Omkara begins with the abduction of the bride and ends with three deaths. So, suffice it to say the film is about more than just crime and social injustices — at its core, it is a tragic love story.

Everyone knows about Shakespeare’s work and the many tropes the famous writer used in his stories, so it could have been very easy for Omkara to feel like just another story about a soul scorned and lovers burned. But Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Othello really knocks it out of the park.

Omkara: Review at a Glance

Story — 3/5
Acting — 4/5
Direction — 3.5/5
Music — 3/5

Must-Watch: Yes

Omkara Review: A Deep Dive

Personally, while Omkara does deal with various themes, its depiction of star-crossed lovers is quite refreshing and layered. Plus, Langda Tyagi’s (Saif Ali Khan) evil genius in separating Omkara “Omi” Shukla (Ajay Devgn) and Dolly Mishra (Kareena Kapoor) because he was scorned is nothing short of Machiavellian.

For most people, Omkara belongs to Khan, and it’s not hard to see why. While we’re all accustomed to seeing him romancing beautiful women in foreign locations, this film is where Khan shows his acting chops to the fullest. From his accent to his walking style, Khan has perfected the mannerisms of his character so much so that it’s almost impossible to imagine another actor doing this role (even though Langda was initially written with Aamir Khan in mind).

In this vein, even Konkona Sen Sharma shines as Langda’s wife, Indu, and Kapoor plays the star-eyed Dolly with such a youthful charm that it’s easy to forget her commercial, Bollywood persona by the end of Omkara.

Apart from the acting, another element that stood out the most was the costumes of the characters, particularly of Omkara’s women. From Omi’s shawl to Dolly’s youthful looks and Billo’s (Bipasha Basu) risque dancing outfits, Omkara really sets the scene for its viewers with apt fashion.

Another thing that is brilliant about the plot is Omi’s constant reliance on Langda for validation of his love with Dolly, something the disgruntled enforcer constantly uses to his advantage. Even though the story is Shakespeare’s and, as such, the credit for the narrative is his, there is something about how Devgn and Khan portray the “bromance” that just cannot be replicated in many adaptations of Othello.

Devgn and Kapoor’s less-familiar pairing also adds to the strength of the film. It’s not that the two haven’t worked in movies together previously, but there is this innocent yet tense dynamic between them throughout Omkara that makes the love story of Omi and Dolly that much more tragic.

Now, some viewers may feel an impulse to compare Omkara to something like Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Both are equally enjoyable, but they should refrain from categorizing the two movies similarly, especially based on trailers. As stated before, Omkara is a doomed love story at its heart, whereas the latter dives deep into the saga of India’s coal mines and the various crimes that plague three generations of Shahid Khan’s family.

So, the scope of both plots is vastly and inherently different, even if similar themes are being explored in them.

When all is said and done, you should go and watch Omkara and finally tick it off your “Movies to Watch” list once and for all.