DEVDAS
After his wealthy family prohibits him from marrying the woman he is in love with, Devdas Mukherjee's life spirals further and further out of control as he takes up alcohol and a life of vice to numb the pain.
Devdas does not lack anything, may it be emotion, music, cinematography or a plot that kills (literally).
I think it is appropriate to start with the acting for this one, the three main actors, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit were show stopping in this one. The beauty was overwhelming here sometimes I would just stare at the images of this film in awe. Thank you Sanjay Leela Bhansali for that. Shah Rukh Khan, as usual, carried his role well. A drunk in love. Aishwarya and Madhuri both as well, women in positions to not love. The other characters were great too, mainly Devdas's family, Paro's family and Jackie Shroff (the drunk friend). The highlight for me in this one has got to be the overwhelming emotions from Devdas, Paro and Chandramukhi. Every time they came on screen, I was captured, lost in their world. I love those kinds of movies. Shakesperean-esque films, bring it on.
Next, I want to bring up the plotline. Unrequited love equals self destruction scenario. I just think that that whole premise is great for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. I have seen, many succumb to this norm that life hangs on the thread of romance, well it does not. Love is a part of life, not the whole of it. That was my only issue but it was not wrong of the directors and team to give the world such an amazing movie, I am just saying the consequences are people believing even more so that this is completely normal. It is a sad reality that so many people have that mindset, that life can become of no use and value after a certain something is lost. But if something is lost, while looking for it something else may be found. Holding on to the past requires a certain stage of maturity for one to finally let go. Devdas does not show the letting go part, here it is more of a spiraling down into mayhem. But one day, people wake up and realize the beauty of the things they already have and stop pondering about what they do not.
I also want to point out the role of a woman in this unrequited love triangle. Since Devdas is all drunk, the stereotype that women do not feel the same pain as men when it comes to unrequited love, I think is nonsense. In this film, Devdas is drinking his way to hell and the other two women are expected to keep their heads together and move on in life. Imagine if the roles would reverse, the women drink their ways to depression. Exactly, that would never have happened. Women have responsibilities, things to do, children to raise, mouths to feed and husbands to please. Men, have nothing, unless they too start a family. Women do not bring men into their lives it was always the other way round. Aishwarya moves on in this film, even though Devdas is crazy over her and she knows what he is going through and cannot bear to see it, she does not stop to consort with him. She cannot. She is a woman. Choices are already made for her. She simply has to nod or shake her head in aprroval.
Enough serious talk, because do not get me wrong I love this movie, through and through. But the ideals of life and principles it portrays not so much. But, moving on to the hits of the film, the music. That is basically what I watch the movie for not, all the hit songs, and to try and dance with Paro and Chandramukhi to all their songs (I have been failing miserably).
If you are into hopeless romantic sort of stories, this is for you truly. Also, it is a nice long movie to watch if you are just curious about Indian culture and want to see beauty in every square foot of your screen. This movie has amples of that. What is there to hate here? Really, nothing at all.
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Smita Jaykar, Ananya Khare, Vijayendra Ghatge, Tiku Talsania, Manoj, Milind Gunaji, Neha Pendse, Ava Mukherjee, Sunil Rege, Vijay Crishna, Jaya Bhattarcharya, Disha Vakani, Dina Pathak, Amardeep Jha, Radikha Singh, Apara Mehta, Muni Jha
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Year released: 2002
Link to watch full movie with english subtitles:
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