The 71st revu - . Review on Omkara

RELATIONSHIPS - THOSE I LIKED...

Saif Langda and Rajju ..Those who scheme together, stay together. Saif inflames Rajjus dreams of Dolly with his regular reminders. Two shallow characters bonding in their shallowness. Saif is not man enough to say what he feels or grab what he wants. Rajju is that sort of dubious character who will kiss your feet or stab your back, as the opportunity dictates. So is Saif. He'll drown this miserable rat for an insulting word, or save his life for some ulterior purpose. I love how the director didn't overdo the scene where the laughing Langda sees Rajju still alive after the near-drowning. This sort of relationship is more interesting - its real. To me, the highlight of the film. Proof of progress beyond screaming in-your-face spelled-out-to-the-dumbest villainy.

Saif Langda and Konkana...Heaven hath no rage, like love to hatred turned... The sex scene was unusual but very apt -coz its one of the few moments when Saif's on top in this film, and not just literally. It adds to his two-faced portrayal. The twosome give off the feel of long-married couples who know all the other's tricks. Again, not enough screen time for this couple to see who wears the pants in this relationship. Konkana's disillusionment with her partner's ways is hinted at in conversations with Dolly, but she seems resigned to it. Which is why the ending betrays Saif as well as the audience.... For once, the schemer is caught totally by surprise by the sudden fury.

Dolly and Omkara....They say Don Juan was simply a man who let women love him ....Kareena throws in necessary smiling and simpering, and wide-eyed adoration, and Omkara is reluctantly felled, although he doesn't seem to wonder what his charms in particular are for the lady. The two live in casual intimacy, while not yet officially married. It all seems a little one-sided. For a change, we have eager Dolly wooing Omkara with halwa, and guitar play. Devgan responds by letting her woo, smiling very little, and having sex. And just when she thinks he's finally getting a little soft on her, he kills her. Way to go, Bollywood!! I like it - This is as far as you can get from a conventional romance without leaving earth.

Dolly and Konkana... Friendship marks a life more deeply than love....Saif is jealous of Omkara's fortune, Konkana envies Dolly, in a nostalgic sort of way, without grudging her happiness. Alternating between warnings and encouragement, she advices, almost mothers Dolly. The non-competitveness of these women is quite a contrast. These scenes and dialogues are intended to bring out their feelings towards their men. Their relationship proves much deeper - as the ending seems to say.

THOSE THAT WENT OFF_TARGET

Saif Langda and Omkara.....Known enemy better than hidden friend. The tension between them does not get more screen time aside of a few grimaces from Saif, and you dont really get wind of this until that rain-soaked confrontation, with Omkara's gun in Langda's mouth- a good effect. Subtle, yes, but maybe too subtle. Saif's acid feelings are not personal, just professional rivalry. What is he doing destroying Omkara's personal life? It doesnt reason well.

Saif Langda and Keshu Viveik.... The lamb and the wolf may sleep together, but only one gets up. Keshu is out of his depth. He has no idea of Langda's plans for him as the sacrificial lamb, to fall out of favour with Omkara. Viveik is out of step in this earthy milieu, dressing and looking like he'd be more at home in Bandra's coffee shops, and looking almost bored in some scenes. Langda's manipulativeness is fairly obvious, but apparently not to Keshu, which makes him a little dumb. Now why did Omkara pick this guy as Bahubali?

Keshu Viveik and Dolly ...The cow jumped over the moon, and the dish ran away with the spoon... Langda has his job made easy. Keshu and Dolly become easy friends, and get together regularly to do their duty of fanning the flames of jealousy. Whose to say if there was really more to it? But while Kareena is at least trying to do her stuff in some scenes, she gets no help from Viveik who is again out of depth being 'just friends, nothing more'. He looks sincerely awkward at so little being asked of him, considering his lover-boy image. That whole "bo-tt-om of my heart" scene touches absurdity. I mean, she wants to learn English songs to sing for Omkara? What's next - A salsa dancing lesson?

(Nothing about Naseeruddin Shah and Bips here. Rightly, since both were too fleeting a character to have any relationships. )