I guess by now everyone would have seen this film by now, given the amount of highlight the film received everywhere. However, i am going to write about this film without getting into all the controversies and politics about the film. Not that i don't want to. But it will need a bigger post with more clarity. I myself am not very clear about the various opinions about the film and the various implications of the controversies.
Coming to the film itself, as usual like most of the Kamal films, he potrays multiple characters, even if they are not physically different people on the screen, they still are multiple characters. Take for Anbe Sivam, he plays two distinct charachters in the film. One a very fast moving, quick talking, attractive painter/communist and another a not so attractive, limping, verbose philosopher. Similarly, in Vishwaroopam, there are three different characters and film inherits the mood and speed of those characters as they are present in the screen.
A story is always is as interesting as its characters. This film has three pivotal characters played by Kamal around whom the story develops. Two of the characters are very inspiring while the third one is not so much. So, overall it is 2/3 of an interesting film.
First lets see the not so interesting person in the story. That is the RAW agent Wizam who does detective work in US of A. This person is so uninspiring that you need a FBI officer to ask him on the screen "Jesus, Who are you man?" to try to make him look interesting . And then the otherwise very quite Indian PM had to call him in person and say a few words in praise of him. Apart from that he is there in the film like a glue to connect dots that is all. There is nothing much to talk about him atleast in this part. May be he will have a bigger role to play in the next part.
Second is Vishwanath, a very very interesting and fabulous dancer who brings a permanent grin on your face in his presence. It is a tragedy that Vishwanath has to be killed in the middle of the movie to create the RAW agent. The film moves in a very very brisk pace when Vishwanath is around. Not simply because it is very very well potrayed on the screen but because there is something mystery about him. We get a sense of wonder why would he marry the selfish woman on the first place(Ofcourse if you are unaware of the RAW agent part before going to the film). He also has a very very keen sense of humour. This is such a interesting character and it deserves a spin off.
Third and the most important is the Taliban-Wizam. Although, this is not a very performance oriented role like the dancer, this silent , observer kind of role takes us to the heart of Taliban fighters and let us witness their lives in raw flesh. This is my opinion is the most honest part of the movie. Because this is where it differs from a typical hollywood technically brilliant " Hurt Locker" kind of a movie. Because this film takes one step further and gives us a "spy cam" view of the lives of the Jihadis. It lives with them. It makes us feel bad for Omar when he cries after loosing his family.It makes us feel close to them when Omar and friends joke around.It makes us feel angry at them for being brutal and barbaric sometimes.
Why is this the most important aspect? Because it is easy to demonize the already demonized villian. It is very very easy to call Omar a bad guy and simply move the scenes ahead. The chase between the good guy and the bad guy would have made a racy spy thriller, which is what the film tries to become towards the end. And i have a strong suspicion that the second part is going to be that.But the key difference is , the movie sits and explores the lives of Taliban. It travels in the grey areas which the west always tries to paint black and white.But why is it important to explore their lives? Because hearing every ones voice is the foundation of modern Justice and humanity. No matter how obviously "bad" some one it his voice must be heard. We really wont understand anyone unless we hear them out. And unless we understand we cannot come up with better solutions for the problems we face in the world today.
This single aspect is definitely the most important part of the film. Hopefully this is explored more in the second part when there is an actual confrontation between Omar and Wizam. I am curiously waiting for it.
Coming to the film itself, as usual like most of the Kamal films, he potrays multiple characters, even if they are not physically different people on the screen, they still are multiple characters. Take for Anbe Sivam, he plays two distinct charachters in the film. One a very fast moving, quick talking, attractive painter/communist and another a not so attractive, limping, verbose philosopher. Similarly, in Vishwaroopam, there are three different characters and film inherits the mood and speed of those characters as they are present in the screen.
A story is always is as interesting as its characters. This film has three pivotal characters played by Kamal around whom the story develops. Two of the characters are very inspiring while the third one is not so much. So, overall it is 2/3 of an interesting film.
First lets see the not so interesting person in the story. That is the RAW agent Wizam who does detective work in US of A. This person is so uninspiring that you need a FBI officer to ask him on the screen "Jesus, Who are you man?" to try to make him look interesting . And then the otherwise very quite Indian PM had to call him in person and say a few words in praise of him. Apart from that he is there in the film like a glue to connect dots that is all. There is nothing much to talk about him atleast in this part. May be he will have a bigger role to play in the next part.
Second is Vishwanath, a very very interesting and fabulous dancer who brings a permanent grin on your face in his presence. It is a tragedy that Vishwanath has to be killed in the middle of the movie to create the RAW agent. The film moves in a very very brisk pace when Vishwanath is around. Not simply because it is very very well potrayed on the screen but because there is something mystery about him. We get a sense of wonder why would he marry the selfish woman on the first place(Ofcourse if you are unaware of the RAW agent part before going to the film). He also has a very very keen sense of humour. This is such a interesting character and it deserves a spin off.
Third and the most important is the Taliban-Wizam. Although, this is not a very performance oriented role like the dancer, this silent , observer kind of role takes us to the heart of Taliban fighters and let us witness their lives in raw flesh. This is my opinion is the most honest part of the movie. Because this is where it differs from a typical hollywood technically brilliant " Hurt Locker" kind of a movie. Because this film takes one step further and gives us a "spy cam" view of the lives of the Jihadis. It lives with them. It makes us feel bad for Omar when he cries after loosing his family.It makes us feel close to them when Omar and friends joke around.It makes us feel angry at them for being brutal and barbaric sometimes.
Why is this the most important aspect? Because it is easy to demonize the already demonized villian. It is very very easy to call Omar a bad guy and simply move the scenes ahead. The chase between the good guy and the bad guy would have made a racy spy thriller, which is what the film tries to become towards the end. And i have a strong suspicion that the second part is going to be that.But the key difference is , the movie sits and explores the lives of Taliban. It travels in the grey areas which the west always tries to paint black and white.But why is it important to explore their lives? Because hearing every ones voice is the foundation of modern Justice and humanity. No matter how obviously "bad" some one it his voice must be heard. We really wont understand anyone unless we hear them out. And unless we understand we cannot come up with better solutions for the problems we face in the world today.
This single aspect is definitely the most important part of the film. Hopefully this is explored more in the second part when there is an actual confrontation between Omar and Wizam. I am curiously waiting for it.
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