Dasavataram

Long back,when i saw the movie 'satyame shivam', I was surprised by the simplicity in which it conveyed the whole essence of life to the mankind.I couldn't be normal for 3 to 4 days.But to many, the movie didnt even create an impression,leave alone impact.

It was not about theism or atheism,but the best of both.It conveyed a message,a prescription to a happy life,for the people waging war over the mundane things of life,leaving life itself and forgetting to live.

Now,after seeing dasavataram,the nostalgia overflowed again.Its like finding the same old wine in a new bottle.And what to say about kamal,perfection personified.The pain and the toil he went through during those never ending make up sessions and the way he gave his best is unbelievable.The technical aspects of the movie are awesome and far better for the present Indian standards.

The movie starts somewhere in the 12th century bc with a conflict over different beliefs of god,when Vaishnavites are overruled by Shaivaites. One of the areas in which both Nataraja (Lord Siva form) and Ranganatha Swamy (Lord Vishnu form) are receiving poojas regularly is ruled by the then King (played by Napolean) and being a shaivite he decides to unearth the Ranganatha Swamy idol and throw it into the sea.one of the kamals characters who is a disciple of this diety and who opposes the kings decision will be thrown into the sea tied to the idol. This is pictured brilliantly . Graphics and picturization are magnanimous.

Narration then moves to 2004. This is the stage where Kamal Hasan appears in 9 other different roles as – President of United states, Govind (main lead in the film, a scientist), old woman, Tall muslim guy, famous pop singer Avatar Singh, RAW investigating officer Nadar, Punya Koti (a Christian who fights against sand dwelling near the seas and rivers), Yugi (A Japanese Martial arts guy) and Bob Flecher (A CIA trained agent). Kudos to the makeup man!

Govind, the bio-scientist in the United States of America has been wronged by his boss who has intentions of selling his invention to wrong hands. The determined scientist doesn't give up. He sneaks it away and after a few accidents the invention lands in India. The hunt and race against time especially with Fletcher, the ex-CIA baddie culminates into Govind meeting an irrationally sentimental and at times sweet Andal (Asin). In the process he also meets with all the other characters.In the climax after a lot of chasings, when the bio-vial ends up in the hands of fletcher and when he is cornered he opts for opening it ,with a wicked intention of destroying millions along with him, had he to die.when that vial is opened it has to be antidoted with a lot of nacl,lest it will destroy everything.Miraculously,Tsunami happens then , providing the same and preventing a major disaster(though it creates a minor ,in relative terms).In the tsunami ,the Idol of Ranganatha swamy resurfaces.(which is an attempt to patch the first few minutes of the story with the rest).Nevertheles,this is greatly done.

I definetely liked some points in the movie.Like...In the story of conflict between different beliefs,he has chosen a conflict between two dieties in the same religion ,At the same time he has included different religions in the other part of the story.The tall 'Muslim' guy,the 'Sikh ' singer,the 'Christian' character,punyakoti...showing people from all wakes of life,and religions
and believing things to be happening as per their respective god's wishes.

In the beginning of the story,the disciple kamal opts god(his passion) over his family ,and gets drowned in the sea along with the idol.In the later part of the story,the sikh ,amar singh,when he is diagnosed with throat cancer and when he was left to choose between either his passion for singing,or his family,he opts for the later.Thus different thought processes of human psyche and relative priories were depicted very subtly.

In another case,the old orthodox brahmin woman,who lost her son some fifty years ago,finds his son in the dead punyakoti(christian),who loses his life saving the children of those who were against him.Thus its also showed that we should help even those who harm us and every one are equal.

When tsunami appears in the end, providing the antidote for the bio-vial,and when people believe that its coz of god..,a message is conveyed evoking a thought in the minds of audience,that if god does exist,why doesnt he let people not to create such bad things,instead of doing something like this,where damage does happen but in a relatively less proportion.

At the same time it didnt even end with a message that god doesn't exist..it says that how good it would have been if god does exist and if he doesnt allow all these.And it says ,any philosophy,school of thought,religion,which conveys anything progressive should be welcomed as long as it is acceptable and does some good to the society.