After the critically acclaimed "Maqbool" based on "Macbeth", Vishal Bharadwaj once again delves into the Shakespearean world of obsession, jealousy and intense love in "Omkara", an adaptation of "Othello", this Friday.

Bharadwaj has given issues like sex, love, hate, jealously, pride and trickery a rustic Indian touch to suit the desi temperament.

Set against the political hub of Uttar Pradesh, the film shows how one man's obsession for a woman transforms into sexual jealousy and leads to his destruction.

Omkara or Omi (Ajay Devgan) is a chieftain who heads a gang of outlaws, including the devious Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan) and dynamic Kesu (Viveik Oberoi).

The harmony in the gang goes for a toss when Omi appoints Kesu and not Langda as his chief lieutenant.

The evil and manipulative Langda, who was eyeing the post, is enraged and decides to take revenge. He hatches a plot to falsely implicate Omi's beautiful lover Dolly (Kareena Kapoor) in an affair with Kesu.

He uses small lies to convince Omi that Dolly has been unfaithful to him and to substantiate the fraud takes the help of his wife Indu (Konkona SenSharma).

Omi, who suffers from an inferiority complex due to Dolly's beauty, loses his fair sense of judgment and rips apart his own world by killing the love of his life. By the time he realises his mistake it is too late.

Before Bharadwaj, Hollywood filmmakers Oliver Parker, Stuart Burge, David MacKane, Ted Lange, Liz White and Russian director Sergei Yutkevich had brought the tale of jealousy and rage on screen.

However, Bharadwaj is the first Indian director to present the Hindi version of "Othello" on the big screen.

The film is engrossing, engaging and intense and stars Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona SenSharma and Viveik Oberoi.

Bharadwaj picked all the actors with great care and those who've had a sneak peek say that Ajay has outdone himself as Omkara and Saif is going to surprise all with his performance.

The film has great music and Bharadwaj, who earned kudos for "Makadee" and "Maqbool", is hoping to strike gold at the box office with "Omkara".