Blog Marco

In 2002 there was no other Bollywood film made at this grand scale. Devdas was the most expensive Bollywood film made to that date. SBS (in Australia) recently featured the film on TV and I happened to be surfing the TV guide synopsis for various programs showing that night. I had no idea what Devdas was so *click*. Ahh... an Indian film... Bollywood... never watched one of those from start to finish. Then I noticed the name of one of the stars: Aishwarya Rai. I remembered her interview on TV on Channel 9's 60 minutes... So what did I do? I sat down and had a watch.

I've never watched a Bollywood film, but from what I knew, they were full of singing, dancing and colour. Also, I didn't expect to be sitting for more than two hours! Actually I think the film duration was pushing three hours - towards the end I was just wishing the film would end! Kind of like watching "Gone with the Wind" but without the *intermission* in the middle.

Anyway, Devdas was an interesting film, and as a viewer, you can see why it was the most expensive film: the costumes, set design and sets were highly elaborate. The filmography was fantastic: the lighting techniques used was inspiring. It is basically a feast for the eyes: every scene is beatifully constructed. There isn't much talking, there's some singing and there's a little love poetry sprinkled in but mostly it is a visual treat. Lavish sets and costumes made this the most expensive movie ever made in India, at least as of 2002.

Devdas is a film adaptation of the classic Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The basic rundown plot of "Devdas" involves Devdas (Shahrukh Khan) and his childhood friend Paro, (Aishwariya Rai). The problem is that Devdas lets family opposition prevent their marriage. He then dallies with a courtesan (whore/protitute), Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit) while drinking himself to death. The film has a sad ending - the childhood friend - Devdas, dies alone, within metres of his childhood love.

So if you would like to watch a Bollywood film - definitely watch 'Devdas'.

The Basic Plot:
"The most lavish and expensive Bollywood film ever made, this is the sweeping tale of two soul mates whose love is thwarted by a rigid class structure. Devdas and Paro grow up together in a village and become inseparable. Paro's father is a lower-caste bureaucrat and her mother comes from a family of dancers. Devdas's father is a high-caste landlord who decides to send his son to London to become a lawyer. Devdas stays in London for 10 years and on his return he finds Paro waiting, the power of her love for him still tangible. Their romance grows but Devdas's sister-in-law doesn't like the idea of him marrying as it means she will have to share the family wealth with him and his bride. She schemes and turns Devdas's mother against Paro and her family. Paro is married off to a rich widower landlord and finds herself surrounded by wealth, an unloving husband and grown-up children. Distraught, Devdas begins a life of self-destruction."

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