Dasavathaaram

Overview

Dasavathaaram (also spelt Dashavatharam or Dasavatharam) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film written by and starring Kamal Haasan, in which he played ten distinct roles. Directed by K. S. Ravikumar and produced by Oscar Ravichandran under the Aascar Films banner, the film featured Asin, Mallika Sherawat, Jayaprada, Napoleon and Asish Vidyarthi in supporting roles. It was released on 13 June 2008 and was, at the time, one of the most expensive Tamil films ever made.

Key facts

Plot and concept

The film moves between the 12th century and the 21st century. It opens in the Chola era, where a Vaishnavite scholar, Rangarajan Nambi, is persecuted by the Shaivite king Kulothunga Chola II for refusing to renounce his devotion to Vishnu. The narrative then shifts to 2004, where a bioscientist named Govind, employed by a U.S. firm, attempts to prevent a deadly bio-weapon from falling into the wrong hands. The chase eventually moves to Tamil Nadu, where the climax is set against the backdrop of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The script weaves the chaos theory or "butterfly effect" idea, suggesting that small actions across centuries are interlinked, with the Chola-era idol of Vishnu serving as the connecting motif between the two eras.

The ten roles

Kamal Haasan portrayed ten characters, prosthetic make-up for which was supervised by Hollywood artist Michael Westmore. The roles are:

• Rangarajan Nambi – a 12th-century Vaishnavite from the Chola period.
• Govind Ramasamy – an Indian-American bioscientist, the central protagonist.
• Avtar Singh – a tall Punjabi Sikh pop singer based in the United States.
• Christian Fletcher – a former CIA operative turned mercenary.
• Balram Naidu – a RAW officer from Andhra Pradesh.
• Krishnaveni Paatti – an elderly woman from a Tamil Nadu village, the grandmother of Govind's love interest.
• Vincent Poovaragan – a Dalit activist working among coastal communities.
• Shingen Narahasi – a Japanese martial arts master.
• Kalifulla Khan – a Muslim man whose family is affected by the tsunami.
• George W. Bush – the then U.S. President, in a brief appearance.

Production

The project was first announced in the mid-2000s and went through long pre-production owing to the complexity of make-up, prosthetics and visual effects. Filming was carried out across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the United States. Industry trade reports placed the budget in the region of ₹75 crore, making it one of the costliest Indian films of its time. The prosthetics work, the use of motion control rigs, and the digital recreation of the tsunami sequence were notable technical aspects.

Music

The soundtrack was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, marking his Tamil film debut. Lyrics for the Tamil version were written by Vairamuthu. The album included tracks such as "Kallai Mattum Kandaal", "Mukundha Mukundha", "Oh Ho Sanam" and "Ulagam Yaavum". Background score elements drew on Carnatic motifs, particularly during the historical portions.

Release and reception

The film opened on 13 June 2008 and was released simultaneously in Tamil, with dubbed Telugu and Hindi versions. It opened to a very wide release across South India and overseas, and emerged as a major commercial success at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2008. Critical reception was mixed: reviewers praised the ambition, Kamal Haasan's range across the ten roles and the technical scale, while some criticised the make-up quality of certain characters, the science used in the plot and the pacing.

Awards and recognition

Kamal Haasan received a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Tamil) for his performances in the film. The film also received recognition at the Vijay Awards and other regional ceremonies for its scale, make-up and technical work.

Significance

The film is frequently cited as an example of large-budget experimental film-making in Tamil cinema, both for its narrative ambition in linking medieval Chola history with contemporary bio-terrorism, and for the use of extensive prosthetic transformations by a single actor. It extended a tradition of multi-role performances by Kamal Haasan, following Aboorva Sagodharargal (1989) and Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990).

Controversy

Before release, certain Hindu and Vaishnavite groups objected to the depiction of religious conflict between Shaivites and Vaishnavites in the Chola-era portions. Following discussions, some sequences and dialogues were modified prior to the film's theatrical release.

Related topics

• Kamal Haasan
• K. S. Ravikumar
• Asin Thottumkal
• Aascar Films
• Himesh Reshammiya
• Tamil Cinema
• Aboorva Sagodharargal
• Michael Madana Kama Rajan
• 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
• Chola dynasty