Feb 08, 2009 04:18 PM
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If Sarat Chandra knew that an eccentric director like Anurag Kashyap is going to screw up his classic work Devdas 70 years after his death, he would have never written Devdas in the first place! Kashyap’s modern remake of Dev D fails miserably in all respects. The entire film is vague-it neither entertains, nor satisfies!
The story of the movie: Dev (Abhay Deol) is sent to London for his studies when he was 12 (why was he sent to London? Are there no boarding schools in India?!). He keeps in touch with his childhood sweetheart, Paro (Mahie Gill). Finally, he returns to his hometown and both the lovebirds meet. But a misunderstanding leads to their separation. Paro is then married to a widower while Dev, hugely depressed, turns to alcohol and later to drugs. His condition keeps on deteriorating. And then he meets Chanda (Kalki Koechlin), a prostitute. She too had a past-quite tragic one. Dev finds solace in Chanda’s company. But deep down, he still loved Paro immensely.
It’s always great to see a filmmaker trudging on an unusual path, with the aim of providing a hatke film. However, if the film turns illogical and nonsensical, then the director loses hands down! And that’s what happens with Dev D. The first 35 minutes of the film, based in rural Haryana goes well. However, the film goes for a downfall after the song ‘Emosanal Attyachar’. The film then throws light on Chanda’s bad past. It was interesting, no doubt, but it’s given too much footage and the focus moves away from the lead character of the film. Still not bad, but the post-interval portions completes the mess-up!
The 2nd half becomes lengthy and at the same time too monotonous. Scenes of Abhay Deol high on drugs or booze shot in weird angles were too stupid after a point of time. You may expect at least the climax to be sensible but no, you’re wrong! The climax is confusing, idiotic-like the whole film is!
Abhay Deol, undoubtedly, was terrific and performs the best! He naturally has a ‘bad boy’ which works big time! He has that gruff looks and the voice that suits perfectly for Dev’s character. People may not like the film but Abhay’s performance will surely be loved by everyone!
Mahie Gill was simply outstanding! She acted confidently and amazingly in the entire film, particularly in the 1st half since she’s hardly there in the 2nd half. Kalki Koechlin gets more scope in the film then Mahie and performs perfectly, as per her character demand. Dibyendu Bhattacharya as Chunni was funny. Parakh Madan was good. The gentleman playing Abhay Deol’s dad was too good.
Amit Trivedi’s music was fabulous! In fact, music is what makes the film interesting and also bearable! Amit, who had already earned praises for his work in Aamir, rocks big time with Dev D. The film has around 15 songs, but each one is unique and a treat to the ears! ‘Emosanal Attyachar’ without a shred of doubt was the best song of the lot. Its picturisation was fabulous! Other songs which leave a mark: ‘Yahi Meri Zindagi’, ‘Payaliya’ and ‘Pardesi’.
Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography makes this film visually brilliant. Same for Sukanta Panigrahy’s art direction! Chanda’s room in the prostitute-den and Dev’s room in a dingy hotel and also the ‘khoofia’ pub had wonderful sets! 5 on 5 to it!
Story (by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane) was lifted from Devdas, with little changes here and there. Kashyap’s direction was over the top, thereby making the film disaster. The failure of No Smoking hasn’t taught him anything. He should get one thing in his mind that he’s in India and he’s making films for Indian audience. We all are open to offbeat films, but not to crap like Dev D. Even if a film is illogical and senseless, it should at least impress the viewer. Dev D fails in every such aspect. Let’s hope Anurag comes up with something good the next time (chances are remote, though!)
Some of the good scenes:
The first 35 mins
Dev’s conversation with an lady in the bus
Dev asleep with the cell phone kept to his ear
Dev collecting coins from the PCO (didn’t understood the scene but well-shot!)
Dev confronted by his mother after his father’s demise (Best scene of the film)
On the whole, Dev D is nonsensical and meaningless, which will put every Devdas fan to shame! Performances, music, songs, DOP, sets are amazing but the direction, screenplay-well, let’s not talk about it again! It’s advisable to give it a miss. Wait for the next weekend and the 2 releases of the coming Friday-Billu Barber and The Stoneman Murders which will certainly be better than Dev D!
My rating-* ½
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