Dev.D

Dev.D, Anurag Kashyap's contemporary take on Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Devdas is simply extraordinary. Kashyap's direction is excellent and his interpretation of the original story is a perfect example of how creative and artistic an adaptation of this sort can be. The film is set partly in Punjab and partly in Delhi and captures the atmosphere of both places with precision. Kashyap masterfully portrays the effervescence, colourfulness and rusticity of the rural Punjab areas from one side, and then explores the morbid and dark reality of the urban Delhi. The film is very realistic and aspects which contribute to this include the simple writing, the slick editing and cinematography and the natural acting. It deals with such themes as sexuality, love, drugs, prostitution, self-destruction, and complex relationships. The film's fast-paced narrative style, which includes authentic dialogues, serious proceedings and many many songs (all of which are lovely, modern, and appropriately selected), is very unique and matter-of-fact. Abhay Deol stars as a modern-day Devdas, and he does an excellent job. He shows Dev's confusion, complacence, gradual ruin, and later his self-acceptance and coming to terms, with conviction and depth. Kashyap introduces two young girls in the leading roles. Mahie Gill is the first, and she is first-rate in her debut performance as Paro - very believable and impulsive. Kalki Koechlin is less impressive at first, but grows on you as the story goes by. At some points in the initial portions it looks like she's struggling with her lines, but in the second half, she confidently turns into a charming young lady and ultimately leaves a mark. The film's ending is fantastic and unexpected. To sum it up, Dev.D is Kashyap's gem. It is a prime quintessence of Hindi cinema's capability and coming-of-age. I recommend you to watch it.

A movie so great that it simply blows your heads off. Every character is Grey. No one is moral and every body is a victim of circumstances. the film is the pinnacle of movie making. the sheer audacity, rawness, and unrealistically realistic treatment creates magic on screen. and believe me one time is not good enough. songs are unbelievable as well. the characters of paro and chanda are so well written that before dev falls in love with them; u will fall in love with them. and both the ladies have done a remarkable job. mahi gill looks so elegant and an epitome of femininity. kalki has an amazing screen presence. with her earthy and next door girl looks, she will win ur heart and her school girl sexuality is incomparable. anurag is THE BEST director in this country and with a girlfriend like kalki he is a lucky bastard as well. and now we come to the real reason of watching the movie. abhay deol. he has become a cult figure for a lot of his fans. the concept is his and he has completely overshadowed and other devdas that ever was. from now on if anybody will be remembered as devdas, he will be abhay. after 7 movies he has overshadowed many heavyweights in the industry. he looks so natural and confident on screen. and how chilled this guy is can be judged from the fact that at the time of his biggest ever release he is rite now in new york for a welding course.

Dev D is a modern-day interpretation of the classic novel "Devdas" by Sarat Chandra. Dev (Abhay Deol), Paro (Mahi Gill) and Chanda (Kalki Koechlin) of Dev D reflect the sensibilities, conflicts aggression, and independence. Free thought, exuberance and recklessness of the youth of today. A generation that is jammed between eastern roots and western sensibilities. Dev D is set in the rustic and colorful Punjab and also explores the dingy, morbid, dark underbelly of Delhi. From sprawling mustard fields to a riot of neon. Now we have come through various versions of the novel "Devdas", but "Dev. D" is way different than all the others. It's not actually the remake of Devdas, yet it can be said as it has been just inspired by it. There are minor similarities yet the characters are similar in a way. The new Devdas likes to have his vodka with Coke, asks Paro for some nude pictures of herself, chats with Paro through IM, likes to have sex, smokes even during pissing after waking up in the morning & does other various stuffs according to the current trend of Indian Youth. There are so many reasons why "Dev. D" strikes hard on it's viewers. It's a coming of an age cinema of Bollywood. Bollywood never did witnessed any stuff like Dev. D ever before. The soul of the movie lies within it's characters, specially "Dev.D" along with Paro, Chanda & Chunni. The movie also depicts Delhi in a superior way. Anurag Kashyap always trying to do something new & creative with each of his movies. First it was Black Friday, which portrayed some stunning reality behind the blasts in Mumbai in the year 1993, which also made it highly controversial & then it was "No Smoking", which was an attempt of a cult movie, though it failed to express the real message behind the movie. Anurag Kashyap this time does it in a Tarantino style. A love story in a Tarantino way. Now that's something really innovative! He gives an extra-ordinary direction, with keeping in mind to entertain the viewers. The humor of the movie with it's witty one liners keeps the viewers hooked during the first half. Though the second half looses it's momentum a bit, the movie still strikes in a powerful way. Now if we talk about the performances, Abhay Deol is one of the most talented actors in Bollywood. Not only he performs well, but what he did in this movie is called "Class Act". Top class act by Abhay. Also the performances by the two of the new-comers is refreshing & amazing. Adding to all the factors above is the music or the score of the movie. That's something different yet again for Bollywood. The track "Emotional Atyachar" is already famous. But the best tracks of the movie are "Ek Hulchul Si" & "Emotional Atyachar (Rock Version)". It would simply blow the mind of the lovers of rock music. Excellent songs & score by Amit Trivedi. The unusual cinematography of the movie gives the movie a different look, yet a dark look. Dev.D is a fantastic movie to be made in Bollywood history. A never before experienced love story with sex, drugs, drinks & lot many stuffs. A classic love story with fantastic performance by Abhay Deol.

Let me helm AK as the new czar of motion picture extravaganza ...

With a conforming applaud to the concept visualization by Abhay Deol himself , AK and co-writer Vikramaditya Motwane concoct a tale foretold adding the backdrop and zing of contemporary Ludhiana , Delhi !

The beauty of narrative is that it doesn't speak in dialogs but rather gratifies on the senses of the viewer . The editing is brisk and is noteworthy of its nuances to help add the necessary twists in the plot.Fresh music with loads of it helps to contemplate the emotions of the protagonist.

It isn't banal or prudish ..the dialogs are witty and minimalist !

For those who have watched the archaic DevDas , it's overwhelming to match "loosely based original characters " to our new era real life DevD( trying to empower his childhood love or trying to understand what love really is ), Paro ( Very Indian but yet liberating and sexually charged and also at par with the ultimate Indian "aadarsh" Bahu agnostics ) , Chandramukhi ( A thumbs up to the Sex industry which preaches what the whole world tries to echo in darkness and unlike the world which then raises fingers of indignation and loathe - CMon India did preach Kamasutra long back )not to forget Chunni( an amiable friend but a pimp of the sorts ).

The ensemble has done a worthy job . Newcomer : Mahie Gill easily transitions from a vulnerable lover girl to a mature responsible lady , Kalki Koechlin epitomizes the naiveness of a teenage girl whose social stigmata con-volutes her essence of life into an awry ordeal which she readily accepts and moralizes as a state of "Trying to move on .." And Abhay ( I read him being at someplace learning Wood Carving during the release of this movie ) - ( is purely a treat to watch ..the way he triumphs in being a sole loser who worships Vodka and doesn't chastise himself rather acclimatizes himself to the corner of the world called "SELF" -- the virility shown by his hairy bod -- a pungent antonym to chest waxed embellishments -- 10 kg's lost for this role -- shows the kind of efforts put on screen )

All of this with a maverick Director's surreal vision ( trademarks being his liking for water and snow .. he uses them as props and landscaper's to unearth the beauty of the far .. No Smoking had loads of it) is a cinematic milestone in itself ...

If your above 18 then go with a heart of redemption, lust , despair striving to the ultimate nemesis with oneself --- you shall be a winner !!!

This movie is 'not' a remake of Devdas. Probably, Anurag Kashyap wanted to borrow the base story from there, but I repeat if you are a big fan of Devdas then this movie isn't for you. But then again this is one of the most insane movies to come out of Bollywood. You might probably end up with a headache after watching it, but its completely worth it. There are few movies with such exceptional cinematography and music which blends completely with the movie.

The characters are well defined, but also over the top. Abhay puts in a real perfect act of a self-sympathetic fool, who drinks and does drugs just in the obsession of Paro. He becomes completely lost and finally ends up in the arms of Chanda. Paro has apparently never known the words 'shy' nor 'blush'. Chanda has seen a lot of pain and is the only character who slowly becomes sure of herself.

This movie is more about how they have painted the characters rather than the characters themselves. This is a first in Bollywood and I have never heard such dark, yet at times beautiful music. Its loud at times, but Amit Trivedi's work is a sheer genius one. If you do end up liking the movie, you would give half the credit to the music.

Anurag and the entire team have poured in their heart for this movie. Most of the work and the ideas are genuine and is not picked up from some other random movie. It is an 'its own movie'.