Dasavatharam - Magnum Opus of Kamal

"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf." - Walter Lippmann

Disclaimer: This is not a movie for the ordinary. You got to be able to think a bit to understand and appreciate the movie. If you cannot or do not want to think for a movie, please don't waste your time. Neither Kamal nor his serious fans care about you.

It was a unique experience to try first day first show - am sure not possible if I were in Chennai or anywhere in Tamil Nadu. But worth every cent of $15 as I should say honestly that I enjoyed 95% of the movies. All roles of Kamal are carefully chosen and well imagined. The plot is ingenious for Tamil movies and the screenplay is done well.

The story is around a chip that is highly dangerous bio-weapon causing huge damage that can be nullified with heavy amounts of NaCl. Its a cut though chase and as the hero (Govind, a scientist that worked on it and knows the details) travels with the chip, so do we do. We see several characters in the movie in this chase and 9 more of Kamal too each having a significant role. Of course the story starts with 12th century where Ramanuja Nambi is thrown into the sea with the idol of Vishnu. This looked disconnected with the mainstream movie until the very end where the idol appears again from Tsunami. Neither the movie nor the director/actor explains why but left to the audience to think over. The very thought that "If we could imagine Tsunami this way also" needs tremendous appreciation. It takes lot of courage to take this kind of movie - to imagine, to execute and to succeed. Hats off to Kamal and Ravikumar and Ravichandran.

The movie is definitely world class for several reasons: Camera - be it bringing 12th century or the streets of Washington DC or Chidhambaram or Las Vegas Casino - it brings you as close to reality to your eyes. So are the graphics and art direction. Not sure if any other movie brought Tsunami to our eyes so far. The best thing is that they are part of the movie and not noticeable unlike Shankar's movies where they at times look as added explicitly just to make it grand. These are big advantages and ideally should be the case for any movie. Sameway the songs, even though ordinary and nothing catchy or ringing in our ears, blend with the movie and kind of ok. Another good thing is that you can watch the movie with family - nothing vulgar or obscene at all.

Kamal's acting - lot of opportunities as he 10 roles in the movie although some of the facial expressions are limited with the heavy make-up. But its just not facial expression alone that matters in acting rather the whole body language, mannerism and voice and Kamal has not compromised on others. Every role tried to do it differently not only in the make-up but also on voice modulation and style. I can't see any role superior or inferior but few remains with us forever - Ex-CIA Fletcher, RAW officer Balram, Singer Avatar Singh, Dalit fighter Vincent Bhoovaragan, Japanese martial artist, the old lady, tall Muslim guy and Nambi. Even though it looks 90% Kamal movie, the other actors also used their opportunity very well. Be it Asin or Kabilan or Vayaburi or MS Baskar or Santhana Bharathy - they used their small roles to exhibit very well.

Finally the movie is a real magnum opus for Kamal - for the 10 roles he played and for the intelligent plot. But I am sure he will give more in his upcoming ventures - Marma Yogi and his dream project Marudha Nayagam. Now that his 10 min of 12th century in this movie brought lot of attention, he will be more motivated to do them soon.

Lessons learnt - Kamal, please read: While it is understandable that it takes a long time to make this movie owing to the make-up time and reshooting to cover all roles, movies should not take this long to produce as the expectations are more from audience and will lose interest if prolonged for long time. Don't spend more than 6 months for any movie and disappoint the expectations to the audience. Also leave it to the expert for the expertise: like for example music. Even though background music was good and kind of compensated for the very ordinary songs, could have elevated the movie higher if had gone with A.R.Rehman or Vidhyasagar. Its not worth taking a risk with a new music director for a movie of this kind. Perhaps Kamal would have thought we do not need songs for such a packed movie but remember the thought A.R.Rehman said to the movie Kannathil Muthamittal: Mani, we do not need songs for this movie but Rehman experimented a new kind of music with this movie that not only helped the movie but also fetched national award for him. Such is the power of music in Indian movies.