Vishwaroopam Review

Vishwaroopam - One of the best tamil action movies

The wish of any creator would be to have a wider audience (Inspite of what my blog title says). The creator would be satisfied when those audience understand his work. But a creator's true triumph lies when his work creates a multitude of interpretations with his audience, sometimes a few which he/she never envisioned personally. Now kamalhasan has achieved that ultimate success as a creator and that very success is the biggest stumbling block for the economic success of his work. Coming back to the actual work, I leave it to the audience to decide if it deserves the opposition its getting.  The movie as such is a stylish action entertainer that is taut with a few really touching moments and a few logical loopholes. But what takes it to a higher level than most of the movies releasing in India is the very obvious touch of the genius Kamal Hasan.

Coming back to the story (Will keep it to the bare minimum), its about a classical dance teacher Vishwanathan alias wiz and his adulterous nuclear oncologist wife Dr . Nirupama.  Its a marriage of convenience for the two, and is on the rocks because of Deepak, Nirupama's Boss.  Viz has his own little league of friends in Ashmita (Andreya), his Kathak student, his uncle (Sekar Kapur) and a British guy named Dawkins. There is Omar (brilliant Rahul Bose) along with Salim, who are the chief antagonists of the movie who want to blow up the entire of New York. Simply put, it is the Cat and Mouse game between Viz and Omar and how one outplays the other. More than the cat and mouse game it is the characterization of the two main characters that keeps the viewers glued to the movie. 

Coming to the performances, Rahul Bose as the chief antagonist is simply brilliant. He is not a typical  villain one finds in any international movie. He is as much humane as any of us. His crooked stance, his interaction with his family, his non-vociferous yet impactful speeches and commands, he really made the role his own. Another brilliant antagonist in a kamal movie following Devar Magan, Kuruthi punal and the most recent virumaandi. Look out for the scene where he cries like a baby after his family's death, but in no time goes out to stop a fight brewing between two of his subordinates. Also the scene where he warns the guy against teaching his son English. Non-Gory yet brilliant.  Kamal, the actor is on the top of his game. As a kathak dancer he blows over all of us. His eyes, mannerisms and dialogue delivery are top notch. But in the second half he looks a bit tired and loses a bit of spark like Kamal the director. Another character that shines is that of Omar's brother Salim. 

Director Kamal overpowers almost everyone in the movie in the first half that is filled with subtle moments.  Watch  out for the scene where kamal plays two youngsters on a swing. I dont think there has been a better representation of the importance of education in Indian cinema. Lack of melodrama is another high point of the first half. Technically the movie is the best to come out of indian cinema. There are lots of blanks in the story telling that leaves it to the viewers' imagination. Cinematography is simply brilliant. Special mention should go to the action choreography. Please watch out for the action sequences, which is possibly one of the best in indian cinema.  The action scenes can be named the anti-mimick of "Tamil Padam". I would watch the first action scene a zillion times and still be blown over by the artistry. Shankar-Eshaan-Loy's music is adequate. 

What brings down the quality of the movie is the second half. Since the movie banked more on the characters and not on the twists in the story line, the second half fizzles out a bit. And there are a few logical loopholes that mares the proceedings. Another drawback is the improper characterization of the smaller roles. None of the smaller characters stand out. Nazar has been wasted in an insignificant role.  Dr . Nirupama's characterization looks caricatured, but not as irritable as asin of dasavatharam. You hardly notice the presence of Andreya. 

So does it deserve to get banned in TN? Absolutely not. Does it show muslims in a poor light? Only those that live in a fantasy world. "Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters" is what he tries to say. If people are uncomfortable with that, then I am not sure, if I belong to a secular country. Its a must watch for every Tamil Cinema fan.

P.S I watched it in Netherlands!!