OMKARA

India, 2006, 155 minutes, Colour.
Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan.
Directed by Vishal Bharadwa.

Bollywood movies are still rare enough outside India and cinemas around the world catering for Indian audiences. They have more than a touch of the exotic for Western audiences.

Here is an interesting bridge-builder between cultures.

Omkara is an enforcer in an Indian state, helping an imprisoned leader be elected to government. He has his own militia and they are not afraid to take things into their own hands. Dolly, the daughter of a powerful businessman has eloped with Omkara, whom the businessman despises as being of lower caste. He warns Omkara that, since his daughter had deceived him, she could deceive Omkara. Omkara also passes over his lieutenant, Langda, to promote the younger Kesu. Langda conceals his disappointment but takes the opportunity to make the reformed Kesu drunk. Dolly begins to plead Kesu’s cause and Langda capitalises on this. Langda’s wife steals a jewelled heirloom that Omkara gave to Dolly. Langda steals it, gives it to Kesu who gives it to his love, Billo. The suspicious Omkara is consumed by jealousy and smothers Dolly.

Yes, it is the plot of Othello.

The film illustrates just how strong the plot of Othello is and how well it can transfer to another culture without the majesty of Shakespeare’s verse.

For those not familiar with Othello, Omkara will be an intriguing character study and a glimpse into Indian politics, corruption and violence. For those who know the play, looking at how the plot has been so closely adapted adds to the pleasure of the drama – with the names suggesting Shakespeare’s characters’ names.

While there is a certain old world atmosphere about this violent world, it is also a world of constant mobile phone contact – and Kesu (Cassio) teaches Dolly (Desdemona) a song during Omkara’s absence: ‘I just called to say I love you’! So mobile phones and Stevie Wonder give it a modern exotic touch.

Long, colourful and intriguing.