Paro Aur Chandramukhi. Review on Devdas - New

Movies like Devdas bring out the vituperative best in me. While ripping it apart one of my friends quipped, 'It should've been called ''Paro and Chandramukhi,'' not Devdas!'

Despite itself, the lesbian sounding title ''Paro aur Chandramukhi'' would do better justice to the film. 'Coz then, one wouldn't despair over insignificant riffraff like Devdas. What do you know of him from the movie?

A) He is a rich Zamindar's ''London-returned'' son who loved to play with the low class neighbour's kid -- Paro.

B) He was sent away by ruthless dad as punishment for some piddly kiddy offense and returned to a life of ruin.

No Cs and Ds.

You know precious little about the ''BOY'' whose homecoming is a schmaltzy affair. Eager mother, neighbour, family and friends chum up to award him a hero's welcome.

YUCK! Sachrine sweetness gets the bile everytime!

All this while, the onus is on lavish Havelis and garish costumes to make it palatable to the gullible masses, elite and bourgeois alike. There has to be some accounting for Rs. 50 crores, eh?

The portrayal of the protagonist and his feelings play second fiddle to just about everything -- Childhood sweetheart, un-memorable song and dance sequences, the festive red-light areas, *hore-lover, devoted servant, dominating parent, conniving sister-in-law, alcoholic friend...everything!

Paro's role carries more weight than her lover. She literally carries the candle (diya) for her soulmate throughout her life. A diya that won't be snuffed out by gales, rainstorms, nothing!

Double yuck!!

Childhood sweethearts they may be. But, when their union does not culminate in matrimony, Devdas and Paro indulge in weird displays of 'love'. The most ridiculous one is when Devdas flings a chain across her forehead on the day of her wedding. The unsightly gash is supposed to break her pride. After pride goeth, she falls at his feet. But, gets married to another guy, leaving her heart-broken lover pining forever. Groan :-(

Devdas's father is another person who scarred his soul. The scene where he takes the cane to his errant son is reiterated whenever Devdas is in turmoil. The incident is supposed to have left a deep impact on his mind and remains a source of fear? It's one of the reasons (excuse is a better word) proffered, for him being unable to defy his parents. When they oppose the love-match, he accepts it after a show of protest. By the time he is ready to rebel properly his lover is getting married to a richer man.

Is his father culpable then? Is that what set him on the path of self-destruction and led to his ultimate ruin? Maybe the novel will be able to offer answers and insights into all these thoughts that plague the mind.

For instance, one wonders why two beautiful and reasonably intelligent women should fall in love with Devdas. Especially since he is downright rude, short tempered and ill-mannered.

THEY find him endearing. THEY wait on him and pamper him (in turn). THEY meet each other and decide that their LOVE is on par. The poor neighbourhood girl turned rich thakurayin -- Paro; and the hore with feelings -- Chandramukhi!

Devdas's ruin could have been etched with more concern. It's difficult to accept things like the poor guy drinking and visiting hore-houses as part of some self-inflicted torture. Apparently attention to detail and characterisation come as an afterthought here. Because the scenes and dialogues for most other characters don't suffer the same fate as that of the titular lead actor.

Aishwarya Rai dolled up as Paro, makes love on cue, dances by rote, wears clichéd expressions and plays pretty! While Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi displays her tart-like whiles and charms. That she is capable of genuine affection despite her profession is underlined and highlighted throughout. Ok. We are sold on the idea. But, the question remains, why are she and Paro wasting their affection on Devdas?

Non sequitur: As for the inevitable comparison between Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit as dancers -- gimme plump but graceful Madhuri any day over sticky and gauche Aishwarya!

hore is deliberately mis-spelt coz this site wont accept the actual spelling.