≡ Menu

Dasavatharam – Chaos Theory, Butterfly Effect

Dasavatharam, Chaos Theory, Butterfly Effect, kamal hasan, Dasavatharam Chaos Theory Butterfly Effect

Kamal Haasan featuring Dasavatharam in ten different roles is making waves and also getting mixed reviews around the world. (Check our comments section on dasavatharam review and here)

One should understand the basic concept of the Dasavatharam storyline — Chaos theory, Butterfly Effect. Chaos theory or “Butterfly effect” has been shown in movies like “It?s a Wonderful Life”, “The Jurassic Park” etc…

Here is the excellent explanation about Chaos theory and Butterfly Effect — from the Sify.com message board.

FAQs on Dasavatharam

Some guys have claimed they haven’t understood chaos theory which plays such an important part in the film. As a physics student, I’ve decided to explain it a bit so that people can appreciate the brilliance of the film.

What is Chaos theory ?
Basically a chaotic system is one wherein long term predictions are impossible. Like for example, if I push a car, I know that it is going to move and it will continue to do so if I go on pushing it on and on. However, in a chaotic system, this situation cannot be predicted over a long period of time. Weather, for example, is a chaotic system. No matter how good your instruments are, you simply cannot predict the weather with 100 per cent accuracy over a long term basis and forecast it.

What is the Butterfly Effect?
It is the most important component of a chaotic system. Basically, small perturbations results in amplifications which completely destroys the original nature of the system and makes prediction impossible. If a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa, it could result in
a cyclone in USA.(Mark the word COULD.) A highly dumbed down explanation of the butterfly effect is in the film Anniyan, where Vikram’s sister dies because a liquor shop owner sells liquor on a dry day.

OK, how does Dasavatharam incorporate it?

In essence, Dasavatharam talks about eight characters who are inconsequential as such, but are integrated in a larger picture. Without Bush, the plane would have been called back. Without Shinghen, Govind would be dead. Without the tsunami, the world would have been destroyed. Even Krishnaveni (the old woman) plays a very important role. If she had not put the vial in the idol, maybe Govind would have recovered it then and there and a powerful weapon would have been unleashed. The very fact that it went into the idol meant that it was being accelerated to its destiny. Without Kaifulllah Khan, Govind would have never escaped… the list simply goes on.

OK, so does the film talk about theism or atheism?
Neither. It talks about how humans drive the destiny of the world.

The idol that is drowned in the sea along with Rangarajan in 12th century by Chozha king results in a fault being developed at the bottom of the ocean and creates tremors more than 800 years later. These tremors result in the Tsunami. This again is a classic case of Butterfly Effect wherein a seemingly inconsequential event (the drowning of the idol) saves Tamil Nadu from being wiped off the face of the earth.

Now tell me, does THIS movie lack a story? This movie has the most beautiful story ever attempted in Indian cinema. Unfortunately, Indian viewers and critics are obsessed with the “boy meets girl” and “revenge” themes, so they fail to see the story in this master piece.

– Chaos Theory

{ 37 comments… add one }
  • Anu Venkat June 18, 2008, 7:41 pm

    “Chaos Theory” is not a comedy.

  • Prashanth Manjapara June 18, 2008, 8:06 pm

    Dude,
    Nice post. This is like the matriculation-syllabi explanation for a state-board kind of an audience.
    But here is a central-board kind of an explanation.

    Kamal throughout his film career has been confused. He watches and admires movies that are made for a higher level of intelligentia, but when it comes to making his own movies, he makes it for a lower strata of intellectuals. He is always confused whether or not to make movies that are understandable and appreciatable by both. So he always makes a mixture that reaches neither.

    For eg: when you want to incorporate the Chaos Theory or its subset, the Butterfly Effect, the only way you can do it is by showing the 2 sides of what if incident A had happened and also what if incident A had not happened. But in the case of Dasavatharam, he has shown only the first scenario. So what it does is that, it showcases only a series of co-incidences just like any other film.

    Your explanation of what if Bush had stopped the plane, etc., etc., don’t hold good. ‘Coz if Bush had stopped the plane, the other 7 or 8 Kamals woudn’t have a role to play in the movie.

    The reason why the movie ‘Butterfly Effect’ scores is primarily because of showcasing all the possible permutations of incidents that could and could not have happened. But still the end that nature intended, neverthless happens. Dasavatharam fails for the same reason.

    I have a bigger blog post coming up @ http://greycellfiles.blogspot.com. Meanwhile there are other posts on Kamal’s ‘ingenuineness’, that you can read, while you are there.

    Thanks,
    Prashanth

  • ganesan June 18, 2008, 11:52 pm

    Prashanth,
    You are wrong in many senses about Kamal Hassan movies. There are 3 types of movies in India

    1) Masala movies
    2) Movies with Good story
    3) Intellectual movies

    Certainly most of Kamal movies stand in #3. Nowadays Rajini concentrates more on #2.
    Anyone can analyze, evaluate and write anything — we are in a free blog world.

    May be Dasavatharam did not satisfy you … but not all of his movies.

    What I am trying to say is… Your perception on Kamal Hassan and his movies are WRONG.

    — Ganesan

  • Prashanth Manjapara June 19, 2008, 1:52 am

    Ganesan,
    Please read my blog at: http://greycellfiles.blogspot.com. You will find most of my answers about why Kamal is over-rated. Please a comment too if you don’t agree. We can have a healthy conversation based on it.

    Prashanth

  • thilaga June 23, 2008, 7:09 am

    hey guys..now,what is the issue here?Kamal or the Movie or Chaos theory..
    i must admit im not a big fan of Kamal but i must agree that dasavatharam is a superb and brilliant movie..it incorporates science and religion in a very basic manner.i dun understand y that is so hard to understand..maybe its a typical “Kamal Movie”, but its a masterpiece..watch it again with a more open mind..

  • thilaga June 23, 2008, 7:11 am

    i mean its not a typical “kamal Movie”

  • Shiv June 23, 2008, 3:57 pm

    This movie is for INTELLECTUALS guys..

  • pratheesh June 23, 2008, 7:31 pm

    This movie is for the intelligent elite. Normal pple can go watch Ghilli or Kuruvi.

  • pratheesh June 23, 2008, 7:39 pm

    Kamal is over-rated only because he makes the mistake of thinking that most people can understand his films. Sadly he doesn’t realise that some people are just happy with seeing one hero flying and beating up 1000 guys. Come on, if you can accept stupid things like Super-man flying and carrying a car or spider-man with webs coming out of his hands…I have really nothing to say beyong this.

  • Babu June 29, 2008, 1:49 pm

    Hey Prashanth Manjapara

    You look a typical North Indian Raciest who think that south Indias are always below north Indian or you could be an Anti-Tamil person …whichever ways its very evident in your comments that you dont appriciate efforts by tamilian ..i would suggest you to watch a good masala telugu movie or an uncultured hindi movie or a senseless kannada movie..you can also try your imagination and feel good by watching stupid english movies…but plz dont blog yourself like this and show that you are the south end of us when we face north…hope you get it clear..

  • riti July 4, 2008, 3:54 pm

    i hope its the worst among all the indian film that too spending too much. kamal sud understand that spending too much or creating some story like he did for dasavatarm is not goin to attract audience of tamilnadu. its a total waste. for this dubakur movie he spent in crores and took so much of time and called jackie chan for audio release. film like kadal n many more had not spent too much but did well in theatres. first he sud understand mind of tamilnadu audiences. then he sud make film accordingly.and truly the makeups were not upto mark.

  • suraj July 5, 2008, 12:16 pm

    Everyone has their own opinions.I do agree with it.But please don’t compare Dasavatharam with a pretty usual love story like Kadhal.Kadhal is be nothing more than a day-to-day entertainer movie.And such movies cost little unless u wish to blow up bmw’s with the each step covered by the hero.Dasavatharam is in a different class.Inorder to understand the movie completely,u have to think abt it after watching the movie.The chaos theory is portrayed in the best possible manner which even the movie “Butterfly Effect” was unable to do.Butterfly effect is the result of subtle and non-apparent interventions in our life creating much greater consequences in the destiny of the mankind.And those who cry abt spending lavishly should first oppose the likes of useless masalas like “Shivaji”.A movie with the grandeour of Dasavatharam needs such amout of money to be spent.The music sextion was a let down and the second half was a bit lag.Overall a great theme made out in a great manner.

  • Marupa July 5, 2008, 9:09 pm

    Yes opinions differ, and I think those who don’t understand the movie only recent it. The best part I liked about the movie is the layers that lie beneath. Yes most of the audience have explained the Scientific aspect of it, which is the choas theory, but there is also a religious side to it which is the Dasavatharam.

    According to Hindu philosphy, God in Kaliyugam ( present yuga) would take the 10th form that is the Dasavatharam. It has also claimed that the Avatar would emerge from the Oceans, which is also mentioned in the song which Asin sings with the Patti.

    I really liked the way he found the balance between Science and Religion

  • ARUN & DON July 7, 2008, 6:03 pm

    Its a wonderfull Theory………

  • karry July 11, 2008, 2:59 pm

    hello all to kamal and south indian movie haters, u suck big time cos this movies has already collected more than 100 crores in 3 weeks and still running to packed houses. this movie is the best in terms of any south indian movie collections ever and on its way to become the highest grosser all india all time (dhoom 2 managed 150 crores)…so pls stop writing crap and start appreciating this movie..

  • Shivaji July 26, 2008, 5:34 pm

    to beat this dasavatharam recored the sample film from super star rajnikanth kuselan” is coming

  • hello August 10, 2008, 2:52 pm

    I dont know how chaos theory applied here.Chaos is used to describe a random system where input is amplied and causes unpredictable results.They are not totally unrelated.U cannot predict or calculate because u dont have sophisticated measurements.Now will dropping of an object will cause earth quake after 800 years?? A stupid story.Here he is explaining two unrelated events.He didnt even dare to say this happend because of that in the movie.But showed some butterflies.If he interprets the chaos theory in this way,then crossing of a cat will cause an accident will get scientific approval.How the monkey opens the box?By cracking/typing the password?Its illogical film.Without surgery, through a bullet he cures cancer!!!!!!Shameful .

  • Sahib September 14, 2008, 9:44 pm

    Kuselan had sucked

  • keerthan November 3, 2008, 12:50 pm

    wat ever u may say
    kamaal rocks

  • scundandHaf February 15, 2009, 2:43 pm

    Hello.
    I’m new there
    Nice forum!

  • XRumerFinder February 27, 2009, 12:15 pm

    Hey… sorry for my english, where I can download XRumer 5.0 Palladium FOR FREE??? Thanks!!!
    It’s perfect software for promo and SEO, but cant find any crack for it((
    cracked XRumer 2.9 and XRumer 3.0 are too old, Im need FRESH!

  • Preston February 28, 2009, 10:23 pm

    At the end of the day, anybody who thinks there is a reward for nothing, ends up losing. I am a big believer in growth. Life is not about achievement, it is about learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience, perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth.

    ****************************************
    Use This Tool to Secretly Spy on Your Competitor

  • Intorkrurbuts March 5, 2009, 9:45 am

    x
    x
    madafakerimpresarionte

  • DaveCahonne March 10, 2009, 7:15 pm

    Never underestimate the power of the internet. An increasing number of people use the internet
    to search for a business or service so having a web presence is an important media for promoting
    your company. Web design is a real skill and if your website is to not only look good but work well,
    it should be constructed by a professional web designer.

    If you are interested, you can contact me: hqwebdesign (AT) gmail (DOT) com

  • tiemavapist April 4, 2009, 11:10 am

    Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto 6/49, Super 7, Euro million, New York Lotto – Be the Next Jackpot Winner With The Only Online Service That Enables You To Purchase Official Lottery Tickets From Around The World.

  • PewAwalia April 6, 2009, 2:34 am

    Find all alaska jobs.

  • InvavaIllix May 6, 2009, 2:27 am

    http://pntrzweb.ru/img-feed/63/buy-tramadol/1.gif

    viagra site reviewsviagra for womensviagra eye exam viagra cialis chinese viagra dragon powerviagra joke download us licensed pharmacies viagra prolonged erectionbritish natural viagra effectsbuy viagra pill online viagra illegal phillipines rafael palmiero viagra424 buy viagra viagra to buy in ukfootball sized viagracheap viagra pills viagra wikipedia viagra alternative herbalviagra cheapest price sale viagra sampleviagra merchantviagra product strategy mexico viagra wedding night viagra thing started timeviagra hearing loss viagra felodipineviagra invented by mistakecuckold viagra stories g postmessage viagra subject online buy viagra on linemeloxicam viagra interactions

  • SnarlyJohn May 26, 2009, 4:02 am

    I hope there’s good info here.
    Is there just a lot of spam here or is there some useful info shared?
    Leave me a post and introduce yourself.

    Peace, .

  • AnnaNoble June 5, 2009, 1:05 pm

    I found the best thing to my sister’s birthday… It’s really hard to find cool and still unique.
    So today I saw this thing from ZTARLET on facebook where you can name a real star in the sky and have the certificate and a teddy bear sent to you and pay it by a single SMS. So awesome 🙂

  • LaveWadaAnged June 11, 2009, 6:58 pm

    Hello,

    What is the best VPS web hosting company?

    I’m want to set up a web site for my new business.

    thank you in advance,

    -Erin

  • CaseyFronczek June 21, 2009, 8:05 pm

    I saw that Casey Fronczek is offering fishing trips now down in south Florida. Does anybody have any input on these trips or has anyone been on one of these trips before?

  • MichaelKingstins June 26, 2009, 5:37 am

    I just wanted to say that I love your website. Mine is at forex It is still a work in progress, but please let me know what you think

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.