Movie Review: “Omerta”

There are certain movies where the lead actor pretty much carries the entire movie. One of them was definitely the Hansal Mehta directed Rajkumar Rao starrer “Shahid”. The director-actor duo has now added another movie to this list. “Omerta” is all about it’s leading man, and once again, Rajkumar Rao is brilliant.

“Omerta” is an attempt to delve into the mind of terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the notorious Pakistan based terrorist, and follows a non-linear structure focusing on his ‘formative’ years where he becomes a fundamentalist, the 1994 kidnappings of foreigners in India which led to his release, and the plot to kidnap journalist Daniel Pearl, which eventually leads to his death.

Hansal Mehta is a capable director, and “Omerta” is yet another feather in his cap. Mehta is able to capture a sombre mood filled with dread and doesn’t need to resort to any frills to create the right atmosphere. The best scenes are the ones where Omar Saeed Sheikh plots his activities and befriends his targets – it is shot very well and the sinister intentions behind the disarming smile and nonchalant nature are always lurking in the background. I also have to mention the scene where Daniel Pearl is killed, which is so brutal despite the main events transpiring offscreen. Definitely not for the faint hearted. The movie is a chilling portrayal of a terrorist and his methods, and Mehta is able to fill the audience with a sense of awe and disgust at the same time. Like the protagonist (or should I say ‘antagonist’?), the movie is structured in a no-nonsense way, with quick cuts and slick editing. Also, I was surprised that the story is written by actor Mukul Dev – and it is definitely well written. 

In front of the camera, this is Rajkumar Rao’s show all the way. He is present in almost every scene in the movie, and it is probably the biggest plus of the movie. Barring his jarring accent which you can look past after a point, the performance is flawless. Rao portrays Omar Saeed Sheikh as a cold, calculated and ruthless mastermind, who is single-mindedly dedicated to his cause. He evokes no sympathy for the character obviously, but you can’t help being drawn into the performance.

“Omerta” is definitely not an easy watch, neither is it without its flaws. But it is a gripping watch if you can stomach it, and benefits from a director who is hitting the right notes and an actor who is at the top of his game. Recommended if you like the genre.