Watch Dasavathaaram

Dasavathaaram is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language science fiction disaster film directed by K. S. Ravikumar and produced by Venu Ravichandran. The film stars Kamal Haasan, who also wrote the screenplay and story of the film, in ten distinct roles. Asin Thottumkal, Jaya Prada, and Mallika Sherawat also appear in significant roles. The film begins with a prologue that tells the story of a 12th-century king, who was cruel and unjust to his subjects. A saint prophesied the king's downfall and gave him a curse that he would die ten deaths. The king didn't take the curse seriously, but it came true, and he died ten times at the hands of ten different individuals who were the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The movie then progresses to the present day, where a corrupt American bio-chemical company is trying to test a dangerous biochemical weapon on humans. An Indian bio-scientist, Govindarajan Ramaswamy (Kamal Haasan), who has discovered a cure for cancer, opposes the company, but he is silenced by the corrupt officials.

The plot then takes an interesting turn when Govindarajan Ramaswamy's plane is hijacked by a Christian fanatic named Vincent Poovaragan (Kamal Haasan). Vincent believes that God has given him a mission to retrieve a sacred statue and restore Christianity in India, but things take a violent turn when he almost destroys the plane. However, before the plane crashes, Govindarajan Ramaswamy manages to retrieve a vial containing the antidote to the deadly biochemical weapon from the lab.

From there, the story unfolds into a complex web of events involving mistaken identities, espionage, international conspiracy, and the quest to save humanity from the catastrophic effects of the virus. Kamal Haasan plays ten roles, each with a unique purpose in the plot. He is brilliant as the scientist Govindarajan Ramaswamy, the naïve yet loyal police officer Balram Naidu, the former CIA agent named Fletcher, a Japanese martial arts expert named Krishnaveni, and several other secondary characters.

Asin Thottumkal, who plays the role of a devout Hindu woman named Andal, is excellent in her portrayal of the character's devotion to Lord Balaji, her genuine concern for her fellow humans, and her innocence, which forms a stark contrast to Kamal Haasan's complex characters. Though Jaya Prada has a limited role in the movie, she is effective as the mother of Vincent Poovaragan, who is unable to make him see reason.

The movie's special effects and score are top notch, especially the sequences involving the tsunami and climactic fight scene. Kudos to the film's director, K. S. Ravikumar, for his vision in presenting an Indian film that is on par with international standards. The movie's themes of religious harmony, the dangers of scientific experiments, and the responsibility of humans to protect their environment are also commendable.

In conclusion, Dasavathaaram is a movie that has something for everyone. It has action, drama, suspense, and a compelling storyline that keeps the viewer engaged throughout. The film's portrayal of multiple roles by Kamal Haasan, the special effects, and the background score are the highlights of the movie. Despite its lengthy runtime of three hours, the movie does not feel dragging, and the climax is both satisfying and poignant. Overall, Dasavathaaram is a must-watch for all lovers of Indian cinema.