Yes, Viswaroopam Hurts, Film Review

Yes,Viswaroopam film made by Kamal Hassan hurts.

But not the way one hurts by ridiculing A Region or a Community, specifically Muslims.

I, as a  Hindu, am hurt that it was Nathuram  Godse, a Hindu, Killed Gandhiji.

I am ashamed and humiliated as  a Hindu  beyond words, when a few charlatans,criminals like Nithyananda, Premananda and many more Anandas and self styled Gurus sully my great Religion.

Similarly , imagining myself a Muslim, I was hurt when a Fanatic jihadi prevents his wife from being treated by a Doctor, or when he is in turmoil when he forbids son to learn English or becoming a Doctor.

Or when he shows his inner conflict between a  committed path, which he feels is not correct but unable to shake off !

“I do this for Him! Why is h punishing me!

Any human being will be torn asunder by this crisis of identity when you know your Religion teaches Brotherhood and peace but by zealots has been turned into a fanatic Cult.

You can’t revolt,You can’t get out of it, such is your faith.

But, as a Human being you know you are wrong and are powerless to prevent it.

This is exactly what I felt as I watched the Film Viswaroopam.

The rigorous training, the discipline,  sublime indifference to Human values- to what depths a zealot can a Great religion and in the process create a crisis of faith for Millions!

But insult to Islam or Muslims NO.

If at all, as usual Kamal Hasasn digs at Hindus(especially Brahmins), Hindu Culture may be found as when asked by the psychiatrist whether she will have illicit affair, the woamn replies,

“what,Me?  illicit affair, Not now’

what about future”

You mean Sex, So what, it may not rain In US”

(an allusion to Tirukkural on Chastity(I f a Chaste woman,though not worshiping God ,worships her Husband,Heaven’s will  open up and rain if she were to order so’

(தெய்வம்   தொழால் கொழுனற் தொழுதெழுவாள்  பெய்யெனப் பெய்யும் மழை)

Or Kamal Hassan offers  a chicken piece to a Brahmin girl first and telling her ‘Paappathi( a crude slang for a Brahmin woman), you taste it first”

or ‘ we dump Gods only in the sea”

Hindus could have taken objections to it.

I repeat, there is No Slur either on Islam or Muslims.

It is an ordinary Arjun, Vijayakanth story polished on a Grand scale.

Story of a Raw officer tracking terrorists and defusing a Dirty Bomb in New York City.

Why FBI should ask RAW to do it is a mystery!

But enormous research has gone into details including Afghan scenes,Jihadis training,their methods of killing.

Acting wise there is no scope for an actor of Kamal’s caliber sans the scene where he essays the Natya Bhavas in a dance sequence.

Even here age tells.

Other characters are set properties.

Editing ,Photography, Stunt sequences are top class in that order.

The weakness is screen play and there seems to be no definite idea as what the film is about, Is it a Crime thriller or a tussle or crisis of faith or plain human story, there is a bit of all, but none too clear.

A Shankar would have made it an entertainer or a Manirathnam would have it a Human Drama with a patriotic touch.

The Film is as clear as Kamal Hassan’s Public speeches in Tamil!

If, as I was telling my son while driving down, after Kamal hangs up his boots, one were asked to list Kamal Hassan’s Films, this film not find a place in the list.

If you are a loyal Kamal fan, don’t expect Kamal Hassan in this film, see it any way for his industriousness and his supreme confidence in the medium and his Art.

Related articles

 

• Kamal’s Viswaroopam Details of The Controversy (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
• Viswaroopam,”Could Have Banned “Facts By Jayalalithaa (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
• Islam Restored……By Kamal Haasan. Spare Us (ramanan50.wordpress.com)