Comparing othello play and omkara movie
Name: Malek Muskan Naushadbhai
College: Maharanishree Nandkuverba Mahila Arts And Commerce College
Year: T. Y. B. A.
Sem:5
Subject :Study of drama
Topic:comparing othello play vs omkara movie
Assignment:Home assignment, class assignment, essay writing
Submitted to : Amena Rangwala
Home assignment
1.Othello vs. Omkara – Character Comparison
- Othello was portrayed as Omkara in the movie Omkara, played by Ajay Devgn.He is the hero of the story, a respected gang leader in rural India, but also an outsider due to his mixed-caste background.
- Desdemona became Dolly Mishra, played by Kareena Kapoor.She is Omkara’s lover, loyal and gentle, but wrongly accused of being unfaithful.
- Iago was adapted as Langda Tyagi, played by Saif Ali Khan.He is the main villain, driven by jealousy and ambition. He manipulates others to take revenge for being overlooked.
- Cassio was reimagined as Kesu Firangi, played by Vivek Oberoi.He is Omkara’s trusted friend who is falsely accused of having an affair with Dolly.
- Emilia, Iago’s wife, became Indu, played by Konkona Sen Sharma.She is Langda’s wife and Dolly’s close friend. She unknowingly helps her husband’s plan, but later realizes the truth.
- Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, became Raghunath Mishra, Dolly’s father.He is a powerful political figure who disapproves of Dolly’s relationship with Omkara.
- The Duke of Venice was adapted as Bhaisaab, played by Naseeruddin Shah.He is the political boss and mentor figure in the film who gives Omkara power and responsibility.
2. Themes
Both Othello and Omkara share the same major themes:
Jealousy
In both versions, the main character is tricked into thinking his lover is cheating.This jealousy leads to terrible decisions and heartbreak.
Manipulation
Iago/Langda creates false stories to make Othello/Omkara angry and suspicious.He plays with everyone’s emotions to get revenge.
Trust and Betrayal
The hero trusts the wrong person (Iago/Langda) and betrays the one who truly loves him (Desdemona/Dolly).
Love and Honor
The love between Othello and Desdemona, and Omkara and Dolly, starts pure but ends tragically.Honor and pride are shown to be dangerous when mixed with doubt.
3. Cultural Adaptation in Omkara
Vishal Bhardwaj cleverly Indianized the story to make it relatable to Indian audiences:
Setting: From Venice to rural Uttar Pradesh, involving gangs and politics.
Race becomes caste: Othello is a Black man; Omkara is of mixed caste—both are outsiders.
Handkerchief becomes cummerband: In Othello, a handkerchief causes the doubt. In Omkara, it’s a cummerband (waist sash) that becomes a symbol of love and betrayal.
Language: Shakespeare used poetic English; Omkara uses rustic Hindi and regional slang.
Power structures: In Omkara, the Duke becomes a political leader, and the army becomes a gang of political muscle.
These changes make Omkara not just a copy of Othello, but a fresh take with strong Indian flavor.
4. Final Thoughts
Shakespeare’s Othello and Bhardwaj’s Omkara are powerful stories about how jealousy and mistrust can destroy love.
Even though they are set in different times and places, they both show how dangerous it can be to trust the wrong person and how society’s judgment (whether about race or caste) can break even the strongest bonds.
Omkara is a brilliant adaptation—it respects the original story but also gives it a local, modern Indian twist that makes it more relatable for today’s audience.
Class Assignment
Match the character with emojis.
A-2
B-5
C-3
D-6
E-7
F-1
G-4
Part :2 Read the emoji description and write the character's name.
1.Bianca
2.Graziano
3.Lodovico
4.Montano
Part: 3 short answers
1.Key is used for emilia because she is the key to discover the truth.
2.The emotion of heartbreak suggest about othello's journey because he doesn't trust his wife and kills her who loved him honestly and trusts a person who mess his life at the end.
3.ð€¥suggest Iago's personality because he has a dual and hypocrite nature. He shows that he is friend of othello , cassio and Roderiggo but eventually backstabbs each person.
MCQs
What is William Shakespeare often called?
A) The Father of Drama
B) The King of Poets
C) The Bard of Avon
D) The Legend of Language
Answer: C) The Bard of Avon
In which year was William Shakespeare born?
A) 1544
B) 1564
C) 1584
D) 1604
Answer: B) 1564
How many sonnets did William Shakespeare write?
A) 130
B) 144
C) 154
D) 160
Answer: C) 154
What type of play is Othello?
A) Comedy
B) Tragedy
C) History
D) Romance
Answer: B) Tragedy
In what language was the original story of Othello written?
A) French
B) Latin
C) English
D) Italian
Answer: D) Italian
What is the name of the Italian book that inspired Othello?
A) La Tragedia
B) De gli Hecatommithi
C) Vita di Otello
D) Racconti Italiani
Answer: B) De gli Hecatommithi
When was the first published version of Othello released?
A) 1604
B) 1616
C) 1622
D) 1623
Answer: C) 1622
Which collection included the second version of Othello?
A) Shakespeare’s Folio
B) The First Folio
C) Quarto Collection
D) The Bard’s Anthology
Answer: B) The First Folio
9. Which genre does not belong to Shakespeare’s categories of plays?
A) Comedy
B) Epic
C) History
D) Tragedy
Answer: B) Epic
Why is William Shakespeare considered highly influential?
A) He wrote in many different languages
B) He performed in royal courts
C) His works are studied, translated, and performed worldwide
D) He invented the English alphabet
Answer: C) His works are studied, translated, and performed worldwide
How many plays did William Shakespeare write (including collaborations)?
A) 29
B) 35
C) 39
D) 45
Answer: C) 39
What is a “quarto”?
A) A large theatre
B) A small book format
C) A Shakespearean actor
D) A poetic device
Answer: B) A small book format
In which year was Othello first written?
A) 1600
B) 1603–1604
C) 1610
D) 1622
Answer: B) 1603–1604
Why is Roderigo furious with Iago at the beginning of the play?
A) Iago has married Desdemona
B) Iago failed to secure Desdemona for him despite being paid
C) Iago lied about Othello's military victories
D) Iago publicly embarrassed him
Answer: B
Why does Iago claim to hate Othello?
A) Othello insulted Iago's father
B) Othello married Desdemona
C) Othello promoted Cassio over him
D) Othello was born a Moor
Answer: C
What action do Iago and Roderigo take to provoke Brabantio?
A) Kidnap Desdemona
B) Send a forged letter
C) Wake him to tell of Desdemona’s elopement
D) Attack his house
Answer: C
How does Othello defend himself against accusations of using witchcraft?
A) He claims Desdemona cast the first spell
B) He presents witnesses
C) He recounts tales of his life that won her heart
D) He denies marrying her
Answer: C
What ultimately convinces the Duke and Senate of Othello’s honesty?
A) Desdemona’s own testimony
B) Evidence from Cassio
C) Iago’s defense of Othello
D) A letter from Brabantio
Answer: A
What event eliminates the Turkish threat to Cyprus?
A) A Venetian pre-emptive strike
B) A Turkish civil war
C) A severe storm at sea
D) The arrival of Othello’s fleet
Answer: C
What minor gesture between Cassio and Desdemona does Iago use to manipulate Othello?
A) A kiss on the cheek
B) A handshake
C) Sharing a drink
D) Walking together
Answer: B
What advice does Iago give to Roderigo about Cassio during the celebration?
A) Challenge him to a duel
B) Steal from him
C) Start a fight to discredit him
D) Spy on his room
Answer: C
How is Cassio demoted?
A) He fails to deliver a military order
B) He is caught stealing
C) He wounds Montano during a drunken fight
D) Othello overhears him mocking Desdemona
Answer: C
What advice does Iago give Cassio after his demotion?
A) Flee the island
B) Ask Desdemona to speak to Othello
C) Challenge Othello
D) Blame Roderigo
Answer: B
How does Iago obtain Desdemona’s handkerchief?
A) He steals it from her room
B) Othello gives it to him
C) Emilia picks it up and gives it to him
D) Roderigo finds it and hands it over
Answer: C
What false proof does Iago give Othello of Desdemona's infidelity?
A) A letter Cassio wrote
B) A rumor from Roderigo
C) Cassio wearing Desdemona’s handkerchief
D) A drawing made by Cassio
Answer: C
What effect does jealousy have on Othello’s physical state?
A) He becomes mute
B) He faints
C) He experiences an epileptic seizure
D) He loses his eyesight
Answer: C
Why does Othello strike Desdemona in front of Lodovico?
A) She confesses to an affair
B) She says she still loves Cassio
C) She talks back disrespectfully
D) Lodovico announces Cassio’s promotion
Answer: D
How does Iago use Bianca to reinforce his plot?
A) He bribes her to lie
B) He lets her return the handkerchief Cassio has
C) He kills her as a warning
D) He frames her for poisoning Desdemona
Answer: B
What lie does Iago tell Desdemona to explain Othello’s rage?
A) That Othello has a mental illness
B) That Cassio insulted him
C) That Othello is troubled by political matters
D) That her father is gravely ill
Answer: C
Why does Roderigo agree to attack Cassio?
A) To gain military rank
B) To help Iago win Emilia
C) To stop Othello from leaving with Desdemona
D) To win Desdemona’s love
Answer: D
How does Iago cover his tracks after the attack on Cassio?
A) He frames Roderigo and murders him
B) He blames Bianca
C) He wounds himself and claims innocence
D) He disappears into the night
Answer: A
What claim does Desdemona make before dying?
A) That Cassio is the true villain
B) That she poisoned herself
C) That she committed suicide
D) That she never loved Othello
Answer: C
What final actions close the play?
A) Cassio becomes general, Iago is to be executed, and Lodovico returns to Venice
B) Othello escapes, Desdemona’s funeral is planned
C) Bianca inherits Othello’s house
D) Emilia survives and becomes a hero
Answer: A
What causes Othello to lose control of his actions?
A) Fear of war
B) Trust in Iago
C) Overconfidence
D) Lack of education
Answer: B
Characters
Othello
Othello is a Moorish general in the Venetian army, respected for his courage and skill in battle. Though admired by many, he is always conscious of being an outsider in Venetian society. He loves Desdemona deeply, cherishing her loyalty and affection, but his insecurities make him vulnerable. When whispers of betrayal reach him, he is torn between his devotion and his growing jealousy, a conflict that becomes his tragic downfall.
Desdemona
Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, is gentle, kind, and steadfast in her love. She chooses Othello against her father’s wishes, valuing his character and the adventures of his life above wealth or nobility. She is patient and loyal even when accused of betrayal, holding firm to her innocence until the very end. Her unwavering love makes her both the play’s most virtuous figure and its most tragic victim.
Iago
Iago, Othello’s ensign, is cunning, bitter, and deceitful. He hides his malice behind the reputation of being “honest Iago,” using his words to manipulate those around him. Jealous of Cassio’s promotion and resentful of Othello, he weaves a web of lies that ensnares friend and foe alike. His genius lies in exploiting trust, twisting small truths into poison that destroys Othello’s peace of mind.
Brabantio
Brabantio, a Venetian senator and Desdemona’s father, values honor and reputation above all. When he learns of his daughter’s secret marriage to Othello, he feels betrayed and humiliated. He cannot accept that Desdemona would freely choose Othello, a Moor, and accuses Othello of using magic to win her. Though he disappears from the play after his accusations, his warnings haunt Othello’s mind.
The Duke of Venice
The Duke of Venice serves as the voice of law and justice in the opening of the play. He listens to Brabantio’s protests but ultimately defends Othello’s marriage, recognizing Othello’s loyalty and worth to the state. Practical and diplomatic, he sends Othello to Cyprus to defend against the Turkish threat. His role is brief, but his authority sets the stage for the tragic events that follow.
Essay writing
Summary of Othello
Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600s. It tells the story of love, jealousy, and betrayal, and shows how one man’s life is destroyed by lies and manipulation.
The play begins in Venice, where Othello, a respected general of the Venetian army, has secretly married Desdemona, the daughter of a senator named Brabantio. Their marriage is not welcomed by everyone, partly because Othello is a Moor (a man of African origin) and an outsider in Venetian society. Still, he is admired for his military skill and leadership.
The main source of conflict comes from Iago, Othello’s ensign. Iago is angry because Othello gave a promotion to Cassio instead of him. Feeling insulted and jealous, Iago plans to take revenge. Instead of attacking openly, Iago decides to trick Othello and destroy his happiness.
Iago slowly begins to convince Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He uses small details and half-truths to make Othello suspicious. The most important piece of “evidence” is Desdemona’s handkerchief, which Iago secretly plants with Cassio. To Othello, this looks like proof that his wife has been unfaithful.
At first, Othello is calm and noble, but as Iago continues to manipulate him, he becomes more jealous and unstable. His love for Desdemona turns into anger and distrust. Even though Desdemona is completely innocent, Othello cannot see the truth anymore. Finally, overcome with jealousy, Othello kills Desdemona in their bed.
After her death, Iago’s lies are revealed, and Othello realizes the terrible mistake he has made. Heartbroken and filled with guilt, he takes his own life.
References :
https://medium.com/@amnaakhan/omkara-a-comparative-analysis-to-shakespeares-othello-3eff8490adaf
https://www.electrostani.com/2006/07/omkara-othello-and-dirty-business-of.html
https://www.ijoes.in/papers/v3i1/21.IJOES-DEBARTHA%20ROY%20%28184-196%29%20%281%29.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omkara_(2006_film)
https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/the-moor-recontextualized-othello-to-omkara/
