Sunday, March 01, 2009

Dev D

(image courtesy: www.glamsham.com)

Last night, I was asked what exactly it was about Dev D that I liked so much.

The answer is difficult to put into words, but I'll try nonetheless.

First, I really liked the concept of the film. The film has captured the essence of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel 'Devdas' and has yet managed to introduce a freshness to the storyline. At no point do you feel that this is an antiquated love story. The presentation made you feel that this could even be your next-door neighbour's story.

Second, I loved the fact that Dev wasn't portrayed as a "loser". Previous versions somehow gave me the feeling that Devdas was a spineless lover who relied on alcohol just because he needed support. Here, however, Dev drinks and dopes not because it is an outlet of his anger and frustration but because it is a part of his regular life... just that he does it a little more often now given the 'emotional attyachar' being meted out to him by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Third, a lot of credit goes to the way in which Anurag Kashyap directed the movie and how Abhay Deol acts. They have made the Dev on screen so much more believable and identifiable. Like I said, Dev's story pans out so smoothly that it could have been your neighbour's story, or heck, even your own. Dev doesn't haunt pubs and bars because he wants to "drink, dope and forget" but because he wants to spend time somewhere where he wouldn't remember her.

Finally, I loved the film because Abhay Deol rocks!!! If films like "Manorama Six Feet Under" and "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!" told us about the promise in this actor, "Dev D" brings forth, I dare say, the best in him. He proves that you don't need six/eight-pack abs to give a brilliant performance.

Sample this:



*spoiler* This deleted scene is just after Dev has been told that Paro is nothing more than a loose village girl who sleeps around with anybody who cares to share her bed. Throughout the one and a half minutes of the scene above, Abhay DOESN'T SPEAK A WORD but emotes his anger and frustration just through his eyes and his body language.

The movie, my friend, is awesome. I can barely wait to get my hands on the DVD of this film. If you have missed it, I recommend you buy tickets for the next show available or wait for the DVD like me.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wont say that Anurag Kashyap has done anything bad he is doing something which is much better than rest of the directors. But my only concern remains about the many references and inspirations that he has incorporated in this movie, doesn’t suite an artist who is establishing himself. Its like a well established and matured poet like T.S. Eliot’s and references he made in 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' which can be fully understood by a person who has read Bible or other references (like HEMLET) which he assumes people might have already read in his time. It helps when there is something to say and then you leave it to the references to explain rest. Scenes like Paro vehemently pumping the Hand Pump referring to Orgasm is not Aesthetics in itself!

Shekhar said...

Shalimar: Hmm.. you've got a point.

Anonymous said...

Anurag Kashyap is making movie with my bro!
http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/44700/Anurag-Kashyap-postpones-big-budget-Doga.html

DOGA!!! ;)

Shekhar said...

scd: LOL. Awesome !!!

santoshi said...

I love Dev D, and i am very much impressed by the music of this film.

Ravi Raja said...

Is Movie ko dekhne ke liye "Nayan Tarse" !!! [:)]