Monday, June 16, 2008

Dasavatharam – A long and loud assault on one’s sensibilities!

In the recent past, I don’t regret seeing any movie as badly as Dasavatharam. Skeptical about the movie after its review in TOI, but nevertheless curious to see it for all its hype, we couldn’t have felt more disappointment. For, Dasavatharam in one word is “crap” and in one phrase is “an assault on one’s sensibilities”.

There is nothing whatsoever in the story to hold together all the chasing and running. The dialogues are “loud” and ridiculous and evoke no emotion at all from the majority of the audience. The 10 roles that Kamal Hassan has chosen to play are desperate attempts to make up the number and nothing else.

While the conflict as portrayed between two sects in the 12th century may be best left to the historians to comment on the authenticity, there is no reason at all to bring it up now let alone link it to the happenings later in the movie. The methodical and careless manner in which a section of Hindus have been singled out and ridiculed in the most obnoxious and derogatory manner is becoming a sad trend in Tamil cinema that hardly appears to cease. If one expected better sense from a supposedly intelligent filmmaker and actor in Kamal, he squarely lets us down.

Asin as the loud character ever trying to possess her object of devotion exasperates the viewer and comes across as irritating and extremely loud. Some roles as I said earlier are just to add up to 10 and it shows quite obviously. A ‘bits and patches’ movie that has been knit together in a vain attempt to serve some humor and versatility on the part of the lead actor ends up with a section of the audience leaving the theatres after the movie in shocked disbelief and wondering if it is the same actor who once played unforgettable roles in movies like Nayagan and Kuruthipunal!

Music never impresses; Mallika Sherawat has just been added to provide the oomph! In all, it was 100 bucks that went down the drain!

6 comments:

Chittz said...

...Another movie to steer clear off. Or I may just go to throw popcorn around ;)

Anyway, I just noticed this was your new blog, and so dropped by to say hello...

- chittz

Shiva said...

Thank you, chitra! Found yours too :) Waiting to read it leisurely...

Krishna said...

hi, the fun part is the mindbogling "theories" that are doing the rounds on the net. clearly, the fans' way of getting back at the critics. the theoretical premise of this film is quite simple -- about how seemingly innocuous things, people and events could lead to situations of greater magnitude -- but finding similarities between the 10 characters and the 10 avtars (some of them just crack you up) is a bit too much :)

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Varun S said...

I think as far as history goes, It was almost accurate, with some masala added. I am sure you have not read about Ramanuja, who was about to be killed by the cholan. by that time, kurathazhwan (ramanuja's devotee) posed as ramanuja and his eyes were blinded by the (same) king. (In the movie, the chola says to nambi, "kurathazhwanukku nadantha adhe gadhi dhaan unakkum").

That said, I m not trying to add another sympathy to the vaishnavites. I think if there was ever a Vaishnavite king as powerful as the chola, he would have done the same against saivites. Absolute Power always corrupts.

I think the movie was good and for the effort of Kamal, I would try to see it atleast another time.