SPECTACULAR SHAKESPEARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY CINEMA: MERGE OF CULTURES

In the entire gamut of publication and performance history, William Shakespeare is one of the most popular names and most of his plays have been acted and reacted, adapted and published in various forms. In many countries, to be particular, in India, perhaps due to the colonial heritage, Shakespeare has never ceased to fascinate – both in the pre- and post-independence era. Indian cinema has seen many versions of his plays in popular cinema. Amongst all the performances of Shakespeares plays, Vishal Bharadwaj movie Omkara (2006) may be considered as one of the best ever Indianized performances of his play Othello. This study is an attempt to critically study the recreation of Othello in the Indian setting in the light of the original play. It is aimed at capturing the universality in the works of Shakespeare to establish the acceptability of his creations in each age, the significance of his citation, and the purchase of his status in various cultural niches and registers. In the adaptation of Shakespeares plays in Indian films, the Bard is not only absorbed into the cultural fabric of India but still maintains a catalyzing presence in post-colonial India.