Set against the backdrop of the Indian political system in Uttar Pradesh, the film follows Omkara's (Ajay Devgan) journey into sexual jealousy.

Saif Ali Khan in Omkara

Love is blind but the other side of love is jealousy which can tear apart the strongest and bravest of warriors especially Omkara.

Omkara commonly known as Omi (Ajay Devgan) is the head of a gang of outlaws. These include the crafty Langda Tyagi (Saif Ali Khan) and the dynamic Kesu (Vivek Oberoi).

When Omi appoints Kesu instead of Langda as his chief lieutenant, Langda is raged with envy. So he hatches up a plan to falsely implicate Omi's beautiful lover Dolly (Kareena Kapoor), in a love affair with Kesu.

With the help of Indu (Konkana Sen Sharma), Langda's wife, Langda's plan takes shape and results in a horrific tragedy.

Using petty insinuations and lies, Langda keeps poisoning Omi's mind until one day Omi snaps and begins tearing apart his own safe and secure world.

By the time he realises what he has done, it is too late… But like all love stories which never really end, out of the ashes comes a twist!

Directed by Vishal Bharadwaj of the Maqbool fame, Omkara is kept very close to the original story of Othello. He has added the Indian touch in order to make a Bollywood version.

Omkara is one of the biggest Indian films to be showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

Stars including Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi and Bipasha Basu along with director Vishal Bharadwaj and producer Kumar Mangat will be joining the screening of Omkara on 20 May 2006.

A book on the making of the film will also be launched during the festival.