With Kamal, its different. The first day phenomenon doesn't work too well with him. He is more of an artist and there is more to observe from his movies than to sit back, relax and enjoy. I pretty much got the same feeling when I started seeing this movie today.
To begin with, I would say that DASA is yet another movie made JUST FOR KAMAL BY KAMAL. We have seen many movies like that in the past. Kamal uses the producers money to make a movie that is totally influenced by his views. I never say that is bad. Point is - most of the other top names would end up being a namesake. Anyway, lets come back to the movie.
Kamal's 10 roles in the movie occupy almost 90% of the movie. If you saw one avatar getting off the screen, then within seconds, another one joins the story. From the 12th century Rangarajan to Govind in the US, CIA Agent Fletcher, US President George Bush, a Japanese, Officer Naidu, Old woman Krishnaveni, Avatar Singh, the uneducated Annachi, and the Afghan. Click on the image to see the characters clearly.
Its a great effort on creating the 10 avatars. I believe that a lot of time has been spent on changing between one avatar and the other, which in itself is a commendable job by the make-up artist.
DASA is quite an extraordinary movie. The movie begins with the 12 century and then goes on to end in 21st century. One theme of the movie is biological warfare. The other one is what Kamal already questioned in Anbe Sivam - the existence of an entity called God. An atheistic attitude is evident, but at the end Kamal finishes safe by saying that he did not say God didn't exist but believed that if God existed, it would be nice. Kamal's mission is to save the world from a deadly vial. The vial reminds you a bit about Mission Impossible and a few other Hollywood flicks. The hunt for the vial takes Kamal from the US to India and all along this journey, we meet more Kamal characters who join the joy ride.
The final tsunami scene takes a lot of credit - amazing effort. The graphics have come out really well. Spending time on figuring out what NaCl (sodium chloride) means, is interesting too. Especially showing that Bush doesn't know what it is, is perhaps a clear indicator that Bush doesn't know so many things and this is just one.
Asin who plays two roles - one in the 12th century and one in the 21st, does not have any scope. In the first role, all she did was speak three lines and then cry. In the second role, she keeps running with Kamal, to escape from the cops and the bad guys. Throughout the movie, she is only worried about God. So, every other minute she keeps calling PERUMAL and keeps whining.
Mallika Sherawat - oh she definitely had a better role than Asin. Although she her total screen presence did not cross 15-20 minutes, she did a very good job of whatever was expected from her.
KS Ravikumar - the director who lent his name for the titles in the beginning and then makes a cameo towards the end of the movie. I doubt if he had much to do in the middle. With Kamal controlling the story and screenplay, Ravi probably ran a few errands.
Oscar Ravichandran, oops its Aascar Ravichandran now - a name change. Numerology and Kollywood is perhaps the best combination. The industry here does not lay emphasis on talent. If I change my name, I'll be lucky is what most think. Anyway, producer claims that he has recovered his money. I seriously think he is bluffing.
Himesh Reshamaiyya is another let down. I don't know what to say about his music. My only question to whoever chose him - Did you actually listen to his previous compositions? Or it could be like this. Himesh would have given the producer one or two crores to score in this movie. Producer gets some money and Himesh gets some mileage.
Overall: Can watch once to see Kamal in different roles.
Link 1 for Hawkeye's review.
Link 2 for Neha's review.
Link 3 for another review.
13 comments:
I agree...(still fine-tuning my CP skills, you see).
Its so disappointing to see Kamal Haasan waste time on something like shoddy makeup! He could have done it so much better....
Since CP and spam has caaptured limelight in the past weekend here i go.
1)The movie was quite disappointing for someone who would want to Kamal's acting skills.
2) Very Taut storyline and screenplay - a big plus
3) the narration moved on the lines of a recent hollywood flick -where they try to assasinate/kidnap the US president.
4) how on earth does he know wat's a tsunami on dec 26, 2004 itself or how is it caused. sodappal not expected of KH. tats all for now.
5) Ulaga nayakan was as childish as a simbu movie song
@Sobhs - cant believe after 51 weeks of course-work you still agree! check out shyam's comments below. he seems to have mastered the art.
@Shyam - let me call his BP (blog participation - err bad joke). anyway, great observations indeed. awesome.
Whoever Mr Shyam is... what are you crapping about how would kamal know what is tsunami on dec 26, 2004.
Tsunami is not new to earth. It did not happen for the first time in the world when it happened in India. If you have watched anbe shivam, there is a dialogue between madhavan and kamal about tsunami.. and anbe sivam came much prior to dec 2004.
Moreover, tsunamis are common in Japan and Kamal plays an awesome trick by using the Japanese avatar in the movie to be the one who is pro active, when tsunami hits chennai.
Think before you write lad.
The movie is a Royal Treat... and Jhangos and Luchas will keep yapping like this.
Cheers,
Arunesh.
btw mama, nice re-view.
Kudos to Kamal's efforts.Would not say it was an entire letdown, but certain parts and characters cud have been avoided.
@ Mama - I thought Hollywood 'Oscar' was supposed to sue Ravichandran and hence the name change to 'Aascar' :)
@Muthu - I didn't know Oscar had a different problem. Thanks. I did Google and found this to support your comment. http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2008/newsfullstory.php?id=1211975894
Asin was tedious, the search for the vial was also unnecessariyl drawn out. The avatars looked like retards at many points. too many philosphies spoils a movie... And
I cant believe i wasted a sunday afternoon travelling from village to town to watch it. the toblerone cookies in the theatre were a treat though.
really - was the movie about atheism? i actually thought it was the other way around!
@Jawz - so many things, one being atheism. if you observed every dialog of Kamal during the chase for the vial, you'll know that. then comes the saivite-vaishnavite fight. the history of the chidambaram temple. in the end he talks of some crap about saving the whole world.
Well there was so much of mixed emotions generated by this movie.Kamal is a visionary,yes.But overall i think the viewers were not very satisfied.As for the make-up,well it could have been a hell lot better,but if 1 of the best make up artist from Hollywood,who worked on movies like MASK,STAR-TREK,RAMBO etc,couldn't do it-THEN WHO CAN!...if all u movie maniacs havent noticed,they cant make Tom cruise look like Brad Pitt,or the other way aROUND,OR BOTH OF THEM LOOK LIKE BUSH yet,perfectly.But i applaud to his efforts,his motivation and vision in educating his country,by choosing a very interesting,yet complicating But very important topic,full of values,and last but not least by him introducing A very VERY vERY FRESHHHH story in the Kollywood industry by far,cos nowadays every movie some how has the same blooody story-line and ending.that goes to SIVAJI too..played out story...CHEERS TO DASA
@Anonymous - what set of values were part of this movie? its a complete mockery of our religious beliefs. kamal and asin keep running with a perumal idol all over the place - into a railway toilet, a sand quarry. then he lifts asin on his hips and holds the idol on the other hand. he throws the idol out of the train. buries it in sand. what the hell.
I feel this is exact review
http://www.behindwoods.com/features/column/index-ss.html
Jus read this
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