By ApunKaChoice Bureau Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com
‘Falling in love is easy. But letting go of lover is very difficult’.
This is the message that story of Devdaas gives. Full of emotional drama that is void of any mushy sentiments Devdaas grips you with its flowing narrative. Add to it the laudable acting performances by its star cast and Sanjay Bhansali’s cinematic presentation. What you get is a moving tale of love and separation.
Although
the film’s story does not have an element of surprise (as the story of Devdaas is very popular) Bhansali’s directorial sense lends it a strange novelty. His Devdaas has innocence, arrogance, love (unrequited) and a streak for self-destruction.
Acting by SRK, Ash and Madhuri is superb. SRK, in particular, gets under the skin of bacchanalian Devdaas and conveys his swagger, vulnerability, pain and dipsomania with conviction.
Pitted opposite him Aishwarya stands in equal stead and cuts a performance deserving praises. With the quicksilver agility she changes the expressions on her face and makes you believe that she knows Paro’s agony. Particularly impressive is the note of anguish she brings about in her voice whenever she utters the name Devdaas.
Madhuri Dixit too leaves an indelible mark with her portrayal of a confident (but lonely-at-heart) courtesan who longs for Devdaas’ love but also knows that she will never get it.
