Devdas I, II, III - But only one review

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Smriti Mudgal writes about her favourite film Bimal Roy's Devdas

Not often is a theme so compelling that film after film is made on the same. Devdas if I am not mistaken has seven remakes of which I have seen three. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's, Bimal Roy's and P.C Barua's. This is the order in which I saw the films and I liked only Bimal Roy's version.

I am assuming we all by now know the story of the weak protagonist who fails to take a stand for his beloved but is unable to forget her and turns into an alcoholic.

It is strange why a film about such a weak protagonist should interest so many film makers. To my understanding it is because, one it is so human to be weak. Two, regrets follow us till death and three not all love stories are requited.

P.C Barua's Devdas had a dashing K L Sehgal playing Devdas. I went to the National Film Archives with a lot of hope with the film but was thoroughly disappointed to see the sluggish pace, bad performance by the heroine playing Parvati, a beautiful lady called Jamuna. Devdas and Paro are united almost after 14 years with Paro saying only "Tum aa gaye Devdas" with a bland no expression on the face. I felt really let down but Sehgal impressed me. I knew of Sehgal only as the man with a nasal voice but I didn't know he can act and act very well for his times. Not only was he subtle but he was extremely stylish, but apart from that discovery there was nothing that could hold my interest in the film.

On to Devdas by Bimal Roy, it carried Roy's stamp of utmost sensitivity. Dilip Kumar does a marvelous job by containing his grief in his eyes thus showing the vulnerability and not letting it spill in his body language, so the pride to not let the world know he doesn't have a courage to take the stand.

My favorite scene of the film is a sequence rather a song from the film called Mitwa, where Devdas is sitting by the river side in day time when the sun is at its peak. He has a gun in his hand but he's not shooting, instead his body is languid with self pity. He's singing a song but the music director has cleverley avoided any instrumentation. Now why do I like it? This song sums up the essence of Devdas. Day time is a time which is neither romantic like evening nor purposeful like mornings. This is a time when he's bored and has nothing to do than only mourn in the memory of his beloved. Also, the director's eye where he gives him a gun, showing his power, masculinity but not shooting...meaning not have the courage to do anything with that power. The song without instrumentation shows his life is without any music or he's living but without his soul.

Cut...to Devdas by Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas where Devdas has turned an alcoholic and he's missing Paro, so what does he do. He joins Chunnilal in a dance sequence and sings Sheeshe se Sheesha Takraaye...and yes, for sake of poetry he spills more liquor than he consumes.

Devdas by Bimal Roy is my third favorite movie for the reason, it is a film about a man who succumbs to destiny half heartedly like many of us do and are never at peace with the decision which we took.