Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara, despite a mixed domestic reception, achieved significant international success by charting in the UK Top 10 alongside major Hollywood releases, garnering critical acclaim for its unique adaptation of Othello.
In spite of getting average response in the home territory, Omkara raced to the UK Top 10 chart along with Hollywood films like Cars, Break Up, Pirates of the Caribbean, Superman Returns and Garfield 2, as per EDI Neilson reports.
Here's what the critics felt about the film -
A largely successful attempt to push the boundaries of commercial Hindi cinema: the result is an earnest visual treat. - Anil Sinanan, Time Out
Here is a Bollywood director who can be compared with some of the greatest figures of Bollywood's past. ' Derek Malcom, Evening Standard
I've never seen the play so perfectly tuned to a time (present) or a place (Uttar Pradesh) - James Christopher, The Times
With Omkara, contemporary Bollywood finally enters the realm of world class cinema - Naman, Sight and Sound
Words such as 'fantastic', 'marvelous', 'great' cannot sum up the work of art Vishal has shown in his adaptation of Othello - Sarbjit Lotay, BBC Asian Network