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DEVDAS
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(Reviewed By Robeel Haq)
Director:
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music: Ismail Darbar
Lyrics: Nusrat Badr
Producer: Bharat Shah
Starring: Shah Rukh, Madhuri Dixit, Javkie Shroff
& Aishwarya Rai
RATING:
7/10
 The
latest onscreen adaptation of the classic Sarat
Chandra Chattopadhye novel DEVDAS needs little
introduction for fans of Indian cinema. The
movie is perhaps this year's most awaited and
expectations are unfortunately gigantic. The
only reason for the word unfortunately whilst
describing the anticipation is because even
the greatest examples of cinema can seem disappointing
if the audience set impractical targets. Devdas
is not an exception to this rule.
The
movie begins in the breathtaking house of Zamindar
Narayan Mukherjee and his wife Kaushalya (Smita
Jayakar). Their son Devdas (Shah Rukh Khan),
who has been studying in London for ten years,
is about to return home and the whole extended
family is bustling with preparations for his
welcoming. His mother in particular is so excited
that she requests everyone else close their
eyes so that she is the first to glimpse her
son.
 However,
to her despair, the first person Devdas chooses
to visit is his childhood sweetheart Paro (Aishwarya
Rai), who has also been counting the days for
his return. It is here that the audience first
witnesses a sense of jealously by Devdas's mother
over the closeness he shares with Paro. Perhaps
this is the deciding factor when Kaushalya cruelly
rejects Paro's mother Sumitra (Kiron Kher) in
public after she announces her desire for the
two lovebirds to marry.
Despite
the rejection, Paro visits Devdas in the middle
of the night and offers herself to him. However
Devdas's father overhears the conversation and
orders Paro to leave the house. Devdas, unable
to stand up to his father, also makes his exit
but instead of taking Paro with him, he leaves
alone. Away from home, Devdas meets his friend
from London, Chunnilal (Jackie Shroff). The
two drown their sorrows by visiting a brothel,
where they meet the beautiful courtesan Chandramukhi
(Madhuri Dixit). She instantly falls in love
with Devdas despite his constant insults and
rejection.
 Chandramukhi
discovers the truth behind Devdas's past but
remains loyal to him throughout, including his
introduction to alcoholism. She also acknowledges
the fact that his heart will always belong to
another. Meanwhile, Devdas returns to visit
Paro, who is married to an older man and has
become a stepmother to his grown-up children.
Their passion for each other remains strong
and she begs him to reject alcohol, even offering
him a place in her home so that she can nurse
his recovery. Although he cannot comply with
her request he promises to visit her home before
his death. A promise he was destined to keep.
The
lavishness of the movie is evident throughout.
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has obviously
gone through great pains to give the movie a
larger than life appeal. The set designs are
a treat for the eyes and attention to even the
smallest of details is commendable. Ditto the
costumes by Abu-Sandeep, Neeta Lulla and Reza
Shariffi.
 The
soundtrack (which is so different to the other
Indian film music offerings in this era) together
with the choreography also help to bring out
the extravagance. In this sense, Sanjay Leela
Bhansali, who himself states that he wanted
to give the film "opulence and grandeur
that would do justice to its beautiful subject
and characters," has successfully achieved
his aim.
His
direction is also sound. Its interesting that
Sanjay Leela Bhansali chose not to begin the
film showing Devdas and Paro as children despite
the fact that this would give the audience enlightenment
about the love they shared from an early age.
Infact the flashbacks of them as children are
minimal.
 However
that's the whole point. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
is not working on a scene-by-scene reconstruction
of the original versions of Devdas. This is
his own interpretation. It may result in people
saying the more simplistic direction of the
originals allowed the earlier directors, such
as Bimal Roy, to concentrate more on giving
their versions depth. Whether the lavishness
here takes away from the depth is questionable,
although it is apparently that some of the emotions
that Sanjay Leela Bhansali tries to achieve
are unfortunately missing.
The
performances from the lead stars are great.
This is undoubtedly Shah Rukh Khan's most challenging
role to date and some of the scenes truly show
the actor's capabilities. It's certainly not
a perfect performance but Shah Rukh manages
to make the character his own, which is harder
than it sounds. Aishwarya Rai is once again
on form. She performs well, looks stunning and
dances gracefully. Director
Sanjay Leela Bhansali obviously brings out the
best in her.
 Its
fantastic that Madhuri Dixit was able to play
a role such as Chandramukhi during her career.
Although her screen time is shorter than Aishwarya
Rai, she is hugely successful is making her
presence felt. She handles her hardest scenes
with ease and her dancing is one of the film's
highlights. Jackie Shroff has a smaller role
and although he doesn't steal any scenes, he
handles the emotions befittingly. All the other
cast members offer strong support.
In
conclusion, I take you back to my earlier point.
Walking into the cinema with enormous expectations
is not wise. Devdas is not one of Bollywood's
greatest ever movies and nor does it claim to
be. It is however an enjoyable movie which should
find many fans around the world.
RELATED
LINKS:
.
Your
Thoughts On This Special Review
.
The
Devdas Music Experience
. Listen
To The Songs @ IndiaHits.com
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