DEVour this DEVastating movie. Review on Dev

Fundamentalism is an important source of social retardation. It obstructs the growth of knowledge and morality.

Fundamentalism, along with communalism is basis for a violent clash in society. The fundamentalists are so obsessed with their religious feelings that anything said contrary to the doctrine, even if its logical and rational, is looked down upon. The fundamentalists cannot claim to represent their community with credibility and have no right to act on behalf of them. On the other hand Communalists have engraved hatred for people of other religions in their heart so deeply that they perceive them as enemies.

Communalism serves as Oxygen for the politicians. It keeps their political ambitions alive.

Playing communal card has been very crucial for all political parties, ruling or opposition. Their brutal propensity to play cards of caste and religion for political gains is a dangerous one. The politicians while catering to the religious groups use innocent and gullible people in their hunger for power.

If people who have seen their mothers and sisters raped and burnt before their eyes have no hope of getting justice they will all turn into terrorists - Julio Ribeiro (Former Police Commissioner).

When we mull over the disposition and hypothesis of riots in India its imperative to consider the aspects of social reality that compels an individual/s to take recourse to violence. A sense of injustice gnaws at the victim?s innards and he becomes indignant and takes his first step towards terrorism.

To have a citizen plead with the police to come and save his life is a disgrace to the democratic culture that Indians lay claim to.

Today the shocking role of police in the communal riots has shaken the secular structure of India. During riots the role of the police machinery has been partial and ineffective. The reasons for this failure can be traced down to the bigoted assessment of the minorities and contemptuous maneuvers of politicians while using the police department in their quest for power and survival. But it would be wrong to condemn the entire police force.

There are many officers who are unbiased and handle the riot situations without any prejudice and in a professional manner in spite of interference by the politicians. Many honest policemen are submissive to the criminal orders from politicians who threaten them with transfers and because of this fear no policeman act against the wills of a politician. So the fault many a times lies purely with the politicians and not the police officers.

Govind Nihalani known for making socially relevant movies, like Tamas, Drohkaal, ArdhSatya, has once again come up with a timely subject of Communal Disharmony and the relationship between communalism and police. DEV is about the communal riots, the role of police department; friendship of two commissioners, their predicament while facing communal situations, how they deal riots and corruption in their own way and the consequences of riots on innocent persons. It also tries to explore the nexus between politicians, police and the communal forces. Though the subject is oft-repeated in many movies, Govind Nihalini has presented it differently.

Since the movie is about two police officers than who better to enact those roles than Amitabh and Om Puri who have set a bench mark for convincing portrayal of a cop and who are responsible for giving two of the three best cop performances in Hindi Cinema in Zanjeer and Ardh Satya, which also proved to be a defining moment of their careers. One is a Badshah of commercial cinema and one is the King of parallel cinema and when two Kings converge on the same stage then it has to be pure magic and with the magic wand in the hand of a magician ? Govind Nihalani, then the show should be a mesmerizing one. IT IS.

STORY

Joint Commissioner Dev Pratap Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) and Special Commissioner Tejinder Khosla (Om Puri) are best friends and honest police officers. But their different ideologies and some circumstances make them drift apart and Farhaan (Fardeen Khan) acts as a catalyst to the schism. Farhaan is a law graduate and son of a patriotic and non-violent person. Aaliya (Kareena) is in love with Farhaan. In the game of communal politics Farhaan?s father (Pramod Moutho) gets killed and Farhaan helds DEV responsible for this.

The roots of communalism slowly start taking roots in his mind and the corrupt politician Lateef (Ehsaan Khan) manage to take advantage of Farhaan?s anger and convince him about the communal riots. Chief Minister Bhandarkar (Amrish Puri) manipulates the situation and with the help of Mangal Rao (Milind Gunaji) and Om Puri worsens the situation. This situation brings about the difference of ideologies between two friends.

They have their own take on the situations and want to solve the issue in its own way. On one hand Dev has to manage the riot situation and on the other hand has to follow his friend and his superior officer - Om Puri?s orders which can only aggravate the situation. Dev Pratap is destined to walk the razor?s edge ? to honour friendship, to obey his superior?s order or to manage the riots. This walk is the highlight of the movie.

PROS

The opening sequence where Amitabh is interrogated for an instinctive firing on an agitating student for insulting the police and law.

The scene involving Amitabh, Om Puri and Rati Agnihotri where each of them have their own take on the constitution of India and their expectations regarding the situation in India.

The encounter scene where the police kills gangster Karim and how this encounter is given communal twist by Lateef is handled deftly.

Farhaan?s father (Pramod Moutho) scene with Fardeen preaching him about his past experiences in riots and the futility of the same. Without any melodrama the message of non-violence is conveyed through this scene.

The scenes of riots are realistically picturised depicting how the rioters indulge in plunder, arson, rape and murder and how the police turn deaf ears to the plights of the victims.

The sequences, which depict how politicians manipulate the situations to their advantage, are excellent and they make us think that all this might be actually happening in such communal situations. The scenes dealing with manipulation of situations by the politicians from majority and minority community regarding filing FIRs, departmental inquiries, commissions have been excellently handled.

The infection of communalism in the police force can be mainly found in the lower level and unfortunately it is these very low level officers who handle the ground situations in riots. This has been said through a scene where two sub inspectors mislead two ladies (Kareena and her friend).

COS

Om Puri?s dig at minorities in one scene is derogatory.

The two smooch scenes were unnecessary. Besides both Kareena and Fardeen looked uncomfortable in it.

One couldn?t understand the sudden change in behaviour of Om Puri in the scenes leading to the climax.

The role of religious leaders in riots should also have been explored in some detail.

Some scenes between Amitabh and Om Puri are too slow.

Continued in Comments section (sorry, can't help it) :)