Dev D - Movie Review

Dev D by Anurag Kashyap is a modern day Devdas inclusive of all modern day accessories. Sarat Chandra’s Devdas has been remade in different period of time. But for the first time, keeping the theme intact, the approach is changed. Like the basis, the characters remain the same and only their role has been altered. Though Dev D is an adaptation of Sarat Chandra’s Devdas, many things can be experienced for the first time.

The plot was changed and the story takes the turn of modern day vulgarity and exploitation. Besides other facts, the film deals with MMS scandal. The film opens up well but as it approaches the end, it starts getting your nerve. Dev D deals with drugs, alcohol for salvation, vodka, nude pictures and phone sex.

Devdas, Paro, Chandra and Chunni all important characters are there but they converse in a modern day dialect and used all modern amenities. Their attire was not traditional but modern. Screenplay by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane is not water-tight. It looses hold in various points. It lacks the gripping element. Anurag has made Dev D more emphatic by including heavy loaded thought.

Dev D tells the story of Dev (Abhay Deol) in a very modern and zigzag manner. It proceeds like the usual Devdas. Dev is the son of a rich industrialist. He has to pay a heavy price for loving his childhood sweetheart Paro (Mahi Gill). Knowing about their love, Dev’s angry father packed him to UK for studies but via Emails, he remained in touch with his love. Their love went to such a height that Dev used to ask Paro nude photo of her.

But caste and status separated Paro and Dev. Their love failed to reach its final destination. Paro gets married to a rich man, much older to her and father of two. With Paro’s marriage, Dev’s life leads to doom and finally Dev took the help of alcohol to acquire solace and to run away from Paro’s thought. Then there enters the third important character Chandra, played by Kalki Koechlin. Dev was a frequent visitor of Chandra’s brothel. Then unfolds the tragic story of Chandra and how she gets transformed from Leni to Chandra. Next follows how Dev is ruined and what he has to go through.

Speaking about the performances of the actors, Abhay Deol has played his part well. He has done full justice to the role of Dev. Mahi Gill as a newcomer is fine. Kalki Koechlin is ok. No complain about performances. Everyone did a great job.

Rajeev Ravi's cinematography is appreciable. Song 'Emosanal Attyachaar' is already playing everywhere. 'Nayan Tarse' and 'Pardesi' is not bad to hear. 18 tracks by artist Amit Trivedi is nothing less than a torture.

In the nutshell, Dev D is an average flick. It will not have good box office collection. It will not be a record breaking like the earlier few Devdas. Anurag Kashyap’s No smoking was a disaster and it seems his failure history will revisit.

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