OMKARA Starring : Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Viveik Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen, Bipasha Basu, Naseeruddin Shah. Director : Vishal Bhardwaj Producer : Kumar Mangat Distributor : Eros UK Release 20 May 2006

'Omkara' is Vishal Bharadwaj's interpretation of the Bard's classic, Othello. Set against the milieu of political warfare in the interiors of Uttar Pradesh, the film follows one man's descent into sexual jealousy because of his passionate love for his woman and the final destruction of that love at the altar of blind obsession.

Like the legendary Hollywood filmmaker, Orson Welles, Vishal Bharadwaj too is fascinated with Shakespearean drama - one of Vishal's finest works remains his interpretation of Shakespeare's Macbeth 'Maqbool'. Likewise, Omkara in spirit, stays true to the central theme of Othello and ends up humanizing Shakespeare's characters with the necessary folklore and ethnic charm that is required for a contemporary Indian story setting.

Omkara or Omi is a gifted chieftain who heads a gang of outlaws, which include the crafty Langda Tyagi and the dynamic Kesu amongst his chief cohorts. The story begins when Omi appoints Kesu and not Langda as his chief lieutenant. Langda's pride is slighted and raging with envy he hatches a plot to falsely implicate Omi's beautiful wife Dolly, in a love affair with Omi's "favourite lieutenant", Kesu.

With the unwitting aid of Indu, Langda's wife, and the willing help of Raju, a fellow grouch, Langda's plan takes shape and results in horrific tragedy. Using petty insinuations and lies, Langda keeps poisoning Omi's mind till one day it snaps and Omi goes about tearing up his own safe and secure world.

But like all love stories which never really end. Out of the ashes of this one too comes a twist. Omkara's dark Isssak or love for Dolly, Dolly's unquestioning Isssak for Omi, Langda's warped loyalty and jealousy for Omi, the vibrant Kesu's unaswerving devotion to Omi - all lead up to a dark tragedy by the end of which Omi finally realizes the backlash of his actions but is it too late?