Eros and Big Screen’s OMKARA is adapted from Shakespeare’s “Othello” with a rural backdrop. Ajay Devgan plays the Bahubali of a political party. Saif Ali Khan and Viveik Oberoi are his top aids. Kareena Kapoor and Ajay Devgan like each other and living together and are soon to be married. Ajay is tipped as a candidate for Vidhan Sabha. He appoints Viveik as the bahubali bypassing Saif, as Viveik is educated and Saif is just a bumpkin, though he is a fighter and very sharp in his job. Ajay has tremendous faith in Saif’s loyalty. But Saif takes Viveik’s promotion as an insult and conspires for revenge. Kareena and Viveik were co-eds in the same college and they continue to be quite friendly. Saif gradually poisons Ajay’s mind that Kareena and Viveik are having an affair behind his back. While Viveik is actually going around with Bipasha Basu. Saif uses Konkona Sen Sharma, his girlfriend and Bipasha in his conspiracy so skillfully that they don’t even know that they are being exploited for a crime. Saif succeeds in brain washing Ajay and what Ajay does forms the latter part of the story.

Production values are good. Village ambience is well maintained and cinematographer Tassaduq Hussain does a competent job. Vishal Bhardwaj’s folk based music suits the film very well and it sounds quite pleasant as it is different from the common run. The title song and `Bidi jalayi le’ are best of the lot. Jai Singh’s action is good.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play is a mixed bag. The screenplay maintains the basic emotion and drama of the original. But making most of the characters vulgar and foul-mouthed is not a good idea when you are adapting a classic. The overdose of abusive language will keep away family audiences. The act of Konkona stealing the kamarbandh does not fit her friendly character as shown in the film. Kareena also does not tell Konkona about her problem of the missing ornament when they are very good friends. Of course these are permissible cinematic liberties. The film also is lengthy and requires trimming.

Performances are first rate. Ajay Devgan is good as usual. Saif Ali Khan is superb, with his excellent portrayal of a negative character. Saif shows his tremendous growth as a versatile actor. He is the soul of the film. Kareena Kapoor shows her talent as an emotional actress. Viveik Oberoi is okay. Konkona Sensharma impresses as she is so natural as a village belle. Bipasha Basu keeps up her image of a glamorous actress though in a different form of a village dancer. Naseeruddin Shah leaves his mark of a veteran in a very brief role.