Omkara is a 2006 Indian crime drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj based on William Shakespeare's Othello. The screenplay was written by Abhishek Chaubey, Robin Bhatt, and Bhardwaj and was produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak. The film made an estimated $16,466,144 at the box office worldwide.
The film is about Omkara Shukla who is a leader of a group of gangsters that commit crimes for politicians seeking political gain. The film traverses a similar landscape of Shakespeare's plot to Othello. It ends with Omkara being convinced that his new bride Dolly has been having an affair with Kesuh, the man he appointed to run the business once Omkara entered politics. Omkara eventually commits suicide after his bride is killed and he realizes he has been misled from the truth.
The film was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 79th Academy Awards.
The film was also nominated for several awards and won several awards including National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Konkona Sen Sharma and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for Ajay Devgan. The film's soundtrack, composed by Vishal Bhardwaj, received widespread critical acclaim and was a commercial success.
The film's cinematography, by Tassaduq Hussain, was also widely praised for its use of the stunning landscapes of Uttar Pradesh, India to create a sense of foreboding and tension in the film. The film's use of Hindi dialects, such as Awadhi, was also noted for its authenticity and added a sense of realism to the film.
