Feb 25, 2009 08:39 PM
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This is the first time I am writing any review on mouthshut. But after watching dev d I thought of to be into the business here.
Dev D is loosely based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhay's popular novel Dev Das, Although Devdas had many cenamatic adaptations in the past including the most recent SRK starrer Devdas...this version of Devdas has something really different and exceptional to offer.
The story here starts with Dev being a child and a close associate of the girl Paro who stays in their neighbour. Utterly frustrated by his unruly conduct his father decides to send him to London to pursue higher education.
While in London Dev was in constant touch with Paro with the help of modern day miracles like Mobile phone and the internet. Dev asked for a nude picture of Paro and on seeing this he becomes desparate to return to India and meet her and get the job done.
Due to the lack of opportuties around their premises and because of the ongoing marriage they were unable to make it happen. And finally when Paro manages to find a place in the fields to get it done, it was the ego of Dev that played the spoil sport.
Unable to bear the subsequent humilating words from Dev, Paro decides to tie the knot with a rich guy who was a widower had children and was much elder to her. When Dev realises his fault it was far too late for him and he resorts to drinking (Smirnoff) and drugs to get salvation.
He goes to pubs, to bars to discos to every place available in Delhi where one can get alchohol. Amidst all these he comes accross Chanda, a hooker who indulges in phone sex mainly. She is a college student (Lenny) in the day and Sex worker (Chanda) at night. Incidentally she is also a victim of MMS scandal
Anurag Kashyap has made meaningful and hard hitting cinema from the day one when he was into direction. This time also he has handled the subject quite differently and in attempt to portray modern time devdas he has also shown the hardcore realities that today's youth has to face.
Anurag has handled a few of the scenes brilliantly, Viz. the altercation between Dev and Paro which compells Paro to take the decision to dump Dev. On the flip side Kashyap's way of narrating the story may not be acceptable or tolerable to a large chunk of the Indian audience for whom cinema is a mode of entertainment.
The screenplay (Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane) towards the second half gets dull and many viewers wud even start to yawn. In order to appeal the audience the screenplay should have been rivetting and consistent. Moreover there was no need to bring the MMS scandal and BMW hit and run case in the storyline. It seems that these incidents were simply forced into the narrative. But again the climax is the USP of the movie since the movie ends in a way that defies everybody's expectations.
The Music by Anil Trivedi is laudable and the song 'Emosonal Atyachar' is already a popular track. But the songs come too often in the narrative. That is another negative point.
Rajiv Ravi's cinematography goes well with the mood of the movie.
As far as the performances go Abhay Deol has given a natural performance. Moreover his way of choosing unconventional movies is truely commendable. Mahi Gill is natural, Kalki delivers in some scenes and is dull in some. The rest of the cast did their job well.
On a whole Dev D is a movie which is throughly offbeat, promising in parts and is dissapointing in some parts. This is not at all a movie meant for the family audiences though and also not for the people who are loyal to conventional hindi cinema. But film reflects the truth. I would recommend you to give it a one time watch but strictly with your friends.
