Dev D
Background: Dev D is an adaptation of the epic Indian novel called Devdas. The book is set in early 1900’s in West Bengal, in and around Calcutta, where the lead character ‘Devdas’ looses his childhood love ‘Paro’ due to circumstances, develops into an alcoholic, and finds some solace being around a sex worker ‘Chandramukhi’ , who is madly in love with him. This is the basic theme of Devdas that has been adapted at least a couple of times in bollywood. Dilip Kumar in the 1960′ and Shahrukh Khan in early 2000’s are the two instances of Devdas in bollywood that immediately spring to mind. Both these movies basically adapted the bookish screenplay and set the characters, timing and location as prescribed by the book. The movies were an instant hit.
Review: Now take the setting from Kolkata to Punjab and Pahar Ganj in Delhi, timing from early 1900’s to the realities of year 2009, over the top melodrama to wacky one liners, sad betrayal songs to trendy fusion music, ciggies to joints, whiskey to new age vodka, and that is your Devdas to Dev D. The movie is a brilliant concept to firstly adapt Devdas in this incredible way and then secondly to bring back some scandals that occurred in Delhi over the past few years. On top of all this, the camera work is absolutely fantastic on all occasions. The jazz sequences, musketeer dancing and the songs are new age, fresh and unprecedented in Indian cinema.
There are occasions where the movie goes over the top with its dialogues and presentation. It may at times even sound and look cheap, but I think it is still done in with a lot of taste and freedom. You need to have seen the earlier Devdas to actually enjoy this one the way I did. This lead guy Abay Deol is making waves in Indian cinema. The absolute freedom and ease and almost carelessness in his displays, makes him a unique talent in the world let alone India. From what I have seen in the past too, he has definitely carved a niche for himself.
Verdict: Dev D is fresh, entertaining, bold and well thought off. It even brings the point of view of some real incidents that Delhi has faced and beautifully merges them in the entire Devdas theme. A definite watch. If I could change one thing it would be those 20 mins after the movie was 70% complete. Without leaking too many details, all I can say is that I was just loosing the plot during that period and wasn’t quite happy. However, the end was reasonably satisfactory to ensure that all good work done earlier is not lost. Go see this one for sure, at least for some indian jazz and also for the song ‘emotional atyaachaar’.
Abhay deol definitely looks set to go places … For some reason the guy doesn’t really have the aura of a bollywood hero and that in my opinion is his strong point. He fits the kind of roles he’s been doing perfectly. I quite liked his performance in “1.40 ki last local”
must watch..are you kiddin..
you almost make the movie sound good with all the background and all..i found it boring..headless
Lolz… were they distributing free condoms with the movie ticket?
In Mumbai they are using the movie for awareness of aids and since he hero sleeps around aimlessly, they thought it;s a good vehicle for the awareness!! Film makers are really outdoing each other with their innovative strategies to hype curiosity about their movies!
@Joshi: I saw the movie yesterday and actually liked it. For what its worth, it is a nice and interesting modern take on the story of Devdas.
I’m not sure if it was worth the *5 stars* that its got in a couple of reviews, but it definitely is different than the usual crap.
@sharninder..glad that you liked it..i like the music and a few moments here and there..like what shakes mentiones here..emotional atyachaar, loved that elvis thingi…..abhay deol was good.. but on the whole i found it loose, maybe more of an intent on characterization swayed it away from telling a storey, which I feel is a basic premise of any movie. Its different , but not 5 stars IMO.
@Josh: boring, headless? dude, I have no idea what you are looking out from a movie. This movie had more head than a complete bottle of beer can ever produce. I can’t remember a more visually advanced, musically jazzed, and neatly choreographed movie produced in Indian cinema. I’d rate it right up there with the likes of Omkara as far as adaptation of a script is concerned.
@Sharninder: Absolutely. I have not seen 1.40 ki local but I have seen oye lucky lucky oye and socha na thaa.. this guy is incredible.
@Anu: Yeah, and sadly the focus is more on marketing than actual movie making. With the kind of cinematic rubbish that is regularly dished out these days, it makes me wonder that whatever happened to the art of making good movies. I guess now we have too many corporates in bollywood than just pure artist.
Came here through Anmol’s blog… good one
Abhay Deol is definitely doing some good cinema have u seen Manorama 6 feet under??
Hey Suneeta, welcome. I haven’t seen manorama six feet under, but I understand that it is a thriller. I guess I will rent in all movies of Abhay deol soon, i’m a big fan now
What I really want to see are “Outlander” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”
Would just like to talk about Dev D…i agree with you shekhar.I was completely in love with the movie when i saw it but i also feel that certain ghory details could have easily been done without.
The good news is that moser bear has come out with its original DVD so its affordable too.lol!!
i am big fan of abhay deol from his first movie…its called socha na tha and is diected by the guy of jab we met fame.
i would also recommend oye lucky!!
Hey Shekhar.. I landed here thru anmol’s blog… and i m happy that i did..
now abt Dev’D'… yes, its my fav recent time flick… though it gets too intense (beyond my tolerance level) a few times, overall I completely loved the movie… when i walked out of the theater, i was totally shaken up .. it did a leave a long lasting impact .. if i was teaching art of movie making, i would hv surely recommended this movie to my students… anurag kashyap had a tough job.. noone in his sane mind, would think of adaptation like that… and boy, what an incredible job he has done… SRK’s devdas suddenly looked so meek, flimsy and sketchy… I am a huge AD fan.. hv seen all of his movies… i liked music - Pardesiiiii is my fav no…. prisley thing is catchy… the choice of characters was perfect… he couldn’t hv got better Paro… i liked the climax .. when suddenly his world takes 180 degeree turn… brilliant conceptualised…
thanks for letting me relive the movie…
hey Gauri, welcome to StaleFresh, and also to the club of people who appreciate Dev D kind of refreshing and brilliant film making :). AD is a rockstar, and hope he sticks to ‘his’ kind of cinema. I enjoyed oye lucky a lot too.
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