Dev.D
March 4, 2009
“Emotional atyachaar” is the work of a genius. Such has been the popularity of this phrase that I can expect this song from bandwallahs at most weddings now (very inappropriate song for the occasion, but who cares!). The phrase also forms the essence of the movie, directed unabashedly with an “I don’t care what the &@!* you think about me” attitude by Anurag Kashyap, that you can’t help applauding even if at times the movie dangerouly treads into the parallel cinema path.
Anurag’s Devdas 3.0 is on a deadly cocktail of Vodka and Coke – the drink as well as the substance – and is a bigger loser than his earlier versions. The ladies are modern fiery versions of the demure black and white era ones. Paro, for instance appears to have had an overdose of Spanish fly. She is gutsy enough to email her nude pic to Dev in London enticing him to come home. Whoa!
In a strange Omkara kind of twist, Dev diches Paro – apna Devdas 3.0 falls for rumours in a jiffy. However, he doesn’t mind taking that cute girl – who was robbed off a decent blouse by her ladies tailor – for a chicken farm visit. Cock-a-doodle-doo! With the self inflicted emotional atyachaar, he hits the bar baar-baar lagataar. Devbabu’s booze buddy Chunnilal, a suave pimp in this version, introduces him to Chanda who’s inspired by Madhuri’s Chandramukhi. Kalki’s Chanda is a resultant of the infamous MMS scandal and social abandonment. Her new profession helps her pursue higher education.
Abhay Deol pitches in a flawless performance which can rival even the earlier Dev babus. Paro and Chanda have definitely made their mark and Anurag has finally emerged out of the No Smoking zone! The music is largely experimental but superlative, to say the least, and is a reflection of the movie in totality. It appears Anurag has depended more on the songs to take the movie forward than dialogues.
The movie succeeds in conveying its recklessness, which by all means is in sync with the theme. The setting of the movie is realistic; devoid of any gloss. If only the ending was not so abrupt, but what the heck; it’s emotional atyachaar afterall!
-Arun
