Dev D is a must watch. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, this is a
Dev D
modern day take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay‘s classic novel Devdas. Sounds interesting? You bet! This is the first movie which I am contemplating watching again. But not everybody will like it. Its crude, brash, full of attitude and at times, downright vulgar. But its unlike anything Hindi film industry has seen before.
This is one mind boggling piece of cinema. The cinematography, camera work and the dialogues is innovative and revolutionary and the direction takes it a higher place altogether. Technically the film is very very good and is comparable to international standards. The editing and the style of making reminded me of Trainspotting with fast cuts, dizzy cameras, lots of neon lights and some crazy symbolism. It is almost disturbing at times.
The movie is full of dark and dry wit. The performances are amazing. Abhay Deol is completely natural as Dev. He is very convincing as a person who is ‘wasted’. The first half, showing his fall, is the most absorbing part of the movie. Mahi Gill as Paro and Kalki Koechlin as Chanda are perfectly cast. Supporting cast does a splendid job as well.
The music by Amit Trivedi, as I have said before is amazing. The way each song is shot, the picturization and the situations in which they come make sense. It doesn’t see forced and bring in this raw energy and adds to the film in such a way that it movie can even be called a musical!
If there is a fault, it is the ending. Unlike the usual Devdas movies, this ends on a positive note. However, the movie loses steam in the last quarter and the ending is a bit abrupt and doesn’t go with the flow of the movie. But then no movie is perfect. just consider it as a minor glitch.
Watch it! You will be doing yourself a favour. That being said, the movie is not for all (please do read the disclaimer in the first paragraph).
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There is a Dev D in all of us. Sadly, most of us can’t afford him.
Cheers
Jais
PS: You do learn those 6 things from the movie. Honest.
