Dasavathaaram

Dasavathaaram
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. S. Ravikumar
Written by	Kamal Haasan
Produced by	V. Ravichandran
Starring	Kamal Haasan Asin Nagesh Jaya Prada Mallika Sherawat K. R. Vijaya
Cinematography	Ravi Varman
Edited by	K. Thanigachalam Ashmith Kunder
Music by	Songs: Himesh Reshammiya Score: Devi Sri Prasad
Production company	Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd
Distributed by	Sony Pictures India (North India) Ayngaran International (United Kingdom, Singapore and Gulf)[1]
Release date	13 June 2008 (2008-06-13)
Running time	185 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Box office	₹200 crore[2]

Dasavathaaram (transl. The Ten Avatars) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film directed by K. S. Ravikumar, written by Kamal Haasan and produced by V. Ravichandran under Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd. It stars Kamal Haasan in ten distinct roles, alongside an ensemble cast of Asin, Jaya Prada, Mallika Sherawat, K. R. Vijaya, Rekha Harris, Nagesh, P. Vasu, Raghuram, Napoleon and M. S. Bhaskar. In the film, a biotechnology scientist named Govind is forced to steal a vial containing a deadly virus from his corrupt boss, who intended to sell it to a terrorist nation, and keep it contained. All the while Govind is hunted by Christian Fletcher, an American mercenary, Balram Naidu, an Indian Research and Analysis Wing agent, and a set of dark events. Several other people also get involved in Govind’s journey and all their stories connect after the striking of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, thus bringing philosophical views into the picture. The film incorporates numerous themes and philosophies, including chaos theory, butterfly effect, existence of God, casteism, Islamophobia, Vaishnavism, and determinism.

The film, which had been under production for nearly three years, was distributed by V. Ravichandran. Primary filming locations included the United States and across Tamil Nadu in India. The soundtrack was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, while the musical score was composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The cinematography and editing were handled by Ravi Varman and K. Thanigachalam respectively.

After delays in post-production, Dasavathaaram was released on 13 June 2008 in around 1300 prints worldwide^[3] and received positive reviews from critics. Though its Hindi version was an average success, the film was a massive success at the box-office, grossing US$46 million worldwide against a budget of US$14 million, becoming the highest grossing in Tamil cinema at the time. The film was the first in Tamil to surpass ₹200 crore worldwide gross.^[4]

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Relating to chaos theory and the butterfly effect, bio-technology scientist Govindarajan Ramaswamy, aka Govind, addresses an event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai. He details the Shaivite Chola emperor Kulothunga II's persecution of Vaishnavites in the 12th century Chidambaram. But a Vaishnavite priest named Rangarajan Ramanuja Nambi resists Kulothunga's attempts to demolish an idol of Vishnu. The king drowns Nambi in the sea along with the idol.

On 20 December 2004, Govind is a bio-scientist at a US-based company researching on nanobiotechnology and pathogens. He witnesses Hanu, the lab monkey, swallowing a viral vector meant to be a bio-weapon. Grieving Hanu's death, Govind quarantines the lab. He refuses to relinquish the main vial, having recognized its lethal potential misuse. Govind discerns the senior scientist Dr. Sethu's malicious plan of selling the vial to a terrorist organization and flees with the vial. He flees to the residence of his colleague Suresh, who deceives him. Christian Fletcher, a ruthless ex-CIA agent and mercenary working for a terrorist group murders Suresh and attempts to seize the vial. While Govind makes a quick exit with the vial, Yukha Narahazi, Suresh's wife fights Fletcher. Govind meets his friend Sairam, who inadvertently ships the package containing vial to India. Govind boards the aircraft carrying the virus, flies to India and discovers that the package is being delivered to Krishnaveni, an aged woman in Chidambaram.

In Japan, Shingen Narahazi, a skilled martial arts teacher, is notified of his sister Yukha's death and sets out to avenge her. Balram Naidu, an unconventional Telugu police officer, apprehends Govind in Chennai. Having arrived in India and married Jasmine, a translator. Fletcher abducts Govind and an official Bharath; the arrival of a renowned pop singer Avatar Singh at the airport eases their evasion. Midway, Govind escapes with Bharath's assistance and reaches Chidambaram. Fletcher follows him with Jasmine and an aide Kumar. Govind meets Krishnaveni and her granddaughter, Andal, to retrieve the package. After discovering the vial's potential, Krishnaveni puts it into an idol of Vishnu. Having noticed Govind escape with the vial while Andal pursues him for the idol, Fletcher kills Jasmine and chases them. Govind and Andal are seized by a mob of illegal sand miners, whose chief Sundaram tries to molest Andal. Vincent Poovaraghan, a Malayali social activist intervenes in the impending crime with a crowd, intent on exposing the mafia; Govind and Andal slip away with the idol and a truck.

Andal urges Govind to return to Chidambaram and in a scuffle that ensues between them, the truck hits the vehicle of a Muslim family; they rescue the family whose eldest son Khalifulla is gigantic. After Khalifulla's mother faints, they rush her to a hospital where Govind procures a chiller icebox to store the idol. Avatar Singh visits the same hospital to treat his throat cancer and stores his medicines in a similar box, prompting the boxes to get switched in the elevator. Fletcher spots Andal in the hospital and takes her and Khalifulla's family hostage, intimidating Govind to fetch the vial. After reaching Khalifulla's home, Govind ascertains that the boxes are swapped; the police surround the residence and requests them to surrender but Fletcher evades with Govind, Andal and Khalifulla's brother to Avatar's concert. Avatar is shot in his throat while trying to assist Govind. Outraged Ranjita, Avatar's wife, fights Fletcher while Andal escapes with the idol and Govind chases her. Govind and Andal reach a construction site and the grappling causes the vial to slip out of the idol. Govind conceals the vial, handovers the idol to an unaware Fletcher and takes off with Andal, who is disappointed with Govind for giving away the idol.

Next day, on 26 December 2004, Govind intends to immerse the virus into the sea (as saltwater can deactivate the virus); Fletcher, nevertheless, combats him again, only to be desisted by Narahazi. Subsequently, Balram arrives in his helicopter and threatens Fletcher to surrender. Caught between the duo, Fletcher swallows the virus and succumbs to its deadly communicable effects while the others stare helplessly. A tsunami washes Fletcher away and generates considerable destruction while simultaneously ceasing the impact of the virus. Govind, Andal, Narahazi and Balram survive the disaster while Vincent, who was invited to negotiate with Sundaram's brother-in-law Raghavendra, succumbs to the catastrophe in the process of rescuing Raghavendra and his wife Meenakshi's kids. As the disarray comes to an end ultimately, Krishnaveni mistakes Vincent for his long-lost son (who had died 50 years ago) and mourns. Khalifulla and his kin, who were gathered in a Mosque by Balram for investigation, get through the calamity. Narahazi immerses Yukha's ashes in the sea. Avatar's cancerous growth is removed due to Fletcher's shot. Andal, meanwhile, insists that God initiated the tsunami to cease the virus from causing destruction while Govind disagrees, stating that it was not fair to kill thousands to protect millions. They, however, unite and profess their feelings for each other while Nambi's remains, shackled to the idol of Vishnu, are on the banks (due to the tsunami).

In the end, Dr Govind is felicitated for his service at an event attended by USA President Bush, Indian PM Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu CM Kalaignar.

Kamal Haasan came up with an original storyline and approached a number of directors, including Gautham Vasudev Menon to direct it, when K. S. Ravikumar accepted the offer. It began soon after the announcement of Sivaji: The Boss starring Rajinikanth.^[5] Ravikumar and Haasan came together for the fourth time following their three previous successful ventures, Avvai Shanmughi, Thenali and Panchatanthiram.

V. Ravichandran signed up to produce the venture securing distribution rights in the process. Pyramid Film Fund had an exposure of 50 percent in the project.^[6]

Following nearly a year of pre-production, deciding the cast and the locations, the film began its first schedule on 11 September 2006.^[7]

Over the course, of the production more supporting actors were added to the film, the first being Napoleon, who was signed up to portray a king in the film. Other veteran actors, Jaya Prada, Nagesh, P. Vasu, K. R. Vijaya and M. S. Bhaskar as well as a bevy of American supporting actors were roped into essay other small roles in the film.^[8] Actors, Jayaram and Vadivelu opted out of the film during the production of the project, citing date problems.^[9]

A preliminary schedule took place before the start of the film, which featured no filming, but only the make-up tests, lasting for 25 days in the USA.^[10] The make-up used for Kamal's characters proved to create difficulties. It took nine hours to implement the make-up and it failed to stay for a long period of time. To compensate for that, he had to rest and take fluids using a straw and at the same time, refrain from making movement in the facial muscles to make sure that it was not disturbed.^[11]

Major portions of the films were shot extensively in overseas locations which included the US, Tokyo, Malaysia and Thailand.^[12]

The film's final shoot occurred on 8 October 2007 at Uthandi, a coastal village.^[7]

The film was originally announced with A. R. Rahman as the music director of the film. However he opted out of the project owing to schedule clashes.^[13] Kamal, who quickly wanted the tunes, roped in Himesh Reshammiya, for whom Dasavathaaram became his Tamil film debut and only Tamil film to date.^[14] The background score was composed by Devi Sri Prasad. As the film demanded a "stylish and western" quality of music, two reels of music were initially composed and tested. A two-and-a-half-minute theme song was later composed for the promos. The background music in the second half consisted of extensive usage of violins and chorus and the entire score for the film was recorded over a period of one month, in Chennai.^[15]

The soundtrack was released on 25 April 2008 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, which became the largest audio launch for a south Indian film. Prominent film personalities across the world attended the event, with Jackie Chan, in his first such appearance, being Hollywood's ambassador for the function. Other prominent regional Indian artistes such as Amitabh Bachchan, Mammootty, Vijay and Madhavan attended the launch.^[16] The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, attended the event. The event saw overcrowding and the Chennai Police employed lathi charge on the streets to regain control.^[17] The event hosted by Shobana, was attended by all the artistes of the film apart from producer V. Ravichandran, who avoids to attend public events.^{[citation needed]} The soundtrack album was acquired by Sony BMG, purchasing their first Tamil film, for a record of ₹20 million (US$240,000).^[3]

Rediff, however, gave 2 out of 5 stars and concluded that the album was "a mediocre listening experience."^[18]

The film was delayed for multiple times when scheduled for a release in 2007 and also in Pongal 2008, due to extensive post-production works and in February 2008, V. Ravichandran announced that Dasavaatharam will be released worldwide 08 in the eve of Tamil New Year weekend.^[19] But due to the success of inaugural Indian Premier League season, the release of the film along with Suriya's Vaaranam Aayiram, scheduled for May 2008 release, was put on hold till 1 June 2008, the date when the tournament is concluded.^[20] In late May 2008, the makers announced the release date as 13 June 2008 along with telugu dubbed version,^[21] However, the Hindi dubbed version was postponed to 27 June 2008. The film was shown subsequently to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, by the request of the producer on 8 June 2008.^[22]

Sony Pictures India distributed the film in North India, whilst Ayngaran International sold the film to cinema halls in the United Kingdom, Singapore and the Gulf.^[1] Canadian rights for the film were bought by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, becoming the first distributional venture of an Indian film by the production house.^[23]

The film released worldwide with 1,300 prints in all the respective languages. Tamil Nadu had 275 prints, and Karnataka had 80, with 190 prints released overseas. The Hindi version Dashavtar had an unusually high 410 prints in North India. The Telugu version had 260 prints in Andhra Pradesh^[3][24] including 45 prints in Nizam region. The film opened in 25 screens in Hyderabad. The Malayalam version had 85 prints in Kerala.^[25]

The film's theatrical trailer was released publicly on 23 April 2008, a day after it was shown to special guests, which included M. Karunanidhi at a screen.^[26] The first exclusive screening of the film, prior to release, was held on the morning of the audio launch on 25 April 2008, to visiting guests Jackie Chan, Amitabh Bachchan, Mammootty and Vijay, all of whom were full of praise for the film.^[27]

The satellite rights of Tamil version of the film were sold to Kalaignar TV for ₹ 45 million.^[28]

Assistant director Senthil Kumar filed a case against the film at the Madras High Court. He claimed to have created the story of Dasavathaaram, in a script titled, Ardhanari alias Clones, and that Kamal Haasan and V. Ravichandran had "stolen" the script and left him out of the credits, violating the copyright act.^{[citation needed]} On the basis of this complaint, the Chennai police queried the actor and later accepted his explanation with the high court sending notices to Kamal Haasan and the producer V. Ravichandran announcing an interim stay on the release of the film. The film was allowed to continue with its schedules, but the case was delayed till in 2007. However, in September 2007, the Court dismissed the petition of Senthil Kumar in the case, clearing the legal hurdles for the film.^{[citation needed]}

Following the audio launch on 25 April 2008, Mallika Sherawat received a police complaint against the donning of improper attire at a film function. Hindu Makkal Katchi, a splinter group of the Hindu Munnani, lodged a complaint with the police, saying that Sherawat's attire at the function to release audio-CDs of Dasavathaaram, in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had been present, had "hurt the sentiments of Hindus". The actress was accused of wearing a mini-skirt and exposing her back in front of the chief minister.^[29]

The charges were cleared on 29 May 2008 insisting that Dasavathaaram did not portray Hindu culture in bad light.^[30]

Dasavathaaram completed a 100-day run on 20 September 2008 in four screens in Chennai.^[31]

The Chennai Corporation had given the producer special permission to hold five shows daily, which helped the film to garner the extraordinary opening. In the second weekend too, the film registered at least 95% at multiplexes and 80% in single screens.^[32] The film grossed ₹96 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.7 crore or US$320,000 in 2023) from 17 screens in Chennai in the opening weekend.^[33] The film grossed ₹21 crore (equivalent to ₹59 crore or US$7.0 million in 2023) all over Tamil Nadu on its first weekend. It grossed ₹60 lakh (equivalent to ₹1.7 crore or US$200,000 in 2023) outside South India in the three-day weekend.^[34] The film grossed ₹91 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.5 crore or US$300,000 in 2023) in a fortnight in Mayajaal multiplex.^[35] In Sathyam Cinemas multiplex, the film grossed ₹90 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.5 crore or US$300,000 in 2023) in a fortnight.^[36] The film stayed at No.1 position in Chennai box office for five consecutive weeks.^[37]

The Hindi version Dashavtar, that was released after almost one year opened to a 5–10% response.^[38] Dashavtar netted ₹1.93 crore (equivalent to ₹5.4 crore or US$640,000 in 2023) in six weeks in North India and was declared as an average success.^[39] The Malayalam version of the film grossed ₹2 crore (equivalent to ₹5.6 crore or US$670,000 in 2023) in Kerala in the first week.^[40]

Dasavathaaram grossed $4,632,719 and was ranked No.7 in the opening week, becoming the first Tamil film to reach the Top 10 at the International box office.^[41] In Malaysia, the film opened in second place, having collected $601,000 from 58 screens on the opening weekend^[42][43] and $1,720,780 in nine weeks.^[44]

The film grossed ₹200 crore (US$45.97 million) worldwide, and is currently one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time.

Dasavathaaram received positive reviews from critics, with critical acclaim on the performances of Kamal Haasan as the ten characters, script, music, narration, and concepts used in the film. Although some critics felt that the plot was little bit confusing and that Kamal Haasan's ten roles were forced, with only four or five relevant to the plot and the film's CGI received mixed response.^[45]

On the contrary, Rediff praised the film as "spectacular" and a "superhuman effort", rating it with 4 out of 5 stars. The reviewer concluded that the film will "go down in the history of Indian cinema as a unique experiment in the commercial circuit".^[46] Sify called the film "average", stating that it would "fall short of the huge expectation and hype it had generated." The reviewer also criticised the make-up, lamenting that "Kamal's prosthetic makeup, especially as George Bush, Fletcher and Khan, is a bit of a dampener" but claimed that Brian Jennings's special effects, "mainly of the climax Tsunami scene, are a top-class by Indian standards". The reviewer praised cinematographer Ravi Varman, noting: "[He] may take a bow, as his camerawork is glossy and superb", but noted that some of Haasan's characters like Avatar Singh and Khalifullah Khan were "unnecessarily stitched together to make it a perfect 10."^[47]

T S Sudhir of NDTV wrote, "Dasavathaaram, unfortunately, remains just a film with its USP of 10 Kamals. This Kamal does not blossom the way he did in Indian or Nayakan, Appu Raja, Mahanadi, Avvai Shanmughi or in Thevar Magan" and further stated, "One of the best in the business falters with the film's story and screenplay."^[48] Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India rated the film 2.5 out of 5 and said, "EXPERIMENTS aren't always successful. Like Dasavatharam, Kamal Haasan's ambitious venture sees him playing ten roles which include a take on George Bush too. Daring, we'd like to insist; only the make-up and the fake appearance borders more on the comic."^[49] The Deccan Herald said, "The ten roles are awfully disparate: they are more like pantomime characters. Kamal appears too flabby and jaded. Sorry, Appu Raja (or shall we say Michael, Madana, Kamarajan) it's time you start being your age. From start to finish there is a severe decibel assault aided and abetted by Himesh Reshammiya."^[50]

Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu said, "The film would have worked even better had the narrative been tauter and more purposive post-interval" but concluded, "All in all, Dasavathaaram shows that Kamal Haasan has once again taken great pains to make his cinematic projects convincing. The effort has paid off."^[51] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 43 out of 100.^[52]

A spin off film Sabaash Naidu, based on this film's character Balaram Naidu, the police officer, was planned but eventually dropped due to financial issues.^[56]

• Dhananjayan, G. (2011). The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010. Galatta Media. ISBN 978-81-921043-0-0.

• Dasavathaaram at IMDb
• Dasavathaaram at Rotten Tomatoes