IANS

The title of Vishal Bharadwaj's adaptation of "Othello" has been the subject of intense debate with the director hell-bent on calling it "Omkara" while the male leads, Naseeruddin Shah, Viveik Oberoi and Ajay Devgan, are keen on "Issek".

"I cannot imagine the film being called by any name other than 'Omkara'. It is the way the play has always been addressed across the world. There is a certain weight to the film and you can't get the film to lose that integrity with this title," said Bharadwaj.

Ajay, who plays Omkara in the film, wants to call it "Issek".

"After all, the film is a love story and the title must reflect the film as well as create certain curiosity about the film and 'Issek' easily does both. In addition, the title 'Issek' also says something about the film's backdrop," reasoned Ajay.

Echoing Ajay's views, Naseer said: "I don't like titles that reveal all as well as those that reveal nothing. A title must have charisma to make it curious, but not reveal everything. 'Issek' is a good title, but how will you spell it."

Added Vivek, who plays Kesu (Cassio) in the Bollywood adaptation of the Shakespearean play: "The moment I read 'Issek' it evoked tremendous emotion. It speaks about a deep love story as well as says where the film's location in India is (Uttar Pradesh)."

But Bharadwaj has ample support in his three actresses - Konkona Sensharma, Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu.

"I like 'Omkara' a lot. 'O Sathi Re' is also nice, but not so nice. It sounds very light for such a grim story," said Konkana.

"The film is very strong and the name 'Omkara' is very strong. It makes you think. A director like Vishal Bharadwaj should have a strong title like 'Omkara'," is Bipasha's logic.

"It is the story of Omkara and it has been a tradition to call it 'Othello' across the world whenever the play has been adapted," retorted Kareena.

While the lines are quite clearly drawn, one person who can't quite make up his mind is Saif Ali Khan, who also has a major role in the film.

"Initially, my logic was that the title should be based on the name of a character and so suggested 'Omkara'. But I am not supposed to make the decision here."

Set against the Indian milieu of political warfare in the interiors of Uttar Pradesh, the film follows one man's descent into sexual jealousy because of his passionate love for a woman and the final destruction of that love at the altar of blind obsession.

The film is ready and a sneak peek will be on show at the Cannes Film Festival in May. So, time could be running out -- the cast and the crew have only till the first week of May to decide the film's title.