dangermousie | Omkara: Othello Retold

One of my most anticipated movies of the year is Omkara, an Indian (it's really not Bollywood at all) take on Othello. It has an excellent director (Vishal Bharadwaj who did Maqbool, a retelling of Macbeth set in Mumbai underworld) and a better cast, and promises to be grim and good, as it places the story among a 'gang' of political mafia in Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Devgan (who does look a lot more 'Indian' then the rest of the cast and can play both chilling psychopaths and vulnerable souls equally well) plays Othello, Kareena Kapoor (who is pale and elegant and can play both strong and fragile) plays Desdemona, Saif Ali Khan plays Iago (a far cry from his adorable, sophisticated young men, but not surprising after his scary scary turn in Ek Hasina Thi), Vivek Oberoi plays Cassius, and Konkona Sen plays Emilia.

I just love the projects Saif has been picking lately.

Poster for the film:

"Othello" and "Desdemona." Looks so beautiful. I do wonder if Ajay will ever play a character who is allowed to be happy without gobs of pain beforehand, or at all?