Dev.D

I really wanted to like Dev.D – I really did!

But unfortunately, as much as I tried, I couldn’t like it enough. This, inspite of it having the uber-cool Abhay Deol AND the uber-cool music (I still cant get Emosional Attyachar out of my head - the rock version rawks !!). Nevertheless, while its still comfortably ahead of any other cinematic adaption of the Devdas (especially the Shahrukh version), it does not superlative cinema make.
Note - I am making this statement as a twenty-six-year-old in the year 2009. I am sure there are some old timers who swear by the Bimal Roy’s black & white version of 1955 – but I am equally sure none of them are reading this :)

There is no point discussing the story, because if you are an Indian who doesn’t know the story for Devdas, you must be a Martian masquerading as an earthling !! Jokes apart, I am branding this as the best version of Devdas because it finally gives enough strength of character to the two women in Dev’s (Abhay Deol) life. Especially Paro’s (Mahi Gill) character – it is a wonderful sketch of a young woman from rural Punjab, with a mind of her own and enough self-belief to take on the world. She doesn’t hold anything back in love, but she will not submit to the unreasonably egotist Dev either. Watch out for the scene when Paro visits Dev in the hotel – I really appreciated the nuanced performance. The scene shows her struggles clearly – her loyalties to Dev and to her new family pulling her apart. Chanda (Kalki Koechlin) isn’t as strong a character, but unlike the original story, she also will do only so much for Dev.

Apart from the women’s empowerment bit, there are quite a few changes to the century-old story. The location is set in rural Punjab initially and then Delhi later – and Dev.D is actually Devinder, Paro is Parminder and Chanda is just a screen name for Lenny, a school MMS victim (The phone scene with Chanda is again one of the highlights of the movie - but for a different reason this time). Chunni is the only name who remains untouched, but his character itself undergoes a radical change.

The visuals of the seedy lanes of Delhi and the trippy camera are special - but they are completely overshadowed by the music. Amit Trivedi delivers one hell of a soundtrack - you wouldnt notice, but there are 18 songs in the movie, and each one of them is placed perfectly. The movie wouldnt be the same without this edgy score.
But the biggest change in Dev.D has to be the sex and intoxication. Mirroring the opening up of our society, Anurag Kashyap has no hesitation in showing the carnal instincts of the women in Dev’s life – and how its no longer taboo nowadays for a woman to take matters into their own hand. Even more glorified is the alcohol and drug abuse – this movie at times seems like an ode to these vices.

But in his enthusiasm to show Dev’s descent into alcohol & drug abuse-hell, Anurag Kashyap’s story begins to meander a little. Even with a couple of surprises, the movie feels a little stretched. But overall, the basic reason I didn’t like Dev.D, is that I think the original story itself isn’t valid anymore. A 100 years ago, when zamindars had precious little to do and more importantly, rebelling against the society was unheard, Devdas's actions are understandable. In today’s context, Dev’s actions are just incomprehensible to me ...



Is it just me or does Mahi Gill very much resemble actress Priya Gill (Josh, Sirf Tum, Tere Mere Sapne) ? Google doesnt throw up any information about them being related ...

You can catch Kalki Koechlin trying to sell you a vibrating massage device for reducing fat on Tele Shopping Network