Written by: JBR
The final schedule of shooting starts in April and ends in May. Then there is post production work. So, Kamal's Dasavataram' should hit the screen sometime in June or July.
For Kamal as well as for the film itself, it is not just another film but a feat. For the first time, an actor will be doing 10 roles in a film and Kamal's 'Dasavataram' is thus creating a record.
It is very difficult to guess how the story is woven together as it spans several centuries from the 12th to the 21st. Kamal created the story of 'Dasavataram' about 6 years back. Because of the humongous amount involved in producing the film, the film had not been realized till Oscar Films Ravichandran stepped in bravely to produce it, at a mind boggling cost of 30 crores!
Half the budget of the film goes towards grand sets. One set has re-created the 12th century Chola age! An important structure is the golden domed Chidambaram temple. Hundreds of supporting actors depicting Chola age citizens, horses, elephant fleets of Kulathunga Chola have been picturised in some scenes. Napoleon has done the role of Kulathunga Chola. A Saivite, he hurls the idol of the reclining Govindaraja Perumal idol into the sea and Rangaraja Nambi embraces the idol and sinks along with it in the sea. The latter scene has been filmed with special cameras by cinematographer Ravi Varman. Kamal does the role of Rangaraja Nambi with his body smeared with thirumann. Among the 10 getups, the role of Rangaraja Nambi is one.
Before that, a scene showing iron hooks embedded into Rangaraja Nambi's back as he's taken in procession was also shot. In his own voice, Kamal has sung this number as he walks with the hooks tearing his skin.
'Kallai mattum kandaal kadavul theriyaadhu
Kadavul mattum kandaal kalladi theriyaadhu
Saivam enru paarthaal deivam kidaiyaadhu
Deivam enru paarthaal samayam kidayaadhu...'
With lyrics by Vaali, the song has an important place in the film. Today, Saivites and Vaishnavites are co-existing happily but in the 12th century, they were at each other's throats over who was superior, Shiva or Vishnu. The Vaishnavites scoffed at temples being built for Shiva who roamed burial grounds. The Saivites scoffed at temples being built for Vishnu who lay reclining on his bed on the sea. There was so much animosity. A minor part of it has been taken for the film with Kamal and Napoleon in the main roles.
Once the story comes to the 21st century, there is a drastic change in scenes and Kamal's costumes. Kamal is a scientist and looks like a foreigner. The scenes were shot in the US at a huge research centre for which it is difficult to get permission to shoot. In a set put up at the research centre, the scene shows huge computers running massive machines and they all get ultimately destroyed. This set has been made by art director Prabakaran. Apart from him, Sameer Chhanda has also made some grand sets for the film.
The third role Kamal plays is of a self defense expert from Malaysia. How he clashes with enemies has been shot in Malaysia.
At a famous night street in Kuala Lumpur, Mallika Sherawat dances on a stage with 20 American dancers and Kamal watches it. The dance has been choreographed by Brinda.
An important element in the film are fight scenes. Since Kamal's favorite stunt master Vikram Dharma passed away, his place has been taken by Thyagarajan and Kanal Kannan. They have composed the fights that take place in India. The fight and chase scenes filmed in the US have been done by Hollywood stunt artistes Joop Katana and Matos. The traditional Malaysian Akido fight scenes have been done by Sonnylake.
New apparatus like Jimmy Jip, Steadycam and Panther crane have been used. Kamal materializing in the 747 jet has been picturised in a way not done before.
Napoleon, Asin, Mallika Sherawat, Santhanabharati, Jayaprada and MS Bhaskar co-star in the film. Story, screenplay and dialogues are by Kamal. Direction is by KS Ravikumar.
Everyone connected with the film consider it a great opportunity. 'Working in this film is like studying at an institute. When I shoot each scene, the make-up, the take, after developing in the lab to edit it in telecine and watching the footage for the 11th time also, does not take away the interest,' says cinematographer Ravi Varman.
'My film career will reach another dimension,' says KS Ravikumar. Producer Oscar Ravichandran reckons, 'Surely this film will have an important place in Tamil cinema history. I trust that the film will get a good collection.'
What we have seen above are only 3 minor information tidbits of 3 of Kamal's get-ups in the film. Actually shooting is complete for 8 get-ups and only 2 are remaining to be shot.
We have to mention Kamal's hard work especially with regard to get-ups. There are those who make faces for just one get-up and here we have Kamal easily taking trouble to change into 10 different people! Each get-up involves 6 hours of makeup. He has to start as early as 3am in the morning. He has to be patient for 6 hours in order to be ready for shooting. But there's a snag. This makeup will last only for about 4 hours, so shooting has to be completed by then for the day. On the whole it takes close to 15 hours to don makeup, act with makeup and remove makeup and he cannot eat anything that makes his cheeks move much. He has to follow this for 10 full getups!
Director KS Ravikumar says it is difficult for people to guess about Kamal's various getups. The 2 people who deserve kudos for this are Moksha and Anil Bemrigar from Hollywood. The former is a makeup specialist; the latter is a hair style specialist.
The information we have on hand is enough to make us believe that the film we are to see in a few months will indeed be something monumental in more ways than one!
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-10.01.2007
