I placed
too much expectations on Kamal Hasan or the movie as I eagerly
awaited it. The movie is well made, no doubt but it does not stay
with you. There are very few scenes where applause from the audience
is forthcoming inspite of the good work. The aura of a blockbuster is
missing from the film. It does not match the emotional content of
#Kabul Express when dealing with Afghans or Talibans. It does not
even match the thrills and twists of terrorist chasing like Jaal-The
Trap or Hero- The lovestory of a spy, both Sunny Deol starrers. It
also does not evoke the feeling of grandeur which Shivaji or Robot
did.
Then again maybe
I expected too much from an aging actor who has now decided to become
a better businessman. The movie is watchable for a good time pass .
But you will not remember it like Chahchi 420, Thevar Magan, Nayakan,
Sholvaa Shavan or even Ek duje ke liye. That's a great pity.
