DEVDAS

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music: Ismail Darbar
Lyrics: Nusrat Badr
Producer: Bharat Shah
Starring: Shah Rukh, Madhuri Dixit, Javkie Shroff & Aishwarya Rai

PREDICTED RATING: 8/10

The hugely talented Sanjay Leela Bhansali is back with his next magnum offering. After winning over both the critics and the audience with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, it is now time for the latest remake of India's most tragic love story, DEVDAS.

The anticipation was always going to be sky high with this movie, but the fact that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has gathered a red hot cast only adds fuel to the fire. Heading the cast in the lead role is none other than Shah Rukh Khan; the man that Dilip Kumar claims is the only actor that could do justice to the role today. Then we have Madhuri Nene-Dixit donning the courtesan role that she has always wanted to play and which promises to do for her what the classic 'Umrao Jaan' did for Rekha. The simple and very elegant Aishwarya Rai, who is playing the role of the lost love Paro, provides the third angle of the movie.

The story has been told many times in Indian cinema, yet it still has countless people on tenterhooks, wondering if Sanjay Leela Bhansali will give it justice. For those that have not seen the previous versions of Devdas, let us fill you in on what to expect…

We see the characters of Paro and Devdas being best friends during childhood. They may be on the opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to status and wealth, but together play tricks on many a people and have got into many a troubles. It is one of these jokes that also separates the two friends, breaking up a world in which only they exist. However fate dictates that they will meet again many years later.

That untouched love, that friendship, that existence still exists when Devdas returns back home, a matured and stylish young man, who sees his childhood friend in a new light, in the form of a very beautiful young woman. Is this really the chum with whom he dreamt of sharing with a life?

Paro's mother decides that with a match that was definitely made in heaven she will speak to Devdas' father, Zamindar Narayan Mukherjee, to agree to their joining. Zamindar Mukherjee does not feel the same as her and refuses this proposition. He cannot understand how the one and only son of this family should marry someone of a lower caste. In his mind it simply cannot ever happen. Paro, who has always thought that her life will always be with Devdas, decides to meet him herself, in the shadows of the night, where no one will know that she offers herself to the only man she has and would love till death.

Devdas decides to the take the matter into his own hands and speaks to his father, which alas has no effect on the stubborn man. He leaves town penning a letter to Paro that she should forget him and pretend that he never existed. But it is only when he leaves that he realises that his love for Paro is too strong and their relationship cannot end in this way. But Paro has been wounded by the humiliation that he caused and asks him to leave. This punishment leads to the duo separating ways once again. Paro decides to marry a wealthy, yet much older man, Zamindar Bhuvan. Devdas on the other hand moves towards anguish, alcoholism & Chandramukhi.

A stunning courtesan, Chandramukhi is hit by a burst of love and loses her heart to Devdas. Her unrequited love is opposed by his disgust for her profession, but Chandramukhi takes this as a token of his love. Devdas and Chandramukhi seek solace with each other and their unique relationship, which has no name is fulfilling to both. But Devdas' love for Paro is also met with this love for alcohol. Time passes and Chandramukhi renounces her world of glamour, dance and music and makes a life in which only her and Devdas exist. Paro takes on the role of wife and mother with sincerity and compassion, but she will be able to forget Devdas.

Two women may have loved Devdas, but neither was ever meant to be his because Devdas stands alone in life. A day comes, when Devdas' last moments are near, but Devdas had also promised Paro that he would meet her before his life ends. Devdas reaches the gates of Paro's house, but the when the gates remain closed, the gates of heaven open for Devdas. A tragic ends to a touching and emotional classic.

RELATED LINKS:
• Buy This Soundtrack CD
• Listen To The Songs @ IndiaHits.com
• Music Review
• Desktop Wallpapers
• MP3 Screensavers
• Movie Stills
• Songs Lyrics
• Video Trailers

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: June 14th 2002

PREVIEWED BY AMARPREET CHANNA