We were one of the few to have watched an early screening of Vishwaroopam in its entirety before talks of the ban emerged in Hyderabad. In content and technical finesse, the film breaks new ground for regional cinema. In these troubled times, it must be emphasised that the film does not hurt sentiments of any community.
Everyone here has a double role to play, Andrea Jeremiah tells Pooja Kumar at a crucial juncture in the film. Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam is a technically brilliant, ambitious film where most characters are not what they seem. The actor-director deals with an international espionage drama through a layered screenplay, trusting the intelligence of his audience to connect the different threads of the story.
Vishwanath (Kamal Haasan) is a Kathak teacher who lives with his wife Nirupama (Pooja Kumar), a nuclear oncologist, in New York. Nirupama confides it’s a marriage of convenience that provided her a safe shelter while she pursued her Ph.D in the U.S. The age gap between them notwithstanding, she is put off by Vishwanath’s effeminate traits. She smells something fishy about her husband and hires a private investigator to trail his every move.
In a sudden turn of events, the investigator gets killed by a member of a terrorist outfit. A visiting card on his purse gives away the names of Vishwanath and Nirupama and the terror group nabs the couple. The outfit operates from a warehouse and is headed by Omar (Rahul Bose), severely injured from the past.
Omar and Vishwanath have a past, one that takes the story back by almost a decade, to the Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. What follows is a maze of events that go back and forth in time, unravelling an international spy thriller that keeps you guessing for most parts.
Nirupama is stunned to discover the true identity of her husband, his uncle (a cameo by Shekar Kapur) and the young dancer (Andrea Jeremiah) at her husband’s dance school. Together, they try to counter the plans of Omar and his group that could destroy New York.
Vishwaroopam is engaging, keeps you engrossed and as you try to make a semblance of the puzzle, several questions arise. Kamal Haasan sets up an interesting premise for part 2.
Sanu Varghese’s spectacular cinematography becomes as important as the actors in this thriller. The camera takes us into the dangerous alleys of New York and the muddy, rugged terrain of Afghanistan. In the opening sequence involving pigeons, Varghese captures the mood of the birds giving us a hint of an ominous force at work.
The songs composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy gel with the narrative of the film and the trio experiments with different genres to offset the mood in Afghanistan.
Pooja Kumar is expressive and convincing as a young woman coming to terms with her husband’s identity all of a sudden. Andrea Jeramiah has a smaller role and according to the makers, she has a crucial role in Vishwaroopam 2. Rahul Bose is menacing, with his tarnished look and damaged voice making him appear more evil.
Kamal Haasan morphs from identity to the other with ease, like he’s done several times in the past. He draws chuckles with his effeminate gestures and delivers an understated performance in the Afghan segment.
It’s a film that needs to be watched closely to follow the different aspects of the story. The graphic violence in some sequences make it unfit for viewing by children.
Vishwaroopam is a good watch for a discerning movie lover.
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose and Shekar Kapur
Direction: Kamal Haasan
Music: Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy
Plot: A couple and their friends try to save New York from a terrorist threat.
Bottomline: A gripping spy thriller of international standards
Keywords: Vishwaroopam, Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, film review
This is a ploy by the ruling AIADMK government. The grapevine is that one of the private channels asked kamal to give them the entire telecast right but he refused. And now they are showing what they could do. Hope this gives good publicity for the movie and make it a massive hit
It is highly deplorable to see how the State Governments opted for such
a thoughtless order banning the screening of the film superseding the
Supreme Court rulings given in respect of Prakash Jha case. We expect
the High Court order not only quashing the ban order but also ordering
for due compensation of the loss suffered by the producer of the film.
Simply terrific/brilliant/mass movie... with dose of technical finesse,
acting, cinematography, action...
Kamal Hassan is the undisputed legend of SOUTH ASIAN CINEMA...
Film is below average, nothing special. Auro 3D sound was not properly executed. It's not a family entertainer as there is too much violence and adult themes like live-in relationships, fake visa, etc.
But this manufactured controversy may help the film to become a success in select multiplexes.
Camera work is awesome!
He is legend of Indian cinema and nobody cannot stop him. He took
Indian cinema next stage by directing Viswaroopam. One should watch
the movie without any bias and it makes you to think and realize
issues in our society. Indian Govt (TN Govt) should encourage and
allow people to realize about origins of international terrorism, its
affect on society and it was the message by my kamal hasan. Citizens
of India please analyze things with broad mind and please encourage
and support actors like kamal hasan.
We should not take sensor board job in our hand. This ban is just vote bank politics which is not a goood indication in this beautiful country.
It looks like good movies cannot be made in India; few intolerant people
take the entire society, including the government, to ransom. If this
becomes a precedent, the zealots of a religion will always protest in future demanding complete ban of the
film! The total silence of the entire film fraternity, barring
Rajanikanth, is shocking. CBFC has become totally irrelevant.
If certain people are so disturbed about the movie and prefer it to be banned, should spend
their money and buy up the entire stock and royalties and can it as they please. Without
which, they have no business in a private commercial entrerprice made for art as well as
profit, that has gone through the necessary examination by the arbitrating body of censors
for the purpose of exhibiting! It is a disappointment for any thinking person that some State
Governments take it upon themselves to ban the move to please a few! It is an unprincipled
stance of the people in Government and a corrosion for democracy!
I dont think its got anything to do with any group. Its probably a
ploy. Most likely (as in most cases except in crimes of passion) it
all about money. The makers of pirate CDs will be making a killing!
As they say - its all about money, honey!
the review is indeed a slap on the face of those spread canards,even without seeing the movie.Common sense prevailed in Kerala,and other places where the movie was screened and the audience is the king again.
This is another master piece movie from a gem of his time. The government should have given proper protection and allowed to release instead of running away from its basic responsibilities. It is pathetic, it has given up to a small unpopular group of street protesters. Through this thoughtless act, the government in fact has opened up a Pandora ’s Box. In a democratic country, sense of tolerance especially artistic freedom should be promoted. Also it is important the goverment included some basic education around tolerance for those who dont know about it.
I saw this is in Australia. I mostly agree with Sangeetha. It is great work by Kamal
and Co. Kamal is so brilliant in his thinking, he leaves many things to the audience
imagination. This is great film making technique trusting viewers intelligence was
shown in samples previously in Tamil films. This film is clearly taking that aspect to
full dimension. Tamil Nadu Government extraordinarily threw its own Film hero and
producer to great pains. Talking about the ban when some one has no power I dont
know how one can exercise it, the Govt. is ill guided
it is known that Kamal had screened the movie for the muslim group. After seeing the movie, they had represented to govt to ban the movie. VERY VERY SAD. The film has nothing to do with Muslims as such. It deals with terrorism. If Muslim groups want to ban the film, then they themselves unwittingly spoil the image of the vast mojority of peaceful muslims living in Tamil nadu. If any untoward happens it would be solely due to the furore created by the selfish fundamentalist groups.
Light years ahead of rest of the Thamiz movies! A true action thriller in every sense. Sensible call, not a movie for children. Ban any children or childish folks from watching it! LOL
Dear Editor,
Its unfair to postpone the release of the tamil movie "VISHWAROOPAM", by Madras High Court, when the film is already released in the other parts of our Country. When the Indian citizens, in other parts of the country, could tolerate OR accept the film without any attack on a particular community, why not the tamils?. Its totally ridiculous, now-a-days, that a particular group of people started raising their voice against film industry to rework their already completed film. One such example is "Thuppakki",the Vijay starter and now the "VISHWAROOPAM". The film should be viewed as film and the technical aspects of the film should be valued. No producer/director/hero would like to tease a particular community and see success of the film, which is common sense. Hence, the Madras High Court should pass orders to release the film without any further delay.
The delays in releasing this movie seems so contrived. We have had a
fair idea of the background of the movie for a long time. A recent
movie, 'Thuppakki', went through similar protests and had a common
thread in the story. Mr. Kamal, being a far bigger star, any normal
business person should have anticipated such protests. It doesn't
take a genius to figure out that such a movie would draw the kind
of attention it has gotten so far. It raises my curiosity as to
whether all these are just for the sake of publicity or am I
supposed to believe that a smart man such as Mr. Kamal Haasan did
not anticipate such protests?
I watched the movie. It is good and fast paced. There is nothing offending as such. Plenty of muslim characters makes it hard to follow but overall the movie is great and better than any of Kamal's recent movies. ShahRukhKhan took a movie "My name is Khan" and I remember some scenes where he is stripped/embarrassed by US, did anyone protest for that ? Come on guys, just grow up and learn to watch movies the way they are taken. Banning a movie is not the solution. Or you should have allowed him to do DTH release, how can anyone restrain an individual to this extent ?? I think Kamal should sue TN govt, take them all the way to Supreme Court and get Rs.125 crore without a sweat. Law is on his side.
TN Seshan, our ex-EC once commented that the only smooth industry in our country is "bandh industry". Salman Rusdie was wondering how it is "so easy in our society to shut things down". We seem to be giving in to mobocracy and thuggocracy-if such a term exists. I sincerely wish, that as an able administrator, our present CM will not yield to presure tactics of muslim hardliners and allow screenig of the film Viswaroopam since it has already been cleared by our censor board. Even in Malaysia -a muslim nation- there was no trouble in releasing the movie.
Kamal always aims high in films highlighting various issues the country/world facing.
It is sad that even after watching the film, the some Muslim groups, cried foul, instead of talking the producer on their concern on certain scenes which they think will hurt Muslims.
I am sure majority of the Muslims are not against the movie.
Government, should have intervened and found an amicable solution.
Religion is controversial in its raw form, but when people tinker with the beliefs of religious groups for the purposes of entertainment, things definitely heat up. Of course its upto the audience how they connect with the movie. If such movies are made then audience must watch it closely and try to understand the logic, the intention... just criticizing it isn't fare.
This happens everytime for Kamal but somehow he will come back .. But now people can help him by watchin the movie in theatres only.. so it will make a good actor to give his best the next time
The move by Tamilnadu,Karnataka and Andhra governments to defer the screening of Vishwaroopam movie in cinemas is a hasty decision. In a democratic country there should be complete and full freedom to express someone's thoughts and views.India is a multicultural country.When Malaysia which is a predominantly muslim majority state had permitted screening of vishwaroopam why States in India should ban or defer the screening of Vishwaroopam. So many Hollywood movies evolving terrorism theme have already been screened in India and throughout the world. Nobody or no organization has objected to that. We are living in the 21st century and it is really unpalatable.
The plot summary does not sound like it interests the B and C theatres. Reading this article, I get a thought that this movie belong to the 'Kuruthi Punal' genre.
The screening of this movie was also banned in HYDERABAD after booking tickets.
My sincere request to people of INDIA is to STOP FORECASTING EVERYTHING.Before watching a film how one can conclude that this film is controversial this is not something like WEATHER FORECASTING.KAMAL ji's hardwork goes into vain with these kind of things that some people do to become popular in their areas.
Rajni's sympathetic comments about financials of the movie has nothing to do with the crux of the problem. Kamal is not fighting for himself but for the whole film industry, for freedom of expression.
The fact of the matter is Vellai yanai Jayalalithaa behind this story and nobody have guts to talk that openly including media.This was crystal clear the day Kamal wishes Chidambaram as potential future Prime Minister of this country during the function in chennai which was attended by DMK leader.
Time will punsish for all her atrocities and acting as chief minister of the state....
Cinema must reflect current issues society at large faces..and must inform the audience about sensitivities of people in the society. In the process some sections will always have things to take and learn from it....All communities had/have plenty of such issues in Cinema...so this ban in TN is more to do with Jaya settling some score with Kamal who is more seen as a supporter of DMK and Kalaignar's atheist bent of mind. It is really unfortunate and Courts must immediately strike down the ban and protect people and their freedom of expression.
Banning this movie will actually have a counter effect on our Muslim brothers. This very ill judged action by these Muslim organisations will cause more communal disharmony.
Most of the medias, who has social responsibilities have clearly conveyed that the film does not hurt sentiments of any community.
then why do you worry my dear brothers.A great creator
like Kamal Hassan definetly does not let any people's sentiments down.Hope you had seen his previous risk taking projects, which is conveying the the need of humanity across people.Let an indian raise the bar of indian, tamil cinema to an international level.
"He suggested that instead of calling on a total ban on the release of the movie, the
aggrieved parties could ask him to review only those sequences that caused hurt.
“Having learned how he raised money to finance the Rs.100 crore movie, I am most
disturbed.”"
Once a film has been cleared by the censor board, why should anyone else have
the right to demand any changes to it?
Its now a FACT THAT Viswaroopam is released in the muslim dominated
country Malaysia and there are NO the so called 'LAW AND ORDER PROBLEMS'
in that country because of this movie release....So., I hope common
sense will prevail...
People were criticizing Rajinikanth for not supporting Kamal. Rajini didn't speak a word about releasing the film over DTH. But he supported for Kamal to make understand Muslims about the issue and allow the releasing of film in places like TN and HYD. Rajini knows what is correct and what is wrong. He knows whom to support for and what to support for. He is right on his path.
What Rajnikanth said is really very painful about Kamal Haasan raising money for this project “Having learned how he raised money to finance the Rs.100 crore movie, I am most disturbed.”
I am from Hyderabad where the screening has stopped. But know that whoever has seen the movie either in Malaysia or Kerala - forward thinking places with more Muslim population have no complains about the content. Looks like this is an idea of Tamil Nadu lobbyist to degrade Kamal Haasan.
I SALUTE KERALA AND ITS PEOPLE. NO WONDER THE STATE HAS MOST LITERATES!
I think the famous actors .Directors should start thinking how to make
film that can motivate youths, to think clean,healthy, productivity,
health, sports, instead of thinking various cast and reg lion and
putting borders. Tamil movies and Drams is not going to benefit the
future Indian generations especially in South. That is a fact .Please
look around the globe. Where So Call Tamil Nadu.Stands. Happy with the
economy, health, social ,leaving standards .Is that all we can do.
Millions where productivity is not in South they are all working
outstation. Talk to them do research. Dont spend all your life in
movies and dramas. Look at Australia,New Zealand .they are productive.
Less populated but result oriented. We have quantity not quality.
The effort of the senior actor Kamal Hasan to release his cinema through a new medium should be seen as an innovative step to finannce the cinema which costs crores of rupees to the makers so that many Indian cinema's can be elevated to world class..!!
The film is too slow and should be trimmed by 40 minutes. Not so gripping screenplay by Kamal.
based on a movie, we shouldn`t approach real life. movie always a movie
only
Insofar as intolerance or in other words authoritarian or dictatorial attitudes are
concerned both Hindu and Muslim fringe groups are same. They want to impose their
will on others , on the majority. If government and the judiciary pander to them they lay
the foundations for the opposite of democracy.
Even hate speech should be allowed, people should be educated to put it in the right
place. Violent reactions should be debated and questioned. When a hate speech or film
depicts a particular sentiment we learn more about ourselves and our society.
Without watching the movie.. keeping some plots in mind, group of people shouldn't condemn this movie..
Without watching the movie.. keeping some plots in mind, group of people shouldn't condemn this movie..
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