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Post by dancelover on Dec 12, 2013 22:30:47 GMT
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odadune
Star of the item number
not around much due to stuff in my personal life.
Posts: 1,494
Favorite actor: Currently a certain Kumar, but I like most of them
Favorite actress: whoever's in films I'm interested in this week
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Post by odadune on May 2, 2015 23:13:41 GMT
I'm just going to drop off some reviews here, of the 2002 Devdas. It's a film that people tend to see early in their fandom-part of that cycle of late-90s/early-00s Shahrukh movies that people who discover Bollywood through him end up watching. I avoided it for a long time, because the plot sounded like kind of a downer (a young intellectual named Devdas goes off the rails when his childhood sweetheart Paro is married to someone else, and a kind-hearted courtesan named Chandramukhi tries and fails to straighten him out before he drinks himself to death). When I finally watched it, I found it interesting rather than good. The time period and the sets make it feel a bit like those "heritage" British historical miniseries about rich people and their problems, and the three stars (SRK as Devdas, Aishwarya Rai as Paro, and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi) do their best to compensate for a script and a director who seem largely uninterested in the characters' motivations. There's a lot of debate about how far we are supposed to sympathize with Devdas; I haven't seen the other versions or read the novel they're all based on, but a lot of what rubs me the wrong way about this version of Devdas is the tendency to suggest that the main character can't really be held accountable for his actions (even when he's being terminally insulting to both the women in his life, or whacking Paro in the face with a string of pearls hard enough to make her bleed). This kind of fatalistic take on the characters extends to the women as well, but since Paro and Chandramukhi have much less control over their lives, and are somewhat less prominent than Devdas himself, it works better there. But, come to think of it, the other couple of Sanjay Leela Bhansali films I've seen have this weakness as well, the sense that you're being shown the characters' inner lives and the why of them, only to discover there isn't really any why but fate and coincidence. There are possibly reasons for this in SLB's personal history: he was the grandson of a wealthy film producer who went broke, and the son of a man who drank himself to death, and perhaps his fatalistic streak comes from those experiences. The supporting cast is mostly terrible, IMO, with the exceptions being Jackie Shroff (as Devdas's partner in booze), Milind Gunaji (as an evil relative of Paro's husband), and the various silky swirling drapey things (curtains, dupattas, saris, mosquito netting...) that are forever waving, drooping and curling in unison with the main characters' feelings. Kirron Kher, although usually a good actress, is fairly obnoxious as Paro's mother, and the various people playing Devdas's pointlessly manipulative and malevolent family are even worse. Anyway, some reviews: Ally Kumari (who likes it alot better than I do): bollywood-ish.blogspot.com/2011/03/devdas-2002.htmlPost-Punk Cinema Club (who likes it rather less than I do): p-pcc.blogspot.com/2007/05/devdas-2002.htmlCarla the Filmi Geek, who likes it even less than that: www.filmigeek.com/2006/10/devdas_2002.htmlImaan Sheikh's brutal takedown, made of hilarious captions: www.buzzfeed.com/imaansheikh/devdassholeFor comparison, some reviews of the modernized Dev D, starring Abhay Deol, Mahie Gill, and Kalki Koechlin in the lead roles: Filmi Girl: filmigirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/devd-eternal-love-triangle.htmlSo They Dance (brief piece in a review roundup of multiple films): sotheydance.blogspot.com/2010/02/saat-din-abhay-ke-saath-my-week-with.htmlBeth Loves Bollywood (ditto): bethlovesbollywood.blogspot.com/2009/05/boston-bollywood-blitz.htmlCarla: www.filmigeek.com/2009/05/devd.htmlAlly Kumari: bollywood-ish.blogspot.cz/2012/12/dev-d.html
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odadune
Star of the item number
not around much due to stuff in my personal life.
Posts: 1,494
Favorite actor: Currently a certain Kumar, but I like most of them
Favorite actress: whoever's in films I'm interested in this week
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Post by odadune on May 2, 2015 23:15:16 GMT
And the best thing about Devdas 2002, Aish and Madhuri dancing together:
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Post by dancelover on May 5, 2015 17:51:56 GMT
It is still getting better every time I see it! One of the (many) best things is the business at the very beginning, before they start dancing, as Paro welcomes Chandz into her home. Never in the course of human filmmaking has so much been alluded to in so few seconds!! Dancelover
And the best thing about Devdas 2002, Aish and Madhuri dancing together:
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Post by emily on May 6, 2015 2:21:47 GMT
I dunno, I really liked the 2002 Devdas. I went in totally blind, without knowing the original source material and not having seen any of the other film adaptations. For me, the real treat was what SLB does best: set and costumes! It's one of those films that I wish I would have seen on the big screen. It's GORGEOUSLY filmed, the camera angles are unique, the costumes are exquisite. For all its faults in plot and acting, the cinematography saved it in my eyes. I could recline back on my couch and get absolutely LOST in the world of Devdas, this brilliant, sparkling yet tragic reverie of a film.
As for individual actors, Madhuri stole the show...she's flawless. Her "Kaahe Chhed Mohe" and "Maar Dala" dances are absolutely sublime. And you really can't beat "Dola Re Dola." Aish was great too. Of the main trio, SRK was the weak link (that sounds weird to say!). He was overdramatic and very hard to sympathize with because Devdas is such a selfish, overbearing a**hole. He's so cruel to Paro throughout...one must wonder why she stayed so besotted! I'm looking forward to seeing the 1955 Devdas with Dilip, Vijayanthimala, and Suchrita Sen to see how the characters interact there. And, of course, Dev.D, which I still need to watch. I have it on DVD.
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odadune
Star of the item number
not around much due to stuff in my personal life.
Posts: 1,494
Favorite actor: Currently a certain Kumar, but I like most of them
Favorite actress: whoever's in films I'm interested in this week
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Post by odadune on May 6, 2015 11:59:04 GMT
Good points-I agree on the spectacle (nobody makes Bollywood more "operatic" in looks and tone than SLB! Personally, I think SRK did what he could with the material, but there was just no way that anyone was going to make Devdas, as written, into someone the viewer could empathize with.
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Post by emily on May 6, 2015 14:04:20 GMT
So in a strange roundabout way, maybe SRK did a really great job as Devdas seeing as we all hated him so much I've no idea what the original source material wanted for Devdas. That's why I'm looking forward to reading the book one day and also seeing Dilip's and Abhay Deol's take on the character.
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Post by chrisanthi on May 6, 2015 17:10:13 GMT
I've seen all three versions and read the book and Devdas is a truly horrid character; in fact I think that he's worse in the book than in the films. I agree with Emily that SRK was overdramatic but that never bothered me because the movie is just so much larger than life. Also Devdas felt so sorry for himself that I saw the exaggeration as being part of the huge self-pity he felt. In the introduction to the book that I have, the translator includes a snippet from an interview with SRK where he says that he played Devdas as a metaphor (he doesn't say as a metaphor for what). So it looks like it was a conscious decision to make Devdas so overdramatic.
My favourite version is SLB's. I just love it! It was one of the first Bollywood movies I saw and I absolutely loved it - the colours, the costumes, the sets, the cinematography - it's just so beautiful! And no matter how many times I've seen it, at the end I'm always sitting on the edge of my couch shouting "Run Paro! Run!" Its on the top of my list of must-watch movies.
My least favourite version is the 1955 one but it is the closest to the book and I think that Dilip Kumar's Devdas is also the closest to the character as written in the book. This is not to say that I didn't like this version - I just preferred the other two. Of course, the fact that the print wasn't very good may also have influenced my opinion.
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Post by Prem Rogue on May 6, 2015 17:16:19 GMT
Has anyone seen the KL Saigal "Devdas," or any adaptations from other languages?"
I wonder if having a huge star in the title role ends up softening the character a little.
Here's KL Saigal's version (directed by PC Barua) with subtitles. Bimal Roy, who directed the 1955 version, was the cinematographer on this one.
What's the best English translation of the book?
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Post by emily on May 6, 2015 21:58:24 GMT
This thread inspired me to watch Dev.D today. It's much less opulent and much more modern and edgy than 2002 Devdas, but I thought it was great. Devdas spent more time creating the atmosphere; Dev.D cut right to the bone as far as characters and dialogue. While there are moments of hope and beauty in 2002 Devdas, Dev.D is pretty much depressing throughout, which wasn't the worst thing in the world. Abhay Deol did a really good job at portraying his self-absorbed, depraved drunkard of a character, Kalki Koechlin (AMAZING actress) turns in a heartbreaking performance as Leni/Chanda, and Mahie Gill puts a modern twist on the innocence of Paro. The music was fresh and worked perfectly in the film, and the other minimalistic, quiet scenes had you holding your breath, waiting for the imminent explosion. Nice film. Not a film to laugh and cry and smile over - it's much too realistic and dark for that - but a film to slowly digest and think about for a while. {Click to view!} Plus, I really appreciated toward the end how Kashyap and filmmakers chose to have Paro walk away from Dev due to his own self-absorption. People wondering just WHY a girl would stay with a man like that would be very happy with the outcome in Dev.D.
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Post by emily on Jun 14, 2015 4:25:02 GMT
Watched 1955 version over the last couple of days. Now that I've seen the "Big Three" (still need to read the book) I can make some closing remarks.
I think the 1955 - and Dev.D - did a LOT better of a job at characterization and interaction than 2002. Some of the above thoughts are right on the money...it's more about scene-setting in the SLB version. Which is ok, if you're just wanting a dreamy escape film on a lonely night. For that purpose, 2002 Devdas works perfectly. And I stand by my previous review that it's a good film - I really enjoyed it, and the soundtrack is still one of my absolute favorites.
Back to 1955 Devdas. SRK-Madhuri usually have such great chemistry that it's a shame it wasn't utilized a lot more in 2002 Devdas. It seemed very glossed over. In comparison, you could sense every iota of feeling between Dilip's Devdas and Vyjayanthimala's Chandramukhi...you REALLY bought into it. In 2002 Devdas, I was wishing for Devdas to go back to Paro. THAT relationship was fleshed out, at least more than the relationship with Chandramukhi was. In 1955 version, I didn't want him to go back. It was clear that Chandramukhi was the right one for him - even though, at the same time, there was a war within myself wanting him to stay or leave...I thought she deserved much better!
I've come to the conclusion that you're not supposed to like Devdas, despite numerous film synopses calling Devdas "an epic love story between Paro & Devdas." I don't see it that way at all. Devdas is conceited, self-absorbed, and self-destructive. And Paro & Chandramukhi must be scoffed at for falling at his feet like they do. (This is one aspect in which I liked Dev.D the most...see my previous review above.) As far as individual Devdas performances go, I must give Dilip the nod. SRK was too over the top; Abhay Deol was too likable. Dilip was a quiet, brooding kind of scumbag, yet you could see why women were drawn to him, at least a lot more than you could with SRK. Despite his jerkiness, there was this magnetic manner about him that drew everyone to him - hell, even his servant was hopelessly devoted to him. I think it meant to be that way with SRK, too, but it didn't come off as well. Dilip wins the Devdas contest, hands down.
Vyjanthimala did a wonderful job as Chandramukhi but I have to give the edge to Madhuri. I just wish they would have fleshed out her character more. As for Paro roles, Mahie Gill in Dev.D takes the cake for me. So I've got three different actors from three different time periods! My dream Devdas will never be a reality, alas...
These are three very different versions of Devdas with very different tastes. I like them all, and am looking very much forward to re-watching them sometime down the road.
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