Devdas a hit, but literary debate rages

[Rom]

MUMBAI: Four weeks after its release, it is clear that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas is a hit and will be around for quite a while, but the debate on the film's budget and liberties with the original text continue.


While Bollywood filmmakers and stars are vociferously supporting Devdas and Bhansali, others like noted Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh are critical about the director's achievement.


A remake of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's 1917 novel Devdas, Bhansali's Rs 50 crore version takes several liberties including a meeting of a prostitute and an upper-class Bengali lady ~{!*~} simply unthinkable in early 20th century Bengal.


Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan saw the film at a special screening with his wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek last week. He was so overwhelmed that he quietly walked out at the end, promising to speak to Bhansali the next day.


He is still mesmerised. "I went with a lot of apprehensions, lots of biased assumptions caused by conflicting opinion of those who had seen the film. But they were all washed away when the film began."


Aks director filmmaker Rakesh Mehra admits when he saw Devdas, "I was a very disturbed man. I couldn't sleep that night. I was very familiar with Sarat Chandra's novel. Bhansali's film wasn't what I had expected."


Mehra adds that the film grew on him. "As I thought about the film, I began to accept it on its own terms. What an achievement!"


Ace director Ram Gopal Varma says: "I was taken aback by Bhansali's interpretation. It isn't literary but operatic. More like a lush Broadway play than a straightforward movie.


"I've heard it said any filmmaker with Rs 50 crore can make Devdas. That is as stupid as saying anyone with Rs 100 crore can take George Lucas' place and make Star Wars."


But Rituparno Ghosh says: "It isn't as though I'm against Bhansali's visual interpretation. I've seen his Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam repeatedly, it haunted. In Devdas, he should've done away with Sarat Chandra's text or been consistent to the end. The way it unfolds, the whole story could've unfolded in a village in Uttar Pradesh.


"Why has he put in smatterings of Bengali language and culture, if not to evoke an obvious cuteness and to corroborate his literary antecedents. Bhansali has taken too many liberties with Bengali culture.


"He says Kiron Kher's character used to work in the jatra (folk theatre) when in reality women were not allowed in the jatra. And how can he show two feudal families staying in adjacent homes?


Devdas' father has been portrayed as a typical villain. His death does not create any impact in our minds. Passing away of the father was good riddance to bad rubbish. I could not cry even once in this romantic tragedy.


"Then bringing together the two women in the hero's life is the ultimate romantic fantasy. As a filmmaker I empathise with that. But he should've brought together Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai under more intelligent circumstances.


"The sensitivities get hidden under the opulence. I objected to these liberties in the narration only because I consider Sanjay to be an extremely creative and intelligent filmmaker. I think all the emotions are lost in the opulence.


"At the end, everyone comes out feeling happy, not feeling sorry for a single character. I'm a filmmaker and know the value of an adaptation. A filmmaker has the liberty to transpose any literary work. But Devdas is supposed to project certain Bengali cultural nuances.


"Sanjay is fascinated by the exotica of Bengali culture and he just uses the things he cherishes and ignores what doesn't suit his vision. He claims to have paid tributes to Sarat Chandra, PC Barua and Bimal Roy. I'm sorry, I didn't feel I was watching the greatest tragedy of Bengali literature.


"I've read the original novel and if I do an adaptation I know my responsibility. You just can't make a thakurian (upper-class Bengali woman) dance in Durga puja.


"In no historical account of Bengali culture can such liberties be corroborated. Sanjay could've done it in a dream sequence. All he wanted was to make Madhuri and Aishwarya dance. I've watched Sanjay's film very carefully. And I loved the film in totality. My misgivings come from my adoration of Bhansali's art."


But poet-filmmaker Gulzar, who made an aborted attempt at making a version of Chatterjee's Devdas in the 1970s, says it is every director's right to interpret films the way he wants.


"When I made Sarat Chandra's Babu Moshai as Khushboo, I eliminated many characters to focus only on the first three chapters. Then I went straight to the last chapter. I saw no need for the material in between.


"Likewise in Devdas, the creator can take what touches him. He should be given due credit for sticking his neck out to make a classic. Sanjay has succeeded. People have reacted positively to his vision, although the composition of the audience has changed completely since Devdas was made by Bimal Roy (1950s)."


Legendary actress Rakhee, who hails from West Bengal, has the final word on the debate. She read the novel thrice before seeing Bhansali's interpretation.


"In many ways, Sanjay has taken the original story far beyond Sarat Chandra. For instance, the character of Devdas' father was dismissed in three paragraphs in the original. Sanjay has fleshed out many such characters including Paro's mother beautifully.


"For purists who are offended by his creative freedom, I've one thing to say: Devdas hasn't been created to impress critics and the intelligentsia. It's a film meant for mass appeal, to be enjoyed by Hindi moviegoers globally.


"If he had stuck to recreating Bengal from that era, who would've wanted to see his film? If he spent so much money he couldn't afford to give his audience a headache. Instead he has given them a beautiful love story."

[Rattlesnake]

interesting

well u hve truly done ur research

[Rom]

Originally posted by Rattlesnake
interesting

well u hve truly done ur research

Thanks for you liek my research. I have seen Devdas, but it was painful to watch. There are no emotions, or chemistry between 3 lead characters. It all hype.

[Rom]

Do you agreew ith Ritupurna's ghosh opinion. I am agree with his every point he has made. Devdas its not film which serously can be discussed. Its waste of Money.

[Rom]

I dont think that 'Devdas' is the right choice as an official entry from India for the Oscar Award.

[yayati]

agree with Rom here.

Although, making the film in itself is an achievement.

I never heard of the story of Devdas before the film was made and now i think i know what a literary great Sarat Chandra truely was!

Nevertheless let us not forget the greatest story ever told in bangali culture....the story of Ram!

[SHYLETTI-GUNDAH-BYSAB]

DEVDAS IS ****.I COULD HAVE MADE A BETTER FILM IF I HAD A BUDGET LIKE THAT.