It was June 2012, A teaser was screened in the theater where Marc Webb's The Amazing Spiderman was about to play. It caught my attention and after a desperate wait of 8 months, I was that film in the theater. It was a revelation.

A FAN Thread on @ikamalhaasan's #Vishwaroopam.

The credits are run without any music, just the sound effects pigeons flying and cooing. At the end of the credits, a man is shown feeding the Pigeons. We sense that he is not bird-lover or anything. There is a vague coldness in his appearance. Pigeons seem vulnerable.

The first dialogue takes the reference with The Godfather I, "I believe in America" is the one. Nirupama is seen as having a dialogue with her therapist. She is guilty of something, and also modern enough to use words like "Marriage of convenience", "No Rain in America." n stuff.

Vishwanath is feminine, he originates from the dark, singing the jubilant glory of Lord Krishna. He becomes Radha. Exceptionally choreographed by Pandit Birju Maharaj, the song speaks about the relationship.
"Vidhai illaamal ver illaye", yeah, Thevar Magan Vithai naan pottadu.

The second half of the song uses a lot of mirror/reflection shots. In the final shot before the ends, there is a small bit of Azan heard. Is it a hint? Perhaps.

Just like Nirupama, even Viz appears to have a close-relationship with his student (calls her Pappatthi amma and asks to taste the chicken). I like KH's style of not spoon-feeding. He uses JFK, doesn't register it as NY city. Mr. and Mrs. Vishwanath's residence was super-cool.

Hey, here. Vishwanath speaks in a normal tone to Asmita here. And, I love the wit KH generates through dialogues, his situations are not completely usual.

Viz: Enna Kochitiya?
Niru: Illa, Punnai Putthutiruken Theriyalaya?
Viz: Phone kekkadaane mudiyum, pakka mudiyathu illiyo.

KH said in the interview that, the incident of Geronimo, didn't occur while he was written the script. He also expressed doubt about that being the reason for American officials holding permission for some months. How death is projected as a political-triumph? All political, eh?

The first major twist is revealed when Viz is seen praying at the Mosque. An interestingly placed scene to evoke intrigue factor. We knew nothing, but we are curious about what it is. Perhaps, it is first-time in Indian Cinema, which usually draws all its mystery in 1st 20-mins.

VR 1 has a lump of details, that's both cinematic and political. In the scene Omar's character is introduced as half-blind, frail, but piercing, he seems to be listening to Obama's speech about Laden's death. And just look the frame-within-a-frame composition, and makeup work.

I liked the way the humor was blended in this scene. A bunch of terrorists arrives at their home, but the wife and husband try to make a point about hygiene consciousness. And the much talked Toufiq reference is another good one.

The scene where Viz and Niruapama are interrogated by the gang, the scenario intercuts to Omar's group is future plans of destruction. I liked the tiny details where Wiz tries to evade the circumstance by manipulating, by using Krishna's phrase, juxtaposing names, and stuff.

One of the mightiest action sequences in the last decade. The adrenaline rush it pumped in the theater watch is inexplicable. Again, there's a detail, Wiz doesn't much time to escape, all he has is the gap between each water-leak from the wall. Waah. Aandavar's Omniform.

When we come to know Wissam is his name, and he was set in Afghanistan, training the terror groups. We are definitely thrown into a dilemma, but within a few minutes, we know Wissam cannot be an anti-hero. And btw, Look at the detailing of Nationality Indian (?). Just KH Things.

A subtle scene where how fundamentalism has taken space in the world. How it doesn't even spare the rebels belong to the same roof. How it sees progress. It is not a religion, it is just minds and politics.

This is a scene that depicts a kid in the suicide-bomber. He knows he has to die for the cause he has taken an oath to, he wants to take pleasure from tiny things. He swings and forgets all. Ironically, Omar's kid refuses to swing by saying "I am not a kid."

I was barely 18 or something, seeking nothing. This revelation came into my lap, and it triggered certain questions. Here, the old woman's prey of foreign countries manipulating and fighting, that compelling pain. she also calls Men are beats with the tail on their fronts.

"Avar daan osarama iruppare namma sheik" - That's how you would devise the intrigue, but KH doesn't make it visible. It is the peculiar restraint and aplomb. Look at the shot which suggests the beautiful Roses of Afgan(Pic2) and the scene with "Toufeeq" speaks abt opium-politics.

I liked the way KH connects the dots. Perhaps, he is the best historic-fiction writer ever in India. This episode takes reference from "Battle of Tora Bora", Months after the 9/11 attack. You can "Munnavar" (Pic 2). I'm loving this watch, how much I can't tell you.

Leaving aside the politics of the scene (this episode is an extension to the previous tweet, Tora Bora battle is still on), I have to appreciate the photography, DI, and action choreography. What an effect, and it was roughly 8 years ago! Gosh, Kamal Haasan. Hail Him.

The episode where the actual look of Wissam is revealed. He is neither a feminine dance teacher nor a terrorist. He is a hero. And I used to think Kamal Haasan is an esteemed narcissist to shoot such a shot, then I came to know this shot was actually planned by Rajesh M Selva.

Why Wissam regrets his past? He was faithful to the tasks given, but when Omar sort of gets out his rigidity and speaks about progress and education. Wissam counters it and says, that's not our job. We are meant for this. Wissam, of course, repents. His conscience does.

This scene where the conversation between Nirupama and Wissam about the Cesium and how it is been employed to cause the destruction, mostly the self. Like too many oxymorons and word-plays, in the end of this scene, KH says to Nirupama, "Enda Kadavul" (Which God?).

We don't crucify our god, we dunk him in the Sea.
ROFL.

Each and every such transition shot should've taken hours of preparation and precise detailing. Exceptional gimmick, i was. I wish it was continued in VR 2 as well. Some intriguing factor it has.

Shekhar Kapur's character is given the name of Jagannath (Krishna) who runs the play, and Wissam a.k.a Vishwanath (A form of Shiva and Arjuna). It is a classic Mahabharata reference, & some sources claim that Dawkins is inspired by popular ethologist and atheist Richard Dawkins.

Breakdown the character of Nirupama. She is brought into the scene because she is an Oncologist who works for somebody who is suspect of making contracts with Terrorists. She is naive, and harmless. It is her coming-of-age, Perhaps. Actress Abhirami had amazingly dubbed her role.

The climax is the most unusual portion of the film. It is too unconventional for Indian standards. Of course, it has a sequel and that's how it was planned. Mahesh Narayan's editing deserves a special mention here for slick-intercuts between Wissam's and Omar's scenarios.

One epic feels where Kamal Haasan says "Naa Wissam" Then the hymns of Vishwaroopam title song pumps in. Woah. And the arc of Nirupama gets a beautiful turn when she says "I am sorry, Polachi vanda innum vivarama solren." Omar loses the contest here.