I just saw Vishal Bhardwaj's remake of Othello as Omkara, after being nagged by mum and sis for weeks to watch. My short review, Saif Ali Khan is much better in the role of Iago/Langra than I thought he would be, but my favorite Iago performance remains Kenneth Brannaugh. Ajay Devgan disappoints me every time. How is this any different from any of his other role, i.e. the broody, quiet, authoritative man in command? Personally, I always thought the biggest reason for Othello's downfall was his own insecurity, despite winning the fair (literally) Desdemona's love and hand. Devgan portrays none of the quiet insecurity Othello (as a black man in charge of white men at a time when racial prejudice was rampant) feels when commanding the handsome and youthful Cassio and the experienced (and white) Iago. To see how it should be done right, check out the 1995 version with Laurence Fishbourne (yes, Morpheus). Other than that, it's a good version.

My only complaints, however, relate to the heavy UP dialect used in the movie. Mum and sis saw the film in the US with subtitles, I saw it locally minus subtitles, and had to keep asking them "what did he just say?". Either ship a permanently subtitles version or the dialect should have been left out of it. I hear it's making waves in India because of the very explicit language as well. Didn't bother me, personally. I wouldn't expect the local equivalent of villager gangsters in the UP to mind their P's and Q's when they talk.

Anyhow, my verdict: watch but with subtitles so you can understand what's going on. And leave the kiddies at home.