first it was ajay, vivek, kareena and now saif! - this is definitely one of the greatest casts ever assembled

this could be another vishal classic…


Saif, Konkona in desi Othello

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

National award-winning actors Saif Ali Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma will be seen together on screen for the first time in director Vishal Bharadwaj's next venture based on Shakespeare's Othello. Konkona has been offered the role of Emilia, while Saif is to play her husband, and the villain, Iago. The director has already finalised Ajay Devgan as Othello and Kareena Kapoor as Desdemona. To be produced by Devgan Entertainments, the film also stars Vivek Oberoi as Cassio, lieutenant to Othello. “Yes, Vishal has approached me for the role of Emilia, and I would love to work with him,” says Konkona, who feels that Maqbool is one of the finest Bard adaptations in recent times.

The director is now finalising the script and its technicalities. Our source reveals, “Saif has signed the film and he is extremely satisfied with the script.” Saif plays Iago the standard bearer to Othello. Incidentally, Ajay and Saif were to work together in Aparna Sen's Hindi film Gulel, but the film was shelved after Pritish Nandy Communications backed out. Now Saif will play husband to Konkona (Aparna Sen's daughter). “I think Saif is a fantastic actor; I am sure he will work with my mother in future. Currently his mother and sister are working in my mom's first Hindi venture,” says Konkona.

Vivek Oberoi, who is currently busy shooting in Bangkok for Indra Kumar's comedy Pyare Mohan, was unavailable for comments. An associate of Ajay Devgan informed that, “…it was Ajay who referred Vivek's name to Vishal. After working with him in Yuva, Ajay felt that Vivek has much more potential as an actor and he would justify the character.” The director is searching for Bianca, Cassio’s love interest. To be produced by Kumar Mangat, the film will be launched in January and will wind up by April 2006.

Great news, but what is the source?

Othello has already been remade in India. Jayaraj's "Kaliyattam" (Malayalam) which won Suresh Gopi the National Award in 2000 for Best Actor was a reworking of Othello.

That is one hell of a cast. And Anwar, the source is mumbairmirror.com. But, I have a question for MolaRam. Why is this thread titled "Omar"? Has Vishal finalised the title? Where did you get that info from?

I thought he did, didn’t he??

I dunno dude I remember reading that somewhere, but I could be mistaken

though it will be interesting see how vishal will adapt this, if it will be set in a modern underworld backdrop again(hopefully so)

I just hope hemant chaturvedi(company, makdee, maqbool) will be doing the cinematography again

he supposedly ghost directed both makdee and maqbool

Rediff has done a special on Vishal Bharadwaj's "Othello". Check it out. BTW, there is talks Ayesha Takia will be in this film as well as Bianca, Cassio's mistress.


Vishal Bharadwaj's "Othello"

Much as he is with cinema worldwide, Shakespeare is a favourite with Bollywood. The funny thing is, most cinema watchers don't know it yet. For a start, there are references to Romeo and Juliet strewn liberally -- from Ek Duje Ke Liye to Saudagar. Then there are those stock scenes adapted from the playwright's best tragedies, inspiring barely-talented directors in innumerable ways.

In the hands of a craftsman, however, Shakespeare shines in Hindi just as beautifully. Take Vishal Bharadwaj's Maqbool. It may explain why the director wants to revisit that period of English literature, with the help of another classic, Othello.

Helping him out this time are National Award-winning actors Saif Ali Khan and Konkona Sensharma, with Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Produced by Kumar Mangat, the film is set to release by April 2006.

Othello: The Moor of Venice is a tragedy written by Shakespeare around 1603 and first performed a year later.

It involves a Moor, or dark-skinned man, called Othello, who has eloped with the fair Desdemona. Thanks to the treachery of the villain Iago, Othello murders Desdemona in a fit of jealousy, convinced she has been unfaithful. When he finds out this isn't true, he commits suicide.

Ajay Devgan is to play Othello, the protagonist torn apart by jealousy. As a character, he subverts the standard notion of what some things are meant to signify, unable to understand that this association between signifier and signified is often illogical.

This inability to take things at face value is, in effect, his tragic flaw.

Kareena Kapoor plays the fair Desdemona. A part that ought to present few problems for an actress like her. She is meant to be the maiden Othello elopes with at the opening. The couple leave Venice with an army for Cyprus, where war is on.

On finding Desdemona's handkerchief with his lieutenant Cassio, Othello is consumed with rage and kills her.

Interestingly, Shakespeare's plot was borrowed from a story in the Italian writer Giraldi Cinthio's Hecatommithi, a collection of 100 tales. The only character in that particular tale with a name was Disdemona, which means 'unfortunate' in Greek.

Saif Ali Khan plays Iago, the deceitful standard bearer to Othello. It is an intriguing choice for Khan, considering Iago's long respected character as an epitome of evil.

It is Iago who plants Desdemona's handkerchief on Othello's lieutenant, thus managing to convince the Moor that his wife has been unfaithful. It is this act of treachery that also reveals Othello's tragic flaw and leads to his demise.

Konkona Sensharma has been offered the role of Iago's wife Emilia. After Othello kills Desdemona out of jealousy, it is Emilia who reveals that Desdemona's affair was her husband's invention.

An enraged Iago kills his wife immediately, but the damage has been done. Othello kills himself soon after.

Othello subverts the traditional symbolism often used in theatre. For instance, the white-skinned man or woman is the one that takes on shades of grey, while the dark-skinned man -- traditionally called upon to take on the negative role -- is actually the actor led astray. Needless to say, these distinctions on the basis of colour would have been made only at Shakespeare's time, but it is still an integral part of the play's essence.

The film also stars Vivek Oberoi as Cassio, Othello's lieutenant. Apparently, director Vishal Bharadwaj is still looking for someone to play Cassio's mistress, Bianca. Other characters of note in the original play include the duke of Venice, a senator called Brabantio (who is also Desdemona's father), and a Venetian gentleman called Roderigo.

This should be worth waiting for.

I for one will be eagerly awaiting this film.

so it will be a gangster film!!


Saif refuses Ratnam and RGV

Subhash K Jha


Saif Ali Khan has declined lead roles in Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay – he was offered Veeru's role and Mani Ratnam's latest bi-lingual (in Hindi and English) to be shot in London.

“Practically speaking I could do just one of these three huge projects. All of them were top-of-the-line productions with great roles for me,” explains Saif who has just returned from a family holiday in Zurich and London and also a stopover at the Marrakesh film festival.

“The dates for Mani's films were clashing with Siddharth Anand's next which I've agreed to do. I would have loved to work with Mani. He is after all – Mani! As for Sholay …yeah, who wouldn't want to do it? Someday I'd love to do a big gangster film. In fact, Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Othello is a big gangster film. So there!” says he.

After much deliberation, Saif has decided to play Iago in Vishal's much talked-about adaptation of Othello. “Vishal wanted me to start work by January 2006, and that fit into my schedule perfectly. It's a very good script. And I get to a do rustic character with a UP accent. I've never done all this before. It's got really cool dialogues,” Saif adds.

Saif will spend considerable amount of time preparing for Vishal's Iago. “I'm already thinking of a scar and earrings for sure,” he says.

Vishal Bharadwaj discusses his next film in detail. BTW, no title has been given yet.



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from mid-day.com



'Saif & I have a taste for weird cinema'
By: Upala KBR
November 27, 2005

The director of Maqbool and The Blue Umbrella, Vishal Bharadwaj is all set to roll again with an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s dark tragedy, Othello.

The film stars Ajay Devgan as Othello, Kareena Kapoor as Desdemona, Saif Ali Khan as Iago, Konkona Sen as Emilia and Vivek Oberoi as Cassio.

The as-yet-untitled film (beginning with the letter O) will be produced by Ajay Devgan’s business manager, Kumar Mangat’s Big Screen Entertainment’s production company.

While talking about the filmi adaptation of Othello, Vishal says, “Like Maqbool, (an adaptation of Macbeth) the basic story is the same. Maqbool was adapted to the contemporary world so is Othello.

The setting is UP and the story is set against backdrop of the political mafia there. There are no gangsters there but the mafia in UP is allied with the political parties there. Ajay’s character heads such a gang there while Vivek is one of the members in it.”

Why does he love Shakespearan stories so much? Vishal laughs, “I have a great story writer who has been writing for me for the last 400 years. His tragedies have so much of drama and passion in them. Shakespeare’s characters are so human with their basic human traits - that they are relevant even in today’s times.

They can all be fitted against any backdrop — political mafia, a corporate house, film industry — anywhere.” The dialogues and music will be provided by Vishal himself while the screenplay has been written by Robin Bhatt, Abhishek Choubey and Vishal.

How did he go about the casting for the film? “While doing Maqbool I had thought of doing Othello and the only star I could think of fitting into Othello’s character with his brooding intensity and dark charm was Ajay Devgan.

Then 10 months ago when I went to narrate the script he immediately said yes but we couldn’t work out the dates. And only Kareena could play Desdemona — with her beauty and ethereal, luminous charm. It’s a rare combination and together with Ajay will form a perfect contrast.”

What made him select Saif as the villainous Iago? “Iago is the best villain in history and who better than Saif who is that rare blend of a brilliant star and extra talented actor.

Saif’s unpredictability, his living-on-the-edge, taking risks and his ability not to take himself seriously all add up to his dashing appeal. Shah Rukh and Saif mein who baat hai. I have been talking to Saif for the last one and a half months and we have discovered a common passion for the same kind of cinema — we have a weird taste for weird cinema,” Vishal grins. He plans to give “a shocking look to Saif’s character in Othello.”

Is it true that Ajay Devgan personally recommended Vivek Oberoi for the role? “Yes. I hadn’t thought of anybody playing Cassio so when I narrated the script to Ajay, he said to cast Vivek as he would suit the image and the relationship as he’s a part of Othello’s group and there is an age difference between Ajay and him. It’s again a perfect casting as Vivek has nothing to do but play himself.”

He’s working with a huge star cast today. “Yes,” admits Vishal and continues, “Today frankly I want to see the initial of my film so I am choosing those actors who are not just stars but great performers too. By working with such people I can get both the performances and an initial which translates into box office money.”

I've just watched MAQBOOL: this director is promising.

i hate to be a spoil-sport, but why does Bharadwaj have to look to Shakespeare for inspiration? and why, specifically, to Othello, a racist play?

he's done a Shakespeare adaptation already.

Well lot of GREAT directors ( Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, Renoir ....) have relied on good literary works , with Shakespeare and Dostoevsky being some of the most adapted authors. Our own Satyajit Ray relied on Tagore for his "inspiration(s)".

I dont think its wrong ..., infact i welcome it as long as the director knows "how" to handle it and off all people working in bollywood currently Bharadwaj seems to know what he is doing ( i loved MAQBOOL ) - so looking forward to this one.

dvdisoil, i have no problem with directors using literary works for inspiration. in fact, i'd encourage Indian directors to adapt literary works. however, why this fixation with Shakespeare and his racist Othello? this is what i find troubling: continued admiration and imitation of the colonizer's culture.

if Bharadwaj can rid the story of its racist elements, great. however, he seems to want to imitate Shakespeare in that he casts the "dark" Ajay Devgan against the "ethereal, luminous" Kareena Kapoor (I'm using terms Bharadwaj uses to describe the actors taken from the article hal posted).

aside from casting the "dark" ajay and "ethereal, luminous" kareena

his interest does not seem to be w/ the racial elements of the play

rather he is probably interested by the political power struggle, deception, jealousy, betrayal... all of which will make for a dark and exciting film set it in a u.p. political backdrop

like the guy says himself… “His tragedies have so much of drama and passion in them… They can all be fitted against any backdrop — political mafia, a corporate house, film industry — anywhere.”

I am all for it… actually since he has already done 2 he might as well go for a complete trilogy

next I would luv to see ‘hamlet’ set in a political, underworld or corporate backdrop

I have not read Othello ( except in a brief "school" version) and i cant really answer "why" bharadwaj selected this play.

That said, if i was a film maker i would def choose this "racial" subject - why because i think "we" Indians are inherently racist ...,we just don’t acknowledge it . Our fascination/obsession for the fair skin just cannot be ignored and bollywood is such a good example of that . So personally when I look at it from that angle i think it might be an interesting exercise - again all this is my take and i have no idea what Bharadwaj has in mind.

P.S : though there seems to be no explicit divide as Black/White in India – race does exist , anthropologist say that the Indian subcontinent is/was a melting pot of various races over centuries of migration – broadly put we are a mix of Aryans from Europe ( often found in north who are usually fairer ) and Aboriginals in south ( often dark skinned) enroute to Australia from Africa via India.

For those curious , some time back i read this book
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/061835 ... s&v=glance

Its decent and deals with some fascinating stuff – the scientist(s) pretty much say the color of the skin is in fact only skin deep and “deep down” every person is the same and has come from the same "source".

Theon - dont know about your take on it ..., but RACE is a big "factor" in this every shriking world ( Paris burning recently ?) and maybe in that context such plays become even more relevant ??. we will wait and see what Mr Bharadwaj's take is on this play .