Omkara

2006 · India · 155 min

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Screenplay: Vishal Bhardwaj, Robin Bhatt, Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: Kumar Mangat Pathak
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cinematography: Tassaduq Hussain
Production company: Shemaroo Entertainment
Based on: Othello

Cast

What it is about

Omkara, a ruthless enforcer for the powerful local politician Tiwari Bhaisaab in northern India, sees his private life grow complicated after his relationship with Dolly Mishra, the daughter of a respected lawyer. Inside the gang, his lieutenant Langda, who feels sidelined in the hierarchy, begins weaving a strategy to undermine Omkara's trust in his inner circle. The film portrays a struggle for power, jealousy and loyalty in a world where politics and violence are closely intertwined.

How it was made

Written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj with Robin Bhatt and Abhishek Chaubey, the film adapts Shakespeare's Othello and moves it to Uttar Pradesh, with dialogue largely in Khariboli, a prestige dialect of Hindi. It is the second part of Bhardwaj's Shakespeare trilogy, which began with Maqbool and was completed with Haider. Ajay Devgn leads an ensemble cast that includes Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Bipasha Basu and Naseeruddin Shah, playing characters inspired by those in the original play. Bhardwaj also composed the music, with lyrics by Gulzar, and the cinematography was handled by Tassaduq Hussain. The film was produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak for Shemaroo Entertainment.

Reception and legacy

Released on 28 July 2006, the film won wide critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its direction, story, screenplay, dialogue, soundtrack and the performances of its ensemble cast. At the 54th National Film Awards it took three prizes, including Best Supporting Actress for Konkona Sen Sharma. At the 52nd Filmfare Awards it won nine of its nineteen nominations, among them Best Actress (Critics) for Kareena Kapoor and Best Villain for Saif Ali Khan. It was showcased in the Marché du Film section of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and also earned honours at the Cairo International Film Festival and the Kara Film Festival.