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| A tale of triumph. Against all odds. The mastery of a determined love over apparently insurmountable obstacles. A common thread runs through the story of Devdas himself as well as the tale of the filming of the epic struggle. Uma Ajmera chronicles the creation of the country’s most ambitious saga on celluloid yet Some things never change. Years after Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s Devdas was first captured on celluloid by PC Barua and Bimal Roy, the obsession continues. This time around, Sanjay Leela Bhansali helms the mega-epic of tragic love. Rumoured to be made with a budget in the region of Rs 30 crore, it’s drawing all the stares in the marquee. And thereby hangs a long tale. Each time a director has tried to immortalise the tale on film, it has been beset with problems. The late PC Barua and Bimal Roy too, had their share of heartache. When Gulzar tried to make his version with Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Sharmila Tagore in the ’70s, it came unstuck. Circa 2001, Bhansali’s cup of woe too flowed... Devdas is thus a metaphor for life. A tale of determination. A tale of ballsy grit. A triumph over the most aggravating circumstances. Be it the incarceration of producer, diamond merchant Bharat Shah or the deaths of workers during the filming, the 500-strong crew has skirted disaster. But as always, in the true spirit of showbiz, hope floats. |
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| DEVDAS..A Tale Of Triumph |
| A tale of triumph. Against all odds. The mastery of a determined love over apparently insurmountable obstacles. A common thread runs through the story of Devdas himself as well as the tale of the filming of the epic struggle. Uma Ajmera chronicles the creation of the country’s most ambitious saga on celluloid yet Some things never change. Years after Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s Devdas was first captured on celluloid by PC Barua and Bimal Roy, the obsession continues. This time around, Sanjay Leela Bhansali helms the mega-epic of tragic love. Rumoured to be made with a budget in the region of Rs 30 crore, it’s drawing all the stares in the marquee. And thereby hangs a long tale. Each time a director has tried to immortalise the tale on film, it has been beset with problems. The late PC Barua and Bimal Roy too, had their share of heartache. When Gulzar tried to make his version with Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Sharmila Tagore in the ’70s, it came unstuck. Circa 2001, Bhansali’s cup of woe too flowed... Devdas is thus a metaphor for life. A tale of determination. A tale of ballsy grit. A triumph over the most aggravating circumstances. Be it the incarceration of producer, diamond merchant Bharat Shah or the deaths of workers during the filming, the 500-strong crew has skirted disaster. But as always, in the true spirit of showbiz, hope floats. A cast top-lining Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai. Binod Pradhan’s lush camera caresses the frames, while Ismail Darbar hopes to repeat the magic of the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam tunes. The high-strung Sanjay Bhansali says, “It’s not a story of a ‘doomed, defeated’ lover, but a celebration of a divine emotion, like Meerabai’s and Sant Tukaram’s devotion, like Kabir’s poetry... it is love in its purest form...” According to the director, Devdas is not just the epitome of the tragic hero. Sighs Bhansali, “Can you imagine how tough it is to remake any classic, especially a film like this, where legendary actors like Saigal, Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala have raised acting to new dimensions?” Shah Rukh Khan, who plays the eponymous role sallies, “Every time, I did a scene, I’d feel totally fatigued. I found that very surprising because I am a very energetic person. Until Sanjay explained that I was so lost in the character that I not only gave my best, but I gave it all!” So why did he choose Devdas? SRK explains, “Devdas is a challenge to any actor because of its complicated layers and nuances of emotions. Their silence has to be conveyed to the audience. It’s not about hi-fi machismo.” Bhansali is full of praise for the actor, “Only Shah Rukh could have portrayed this air of haunting sadness. There is no comparison to Dilip Kumar, but he’s given an outstanding performance!” Aishwarya Rai goes into raptures about her character, Paro. She confesses, “Paro, was a journey of personal growth. I was going through a personal crisis and Paro helped me form my basis for morality and righteousness.” Bhansali could only visualise Madhuri Dixit as the courtesan Chandramukhi. He emphasises: “Be it the character of a femme fatale or a prostitute, only Madhuri can combine that wistful tragic look. Hers is a blend of a flawless face and fine acting.” When Bhansali is asked about the jinxed tag and the hot air balloons of gossip floating about the film, he says, “My mother has been an indomitable force... her constant prayers and pujas have helped me keep my sanity. A film of this scale is a huge responsibility. The constant rumours that my film was jinxed, that I was making unreasonable demands on my unit, really got to me. I was made out to be some kind of monster. That hurts. Sure, we’ve gone over the budget, but Bharatbhai’s family has stood by us, even when they’re going through such trying times, as Bharatbhai’s son Rashesh feels that Devdas is his father’s dream.” On a personal level, Devdas uncovers the depths of Bhansali’s personality, his phobias and perhaps his life’s raison d’etre itself. He says, “I somehow connected with the story of Devdas. It’s a story, which transcends sexual love and makes emotion its hero. Working on it has changed me as a person and I’ve evolved into a better being. I think Sarat Chandra understood the psychology of the Indian male. There’s a Devdas in all of us!” Bhansali hopes to recreate hypnotic images on the screen of the Bengali litterateur, but vehemently adds, “It is Devdas alright, but it is my interpretation of Devdas.” The legendary Dilip Kumar who garnered the Filmfare Award for the Best Actor for his Devdas says, “We may have progressed leaps and bounds in terms of science, but happiness and contentment have another vital side - ie the emotive content. Devdas is an attempt at understanding this. A journey of the discovery of the soul.” All eyes then, on another braveheart attempt to immortalise a literary classic and, in the process, doomed love. Time to turn the clock back yet again. SOURCE: The Times Of India |
| DEVDAS..A Tale Of Triumph |
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