Dasavatharam

Its been two weeks since i saw this movie in the theatre and here i narrate my account of the experience watching the movie.

Dasavatharam looks technically brilliant, considering the technical difficulties and the crew deserves a lot of appreciation. The CGI involved in the tsunami scene and glueing together multiple kamals in the same scene (wherever required) is laudable.
Kamal plays 10 roles in this movie, in an attempt that's world cinema first.
Awe inspiring enough, the initial 15 mins of the movie introduces kamal as one ranga rajan nambi in the 12th century who fights the Shaivism-obsessed kulothunga cholan from uprooting the vishnu idols and fails as the king orders to have nambi submerged with the idol in the deep blue. Kothai, wife of nambi kills herself at this sight. The stupendous camera work and the visual grandeur of the sets aid the gripping prelude so far. Then the story walks into the present day and fails to remain as taut as the prelude, till the end.
Govindan, a scientist in an american biotech research centre, discovers a deadly virus which is sought by some people and Govindan's chief is monetarily interested in helping them. How the protagonist protects the virus from getting into their hands and keeps it from spreading is what forms the rest of the story.
Kamal delivers astounding performance in playing the 10 roles, simply overwhelming the rest of the cast. As balram naidu, RAW officer, kamal sets the theatre ablaze with his impeccable comic timing and a humourous accent. One another novel(notable) character is Vincent Poovaraagan, who protests illegal sand quarrying and arrives momentarily to save andal(asin) from those thugs. In an animated bush, kamal tickles the rib again, nevertheless the rest of the kamals barely look convincing to stick to the script. Asin plays dual roles as 12th century Kothai and present day Andal, though ends up annoying us with her frequent ramblings and stupid accusations against the lead male.

Mukunda mukunda sung by sadhana sargam stays on our lips and kallai mattum by hariharan deserves a worthy mention, but the remaining songs fail to impress.

The bottom line is - less impact. The script doesn't require 10 roles, in the first place. Albeit, the technical brilliance, the movie fails to touch your heart. You walk out of the theatre disappointed as it doesn't live up to its expectations and wondering where all the money went.

3 stars for the technical brilliance.

Ta