Dasavatharam - The Review

I have always been a Kamal fan but a silent one. My explicit approval is and will always be reserved for the one and only Superstar. I have however admired Kamal’s movies and like millions have been amazed by his brilliance in film after film. It is then with much anticipation that I watched Dasavatharam. Contrary to all the negative reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

First things first. If you walk into the theatre expecting a tight “story”, then you will surely be disappointed. There is no strong story as such. But this movie is not about the story and was never was. This is about showcasing the skills of a man who is so much in love with cinema that his enthusiasm drips from every frame of the movie.

Some Tid-Bits:

1. The plot, even though pretty thin, has been crafted very cleverly. I am amazed at the intelligence of Kamal. Hats off to him!
2. Balram Naidu Rocks!
3. Vincent Poovarahan’s portrayal seems so true that it is very difficult to believe that it actually was Kamal essaying the role.
4. The “moment” of the movie undoubtedly belongs to Krishnaveni Kamal who in one of the sequences blinks her/his eyes twice in a puzzled manner when somebody tells her something which she/he has absolutely not understood. That one sequence is worth the price of the ticket of the movie.
5. Asin is her cute self. Her voice as usual being the strong point. Though she does tend to get a little irritating towards the end with her repeated “Perumal Perumal” dialogue.
6. The first 15 minutes of the movie is just out of this world. The sequence where Nambi Kamal is at the mercy of Napoleon and uttering “Om Nama Shivaya” would save his life and with his family members insisting nay pleading that he say it and when the entire gathering is waiting to find out what he is going to say, he finally starts off with a lengthy “Om” to only be followed by “Namo Narayana” is just fantastic. I was riddled with goose bumps all over. The effect was that electric!
7. Bush Kamal and Fletcher Kamal were letdowns. Fletcher Kamal could have done with better dialogues and dialogue delivery.
8. It was unfortunate that Mukunda Mukunda song was not played out fully.
9. Dialogues were sharp and funny at most places. Though I get the feeling that Crazy Mohan would have done a much better job.
10. The audience was so into the movie that nobody even bothered clapping or whistling when the different “Kamals” started appearing.
11. Kalifullah Kamal’s introduction was good but he never seemed to do anything but just keep shuffling here and there.
12. Mallika Sherawat does what was expected of her.
13. Once again Kamal gets himself entangled in the language conundrum. There are some lengthy sequences where the “masses” may get completely lost.
14. The way love blooms in Asin is again a masterstroke. It is again the intelligence of Kamal that astounds me here.
15. The dialogues at the very end of the movie was sparkling with humor. Sample this:

Asin (holding Kamal’s hand and pleading): Please don’t tell that God does not exist.

Kamal: I never said that. I just said that it would be good if God actually existed.

Amazing!

All in all, a very entertaining movie from Kamal. And yes, take a bow Kamalhassan.