Dasavatharam:

About the Movie:

This movie is touted as the biggest budget movie in the recent times and is being simultaneously released in Telugu,Tamil and on 27th in Hindi.Music is by Himmesh Reshammiya and our Devi scored background.Asin and Mallika played female counterparts.There were protests regarding this movie claiming that the movie insulted the religious beliefs of hindus

This has to be big - These were my expectations before watching the movie and surely the movie lived up to its expectations.

This movie is quite a brain teaser as it makes us ponder about its content even after leaving the theater.

Unlike many movies which fail to live up to the premise ( Bujjigadu - made in chennai for latest - Where was the Chennai factor in the movie?).Dasavatharam which was promoted with its main USP as Kamal Hassan playing 10 roles justified its title with Kamal puting grease paint in 10 different styles.

Story:

The movie begins in 12th century when there is a conflict between devotees of Shiva and Vaishnavas.Chola King wants everyone to accept Shiva as their God and faces a rebellion from Nambi,a Vaishnavite who even dares to die but cannot utter the word - Om Nama Shiva.He is tied with along with the statue and is thrown into the ocean.

The movie is narrated by Govind Raju,an American Scientist who works for developing Bio based Warfare.

He questions the existence of god in his narrative and the importance of events which have taken place in the past because Every Action - (read it as Butterfly Effect ) has a profound effect on mankind and sets the movie in a laboratory which then goes from America to Japan, India.

Govind Raju discovers that Bio-weapons are being used for destruction and flees to India under extreme circunstances.He is chased by Ex-CIA Agent and his translator -Mallika Sherawat.He parcels the "Wires" which can destroy the world to a lady called Krishnaveni.In the mean time he is chased by Police and he takes the Wire and escapes along with Krishna Veni's grand daughter - Asin.The Wire is an extremely sensitive device and has to be constantly placed in a Cold Place.It can have a devastating effect on Human Race and what happens when Wire explodes forms the climax.

Analysis:

Kamal Hassan -

Technical :

Kamal Hassan is an atheist and he has put it aside to write a story which has a internal theme - God Exists.

Kamal is undoubtedly one of the best screenplay writers of our country let it be Pothuraju(Serious Cinema) or his comic touch in his script.He has written a perfect screenplay which is interwoven with Chaos Theory perfectly with a message - God Exists.

No one could have asked for a perfect screenplay,the way events are interlinked to each other.

There is nothing to mention about the story but the way Screenplay writer domianted this movie is worth mentioning because he convinces the audience with his script "Why certain events occur?".His explanation for occurence of Tsunami in the climax is superb.

Acting:

His performance as the 12th century Vaishnavi is the best in the movie.He performed with great ease and it was such a larger than life character with scenes bearing a resemblence to crucification.His body was in tune with the character.

In the other roles, the role of Ex-CIA Agent was awesome.He played the perfect baddie aka villain in No Country for Old Men style.

His role as George Bush was also good.(There were enough jokes in the film on Bush like Bush asking what NaCl is about - the funniest part is that he was shown the premiere of the movie).

I am not giving the details of other characters as it would spoil ur interest in discovering Dasavatars.

Others:

Himesh Reshamiya did not properly utilise his golden opportunity.His songs were strictly average except the first song which suited the tempo.

DeviSri did not sizzle with his background.

Full Credits for DoP.

Editing could have been better and the film could have trimmed better.

Direction was adequate and one feels Shankar is India's best when it comes to directing grandeur movies.

Negative Points:

The film is less on Entertainment Quotient.The movie could have used Kamal's comic touch but it failed in doing so.The movie appeals uninteresting for people who come for entertainment.There was little scope in comedy in the cinema in the name of Balaraj(actually forgot), a RAW officer.His tamilian accent did not evoke enough laughter in this 3 hrs plus cinema.

Songs are a big minus to the movie.

Asin's character is a big minus and we get irritated with her character.

Kamal's Govind Raju character is also boring and his action is least impressive among his 10 characters.

If Mani Ratnam was responsible for the failure of Iddaru with his direction which made the audience confuse over the famous MGR-Karunanidhi story,Kamal Hassan would be responsible if this movie fails as there was no scope for entertainment in his script.

Worth Mentioning:

Still can't believe an atheiest like Kamal could handle such a project.

Initial 12th century scenes,Napolean as Chola King and Asin as Kamal;s wife were extrordinary.

The scene which shows ButterFly and describes that movement of ButterFly has an impact on us actually shows 3 roles of Kamal Hassan in it.(Watch it carefully otherwise you would find only 1 Kamal ).

The scene in which kamal as Japanese and American fight, American says Do u remember Hiroshima to which the Japanese quickly replies Do u remember Pearl Harbour.

This movie stars Karunanidhi and JayaLalitha.

I think this is the first movie which shows RAW.

Spoiler:

Each character has its own version about why it existed in the story like Krishnaveni waits for her son to return who is actually dead becomes mad waiting for him.
Vincent who is regarded as a person from low caste is constantly put under circumstances to accept bribe and let others to loot sand from country but never loses his values.He is the Real Loka Nayakudu ( he actually says once) in the movie and saves the children of villain and dies in Tsunami.Seeing his dead body Krishnaveni assumes he is her son Dasavataram who is dead.Thus Vincent prooves to be the character which Kamal wanted to focus as he is the Real Dasavataram and Loka Nayakudu.This reminded me of the Barber scene in Akali Rajyam and Kamal's Democratic Nature(Till recently I thought he was a communist but recently read he believes a lot in Democracy).

In a Scene American and Govind jump from a poster and actually it is a poster of Avtaar Singh.

Avtaar Singh's character is a perfect exapmle of Hope and being the same in testing times.His involvement in the story is explained with his cure of cancer.
Just because he was involved in the scenario he got shot and his tumour was removed.

P.S:

One guy was asking whether Kamal actually played 10 roles and he was curious on how religious sentiments were hurt in the movie and even went to the extent saying Mallika did some nonsense with Hindu Goddesses.This is the curiosity of public regarding controversies and how rumours pass wildfire.

good movie.
Flecher role was great and then the scientist and bush.

makeups could have been better..
overall a treat to watch

MOVIE SUCKS A GREAT.

GOOD WORK BY MAKEUP MEN, PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON TECHNICAL SIDE AND GRAPHICS.

NOTHING BIG IN THE MOVIE

First 20 min and last 20min is good. In the middle the movie is boring and medicore comedy.

Technically it is a good movie to watch but in the middle it is very boresome with the flood of dialogues. One should not miss the beginning and end of the movie, which is awesome and picturised excellently by using the latest technology.