Classic or cinematic trash? Readers take on Devdas

Name: Ajay Kumar
Email: kumarajay25@hotmail.com
You said it: In Hindi cinema today, the filmmakers try to reincarnate history. Devdas is the fourth interpretation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1917 novel on Hindi celluloid. The first was a silent film in 1928. PC Barua then made his version in 1935 with Kundan Lal Saigal. In 1955, Barua's cameraman Bimal Roy made the popular version of Devdas with Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Suchitra Sen in the main roles.

I think the Bimal Roy's Devdas is a classic because of good direction and tragedy king Dilip Kumar's performance. Bhansali's Devdas looks like artificial version of Sarat's novel. Huge costly sets, designs makes films some colourful but it does not attract audience in the cinema halls.

Hindi cinema's most expensive film ever is a responsibility most directors might bow under. What Bhansali does here is introduce lavishness in practically every department of filmmaking. From the first frame of a red-petaled tree to the last, which frames a supine Devdas, there is colour, grandeur and melodrama. Shah Rukh Khan, in the title role, lends helplessness to his character. His screen charisma is undisputed.

Name: Ramdaan Hanif Khokher
Email: babe_edith2001@rediffmail.com
You said it: It is a greatest movie I have ever seen. Thanks to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Madhuri Dixit for top class acting. Shah Rukh Khan is a real legend of Indian cinema.

Name: Mamta Prasad
Email: dmas1_prasad@redifmail.com You said it: It is beautiful film of deep love and obstacles faced in the societies in those days. Madhuri and Aishwarya have given their best in the film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is director of love. His last film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was also marvallous. All the best to the entire team of Devdas. Shah Rukh has proved in this film that he is still the best as a hero, lover and human being. He has acted the best.

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Name: Pandey Mudit Kishore
Email: p_mudit@rediffmail.com
You said it: I saw the first day first show of Devdas. I loved the acting of Shah Rukh, Madhuri and Kiron Kher. I loved the cinematography and the picturerisation of the song Dola re. The sets where very attractive.

Name: Mohammad Imran
Email: imr_333@hotmail.com
You said it: The film is excellent, no doubt. SRK is his best as usual. Ash is also excellent in her part. Madhuri has also given a good performance. Bhansali has done it once again after Hum Dil De Chukke Sanam. The music of Devdas are the best, especially Silsila ye chahat ka and Ye chand jaisa larki. Music by Ismail Durbar is very beautiful. As a whole, Devdas is a hit.

Name: Subramanyam
Email: justloveyou@rediffmail.com
You said it: The film is a disappointment. The characterisation of the roles are not well treated. Too much importance has been given to the rich settings, which is unneceaasry. Soul is missing from the film. To sum it up, it has turned out to be a drag.

Name: Paresh Chhaperwal
Email: paresh_chhaperwal@rediffmail.com
You said it: Shah Rukh Khan has decided to treat the great characters of Indian history and literature very badly. Asoka was an attempt to spoil the greatness of Ashoka, the great. He could not resist overacting in Devdas. He gives expressions in both the films like that he is playing a modern college guy. Madhuri's character was great, Aishwariya was gorgeous but her performance was okay. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has wasted his financer's money although it can be watched once for the high class mannerism in which it is made. As far as story and direction is concerned, Bhansali has failed.

Name:Swathika
Email:pooja_pooh@rediffmail.com
You said it:Devdas is simply superb. All characters in the film are lively. Shah Rukh Khan,Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit have done their best.

Name:Sooraj Nair
Email:e_sooraj@rediff.com
You said it:Devdas is a terrible movie. Shah Rukh Khan does the same stuff yet again. Ash looks beautiful but that is it. Watch the movie only for the grand scale of production and for Madhuri Dixit.

Name:Anshuman Rawat
Email:anshuman_rawat@hotmail.com
You said it:Devdas is an outright vulgar film! Not because of any obscenities, but because of it's absolute disdain and disrespect for resources. If this is what you turn a story into when given Rs 500 million and three mega stars, hell, give me my under Rs 20 million Chandni Bars anyday.

The film ranges from overtly dramatic to outrageously melodramatic.

Agreed the sets are out of this world and the costumes mindblowing, but I don't carry with them while I come out of the theatre. What I do carry is never-ending disappointment and dismay.

You would be deaf if the fringe actors don't make you run for ear-buds. Go ahead, watch the film and save the distributors!

Name:Venkatraman
Email:kgvenkatraman@hotmail.com
You said it:I do not think any other film can surpass the sheer excellence of Bhansali's Devdas and the histrionics of Ash, Madhuri and Shah Rukh Khan.Dola re is a breathtakingly choreographed number.

Name:J M Khurana
Email:jmkhurana@rediff.com
You said it:Iwould like to give full marks to Shah Rukh who played the role of Devdas. He has acted very well.

Name:Maltesh
Email:mal_tesh@hotmail.com
You said it:One of the most boring and stressful movies I have even seen till date. I went to the premiere in London along with my friends. I don't think even the stars who were sitting with us found the movie least bit amusing! Even they were bored and out of respect for other cast members they all sat around. One certainly can't imagine how life could be so rich in the early 1900s during British rule.

Shah Rukh's acting raises laughs instead of tears. The credit goes mainly to lesser known actors who lift the film. The dances have been well executed, especially the Dola re song picturised on Madhuri and Aishwarya.

Name:Roshni Kabra
Email:roshnikabra@rediffmail.com
You said it:Lagaan was only nominated at the Oscars but Devdas will surely win one.

Name:Wasim
Email:wasimraj@hotmail.com
You said it:Great work by Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai but I think the music by Ismail Darbar is no great shakes. There is not a single number worth humming in the film. Though I hope Devdas movie does well.

ALSO READ: The Devdas Special