Just returned home after catching Kamal Haasan's magnum opus Dasaavathaaram (Tamil). I am no expert to criticize Kamal Haasan's genius. But this is akin a cricket fan paanwala saying Sachin should not play a particular shot or opining how he should hold his bat.
So here I am with my opinions.
First, kudos to Kamal the script-screenplay writer. From start to finish this script appeals to you. The way the script travels from the 12th century chola kingdom to the tsunami hit sea shore (beach)..hats off Kamal!!! You said in a TV interview last week that you consider yourself one of the best in the country when it comes to screenplay. You have proved it again. I say again because I have had the privilege of watching his 'Virumaandi' and 'Anbae Sivam'. Any one who has seen these movies will agree to my statement above.
Its a technically brilliant movie with a good re-recording and awesome cinematography. Not for a moment did I wriggle in my seat, which is proof enough.
Coming to the Dasaavathaar's of the Ulaga Nayagan. I can understand why a staunch Kamal fan has reasons to be disappointed and severly at that. This not the first time we have seen Kamal in more than one avatar. The flick that immediately flickers to my mind is 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan' where the master actor played 4 diverse roles. I know that you are asking me to come to the point and not beat around the bush :)
For people who have been following Kamal's Discography and worshipping his versatility as an actor, it would come as a shock that majority of the 10 roles look more like a fancy dress competition in which all or almost all the participants are Kamal himself. I am not taking anything away from the efforts he has put in (packaged intelligently during the end credits). But the plaster of paris shows!!!
Kamal shows glimpses of the great actor in the body language with which he differentiates each of his characters. But the ones that stand head and shoulders above the rest (physically Kalifullah does) are the 12th century Vaishanavite and the RAW officer Balaram Naidu. The Dalit leader has some very well written lines & Fletcher is good. Dialogue delivery has always been his forte and delivers again like he has done umpteen times before. Only that this time the looks fail him big time. Whether it is the english of Fletcher or the brahmin lingo of Krishnaveni or the telugu accent or the amazing lingo as the dalit leader, I am sure ANY actor would envy it.
CG is effective and complements the movie. Devi Sri Prasad's re-recording and art direction by 'Thotta' Tharani and Samir Chanda are good. Himesh Reshammiya's compositions (though pretty well canned) pale in front of songs in any other Kamal movie of the past. But I am sure the name of the man with the cap helped sell a couple of more cd's/cassettes, which is a very, if not the most important factor, for a movie made at a whopping budget.
Bottom Line: Go watch the movie!!! Keep your expectations at home if you want to enjoy the movie. Expectations are the offsprings of media hype. Leave Kamal alone. I am sure the genial "Bahuroopi" has a lot more to offer in "Marmayogi" and many many more to come.
