Devdas (Romance ,2002)

Starring
Shah Rukh Khan .... Devdaas
Aishwarya Rai .... Paro
Madhuri Dixit .... Chandramukhi

Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali

‘Falling in love is easy. But letting go of lover is very difficult’.

This is the message that story of Devdaas gives. Full of emotional drama that is void of any mushy sentiments Devdaas grips you with its flowing narrative. Add to it the laudable acting performances by its star cast and Sanjay Bhansali’s cinematic presentation. What you get is a moving tale of love and separation.

Although the film’s story does not have an element of surprise (as the story of Devdaas is very popular) Bhansali’s directorial sense lends it a strange novelty. His Devdaas has innocence, arrogance, love (unrequited) and a streak for self-destruction.

Acting by SRK, Ash and Madhuri is superb. SRK, in particular, gets under the skin of bacchanalian Devdaas and conveys his swagger, vulnerability, pain and dipsomania with conviction.

Pitted opposite him Aishwarya stands in equal stead and cuts a performance deserving praises. With the quicksilver agility she changes the expressions on her face and makes you believe that she knows Paro’s agony. Particularly impressive is the note of anguish she brings about in her voice whenever she utters the name Devdaas.

Madhuri Dixit too leaves an indelible mark with her portrayal of a confident (but lonely-at-heart) courtesan who longs for Devdaas’ love but also knows that she will never get it.

Synopsis

Three Bollywood stalwarts Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Nene and Aishwarya Rai play the leading roles in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s celluloid adaptation of Sarat Chandra’s poignant saga of timeless love and unrequited emotions: Devdaas.

The film has Shahrukh Khan playing the title character of lovelorn Devdaas, Aishwarya as his childhood companion Paro, and Madhuri in the role of the infamous courtesan Chandramukhi. Macho Hunk Jackie Shroff too makes a special appearance in the film as Chunnilal, the close friend of Devdaas.

Born to the wealthy Zamindar Narayan Mukherji, Devdaas spends his childhood ensconced in the opulent surroundings far from the scourge of harsh realities. He wiles his time away with his callow playmate Paro. Together they weave adolescent dreams, make hay castles in the air, tease and chide each other – not conscious of the delicate bond that would culminate into platonic love one day.

But, instead the day comes when the inseparables have to part ways. Devdaas is being sent to London for higher studies and Paro is left in lurch to do nothing but to count-back the days when Devdaas would return from across the seven seas.

Years roll by before Devdaas returns, but he comes back a changed man – debauched by the sophistication of the west. But something of the past romance still smolders and Devdaas still feels drawn to gorgeous and nubile Paro. But Devdaas’ Zamindar father looks down his proximity to Paro. He wants his son to marry in high society.

Unable to find acceptance in Devdaas’ family Paro recedes into shadows and begins to rebuff his amorous advances. Soon she is married to an older Zamindar Bhuvan, although their marriage never consummates.

Separated from Paro, Devdaas takes to heavy drinking and begins spending his time at Kothas. Here, enters a special woman into Devdaas’ bacchanalian and gloomy life – courtesan Chandramukhi.

Chandramukhi is impressed by Devdaas’ open criticism of her profession. Devdaas, on the other hand, finds an outlet for his repressed emotions in Chandramukhi as she lends him an attentive ear. He knows she is the only one he can speak his heart to before drinking himself to death!!


review by Apun Ka Choice