Hyderabad, July 17 -- I walked out of The Odyssey speechless and with tears in my eyes. Around me, people were smiling, but there was a heaviness behind those smiles. The theatre remained silent as the film ended, yet it was clear that everyone had been waiting for Odysseus to reclaim his kingdom.

What makes the moment so powerful is that Odysseus is neither presented as a spotless hero nor reduced to a villain. He is a grey character, driven by instinct, desperation and an overwhelming need to survive. You may not agree with everything he does, but you still want him to make it home.

Christopher Nolan's adaptation largely lives up to its massive expectations. Some portions felt different from the version of the mythology I had heard gr...