What is an easy way to spend money, waste time and feel repentant for dragging in a friend to be part of the action? The newest avatar that qualifies for this karma is the Kamal Hassan starrer Dasavatharam.
Given the actor’s talent, it is very tempting to think of it as a contemporary interpretation- perhaps even an outside-of-the-box view of what is the mythological predecessor to Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species. This is an actor who has done it all.
Given the actor’s talent, it is very tempting to think of it as a contemporary interpretation- perhaps even an outside-of-the-box view of what is the mythological predecessor to Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species. This is an actor who has done it all.
In the past, he has given some sterling performances as a dwarf (Apoorva Saghodarargal) a disillusioned dancer (Salangai Oli), a don (Nayakan), a reluctant patriarchal flagbearer(Thevar Magan), a corrupt politician (Indhiran Chandran), an elderly lady (Av-vai Shanmughi/ Chachi 420) and quadraplets with completely different personalities (Michael Madana Kama Rajan) and ofcourse Saagar and Ek Duje ke Liye.
That’s why, the hype and the expectations. And the fact that Kamal will be out-doing the 9-role starrers of Sanjeev Kumar, Sivaji Ganesan and Dilip Prabhavalkar.
But, the feeling after watch this immensely trashy flick is…"Magar yeh ho na sakaa, aur ab yeh aalam hai ki tu nahi tera gham teri justajuu bhi nahi…" (with apologies to Kabhi Kabhie)
There are good and evident characterizations derived from the mythical Dasavatharam.
The Martial arts teacher who seeks revenge for his murdered sister- is a twist on the origins of Parashurama- the sixth avatar.
The environmentalist who fights the sand mafia, and gets killed while saving the kids of the evil guys from the Tsunami- is Krishna- the Eighth Avatar. The arrow that immobilized and killed Krishna, in this case, is a metal rod which pierces the hero’s foot as he tries to free himself from a submerged car after rescuing kids trapped in it.
The Vaishnava priest who kickstarts the movie is a mixture of the first 3 Avatars with the sea as a strong setting. His role is the best defined, yet doesn’t add any sort of link to narrative till the very end, when the idol to which he is tied and dumped into the sea, washes up on land as a Tsunami flotsam. His story could have been a narrative/ voiceover and the film would have still made as much non-sense. But it would have been shorter.
The best lines in the movie are also for Kamal Hassan- in the role of a patriotic Intelligence officer with a regionalist streak. This role is believable. And a relief.
The last lines of the movie between Kamal and Asin argue the occurence of the Tsunami as a “Divine intervention" adjustment for the potential global catastrophe that could have been unleashed by the mercenary with a bilogical weapon. This is a very poignant sequence debating Spiritual Faith versus Rational Belief, a war of ideologies between an atheist and a religious believer. But by then, no one’s listening in the audience.
Frankly, Kamal Hassan has an “I me myself” hangover that has completely killed a potential new-age re-telling of an old old story. Had he not been egomaniacal, and allowed other actors to don some of the “Avatar” roles, the film would have perhaps been better and perhaps engrossing. Why the hell did he have to play George W Bush, a 90 year old woman, a 7 ft tall giant, a scientist on the run, an ex-CIA turned mercenary and a Bhangra-pop Idol whose throat cancer is cured by a bullet that hits his neck???? I thought that happened in Mithunda’s movies…OR is it an acknowledgement that Mithunda is an AVATAR?
That’s why, the hype and the expectations. And the fact that Kamal will be out-doing the 9-role starrers of Sanjeev Kumar, Sivaji Ganesan and Dilip Prabhavalkar.
But, the feeling after watch this immensely trashy flick is…"Magar yeh ho na sakaa, aur ab yeh aalam hai ki tu nahi tera gham teri justajuu bhi nahi…" (with apologies to Kabhi Kabhie)
There are good and evident characterizations derived from the mythical Dasavatharam.
The Martial arts teacher who seeks revenge for his murdered sister- is a twist on the origins of Parashurama- the sixth avatar.
The environmentalist who fights the sand mafia, and gets killed while saving the kids of the evil guys from the Tsunami- is Krishna- the Eighth Avatar. The arrow that immobilized and killed Krishna, in this case, is a metal rod which pierces the hero’s foot as he tries to free himself from a submerged car after rescuing kids trapped in it.
The Vaishnava priest who kickstarts the movie is a mixture of the first 3 Avatars with the sea as a strong setting. His role is the best defined, yet doesn’t add any sort of link to narrative till the very end, when the idol to which he is tied and dumped into the sea, washes up on land as a Tsunami flotsam. His story could have been a narrative/ voiceover and the film would have still made as much non-sense. But it would have been shorter.
The best lines in the movie are also for Kamal Hassan- in the role of a patriotic Intelligence officer with a regionalist streak. This role is believable. And a relief.
The last lines of the movie between Kamal and Asin argue the occurence of the Tsunami as a “Divine intervention" adjustment for the potential global catastrophe that could have been unleashed by the mercenary with a bilogical weapon. This is a very poignant sequence debating Spiritual Faith versus Rational Belief, a war of ideologies between an atheist and a religious believer. But by then, no one’s listening in the audience.
Frankly, Kamal Hassan has an “I me myself” hangover that has completely killed a potential new-age re-telling of an old old story. Had he not been egomaniacal, and allowed other actors to don some of the “Avatar” roles, the film would have perhaps been better and perhaps engrossing. Why the hell did he have to play George W Bush, a 90 year old woman, a 7 ft tall giant, a scientist on the run, an ex-CIA turned mercenary and a Bhangra-pop Idol whose throat cancer is cured by a bullet that hits his neck???? I thought that happened in Mithunda’s movies…OR is it an acknowledgement that Mithunda is an AVATAR?
At the end of the day, trying to do 10 roles just to have a one-up on superb actors like M/s Sanjeev Kumar, Sivaji Ganesan and Dilip Prabhavalkar seems like the only reason for this movie's existence.
Verdict…Rajnikant Rocks!! Even with a flop like Baba and music director Himesh Reshamiya sounds very un-Himesh which is good!
The opinions about Kamal, apparently have been too loud. I was wondering whether the whole dissatisfaction was/is about Kamal or the Script.
ReplyDeleteKamal is Kamal and he is self describable person.
Rajni is Rajni and he is self emanating.
Both have their ways to satisfy their ego to capture mass appeal.
Personally, I feel these are the only Indian Actors who create movie for their type of audiences.
Few are like Mohanlal who try to live the script until you tear the stub just because it is not required.
Besides, every Actor(Wannabes, Amateur, Professional or Stars like these) are ego-maniacal. One will not choose this profession if they don't like attention and stars have an edge over exploiting this opportunity.
My opinion about Rajni is only to defy Newton's Laws of Motion & Kamal knows only exaggerate the script by his performance, which is never loud but shadowed by him all over the screens. Both have awesome comic timing which Goundamani, Janakraj, Vadivel or Vivek have yet to learn.
As far as this movie is concerned, its again one of those like Saket Ram portrayal. Kamal never tells you stories, he tells and forces you to see him.
Hardly today we have movies made which tell stories or make you learn lessons or facets of life.
Some one who as the potential but is lost in commercials is Rahul Bose.
I think I would look at the posters and wait for Taran Adarsh or Ganesh Rajendran to spill out their experience & then may be dare to be a masochist for such movies.
I guess thats the better way to stop having 10 HEAD ACHES... ;-)