The story kicks off in 12th-century South India, establishing a religious conflict between Shaivism and Vaishnavism. It then fast-forwards to the 21st century in a bioweapons lab in the United States. A deadly synthetic virus is accidentally shipped to India, triggering a frantic race against time. The narrative masterfully weaves ancient history, modern science, international espionage, and environmental disaster, culminating in the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The Ten Avatars: Kamal Haasan’s Masterclass
| Role | Actor/Actress | Character Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Asin | The female lead, playing a double role spanning centuries—a 12th-century temple dancer and a 21st-century veterinarian. | | Jasmine | Mallika Sherawat | A glamorous item dancer involved in the central conspiracy. | | Ranjitha Kaur | Jaya Prada | The ill-fated wife of Avtar Singh. | | Megha Mukhtaar | K. R. Vijaya | The matriarch of a powerful Muslim family. | | Kulothunga Chola II | Nepolean | The tyrannical 12th-century Saivite king. | | Sheikh Mukhtaar | Nagesh | Megha Mukhtaar's husband. | Dasavatharam Movie Hindi
In an era of CGI-heavy blockbusters, Dasavatharam stands out for its and the sheer physical effort of its lead actor. It isn't just a movie; it's a showcase of Kamal Haasan’s "Viswaroopam" as a performer. The story kicks off in 12th-century South India,
Cut to modern times, the plot revolves around Govindarajan Ramaswamy (Govind), a biotechnologist working at a lab in the USA. Govind discovers that his boss is selling a deadly biochemical weapon (a virus) to terrorists. When an accident occurs, the virus is contained in a vial. To prevent it from being weaponized, Govind steals the vial. | | Ranjitha Kaur | Jaya Prada |
A critic from the now-defunct Masala.com was particularly scathing, calling it an "insufferable, self-indulgent film" where the actor's "megalomania" derails the narrative. Another review on Glamsham found the story to be "far-fetched," and the climax (tying the plot to the 2004 tsunami) to be a bit of a stretch.