Devdas
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Bhansali On The Sets Of Devdas
The Third Recreation Of Devdas
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The music of Devdas actually enhances the storyline. Full Story

The pretty Ash enacts the role of Paro, the childhood friend of Devdas.Full Story

Shah Rukh Khan, the protagonist of Devdas is reported to have surpassed all expectations.Full Story

 

Madhuri: View on Devdas

Madhuri It is after a long spell that Madhuri Dixit fans will get to see her on screen through Devdas. What can one expect from the ever-talented actress in Devdas? "It is just the role my fans will love to see me in," she said with that legendary million dollar smile. Continuing in the same vein she added, "Hats off to Sanjay Leela Bhansali for having the courage to make a film that has been attempted repeatedly. I hope the film creates history this time too." Interestingly this is for the first time that Madhuri Dixit will be playing a courtesan in a film.

The unchained melody of Devdas

Sukanya Verma

The tunes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas are like a good bouquet. They mature with time. And though at first may not catch your fancy, they grow on you.

Shah Rukh Khan plays the title role in Devdas Adapted from Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel of the same name, Devdas is cinematically recreated for the third time in Hindi. The earlier two versions directed by P C Barua (K L Saigal, Jamuna, Rajkumari), and Bimal Roy (Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Suchitra Sen) hold a special place in the pages of history. Whether Bhansali's vision of this tragic saga (starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai) will share the honour remains to be seen.

What is most striking about the music is that the songs are not mere excuses for the actors to break into dance, but actually aid narration. Ismail Darbar who composed the music for Bhansali's smash hit Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, bathes Devdas with resonant tunes, powerful vocals and dramatic orchestration. The music has a strong classical base with an air of tragedy.

Like the subject itself, Devdas has a larger-than-life quality about it, evident in the surreal and haunting Silsila yeh chahat ka sung in the bewitching voice of newfind Shreya Ghosal.

Aishwarya Rai plays Paro in Devdas Maar dala, literally, goes for the kill with its enticing play of words. Kavita and K K beautifully echo Chandramukhi's sentiments as she experiences the first pangs of jealousy in this richly tuned ditty. Lyrics by Nusrat Badr spring life in Darbar's extensive compositions with its imaginative poetry.

Udit Narayan and Shreya murmur sweet nothings as they playfully chide and make up in Bairi piya. Narayan successfully captures the eternal romanticism of Devdas whereas Shreya brings an element of impishness to Paro's character by blushing Eesh at every given opportunity.

Mellifluous would be the right word to describe Udit Narayan's smoothly rendered Woh chand jaisi ladki.

Moulded in the typical Baul geet format, Chalak chalak is a cry for love by the inebriated Devdas. Sung by Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod and Shreya, Chalak promises to lure you with its ebullient bouts of zest and rhythm.

Madhuri Dixit in a still from Devdas Heartbreak reaches its zenith in Hamesha tumko chaha. Ismail Darbar creates a chilling effect in this gently paced song by using conch shells blowing in the background. Kavita Subramaniam and Udit Narayan do full justice to this difficult composition.

Composed and written by Pandit Birju Maharaj, the compelling Kaahe chhed mo, begins with a prelude in the maestro's voice. Kavita Subramanium beautifully brings out the trauma of separation as she chants Kaahe ched mohe garba lagaaye, Nand ko laal aiso dheet, panghat mori laaj linhi [Why do you tease me, O mischievous Lord Krishna]. Madhuri Dixit does her bit as she playfully coos a few verses in the song.

The theme of Devdas captures the seven essential elements of this ill-fated love story --- love, intensity, pain, sacrifice, ego, tragedy, empathy and anger. A new name in the music world, Monty creates impact by producing a tune that starts off in a tranquil background then escalates at a feverish pitch only to ease off.

Despite Jaspinder Narula's rustiness and Shreya's coyness, More piya fails to score brownie points, thanks to its heavy instrumentation. A word of praise for lyricist Sameer for proving there is more to his pen than the clich�d dils and dhadkans.

Dola re dola is packed with dholaks, mridangs, shehnais and daflis, and a loud chorus. Unlike the older Devdas, which showed Chandramukhi and Paro sharing screen space for only a brief moment, the new version will show Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai vying for attention as they dance in tandem to the beats of Dola.

The music of Devdas may not strike the right chords (mass-wise) as it did in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's earlier films Khamoshi - The Musical and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Yet it's old world charm, classical connotations and complex melody makes it exquisite.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Devdas' sets Record!

Even before its release, the Shah Rukh-Madhuri-Aishwarya starrer 'Devdas' has made ripples in the movie industry by setting a record of sorts by selling its music rights for a whopping Rupees 12 crores. And who is the buyer? Well, it's none other than Universal. The album features eleven songs, and introduces fresh talent in the form of 18 year-old Shreya Ghosal as singer and Meerut poet Nusrat Badr as lyricist. The audience, especially those with good ears for music, hope Sanjay along with Ismail Darbar, the music director can resurrect the magic they did for their last venture before this in the form of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,' if not better. With the promos of the film looking nothing less than spectacular, the album is to be released in the coming week.  

 

Madhuri Dixit banks on Devdas!

Madhuri DixitMadhuri Dixit has done it again. Her interpretation of the character of Chandramukhi in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas has sent the entire unit into raptures.

At a special screening, she, her family and the unit saw the unedited version of the the film. Was so pleased? "Ecstatic is the word," gushed Mrs Dixit, wiping her tears of happiness.

Madhuri, who was desperate to have a classic against her name much like Meena Kumari had Pakeezah and Waheeda Rehman had Guide, has already planned a five-week tour of the US, her husband's home, before kicking off her all-India promotional tour for Devdas.

But one person who is not only sad but "bitter as hell" is Mahesh Manjrekar, who was eagerly waiting for an opportunity to work with the numero uno in the English version of the Tabu starrer Astitva. He has had to sign on Sushmita Sen instead.

Mrs. Nene backed out of the project at the last minute on the pretext that the role wasn't exciting enough and that she would rather bank upon Devdas as the film that posterity would remember her by.

'Devdas will bring back the old magic'

Madhuri Dixit For critics who had written off Madhuri Dixit as another Bollywood actress blissfully trading silver screen glamour for life as an NRI wife, the Dhak dhak girl seems to have taken on the task of proving herself as a serious actress quite seriously.

Playing Chandramukhi in the millennium remake of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's popular Devdas is just the kind of role she thinks has the elements to put her post-prime career back on the rails.

"Working with [director] Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who had the guts to make a film on this celebrated and oft-filmed theme, was a good experience. [There have been two versions of the film: one directed by P C Barua and starring K L Saigal (1935), and the other, starring Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Vyjayanthimala, and directed by Bimal Roy (1955). The 2002 version, which releases in June stars Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai].

Dixit continued, "It should work magic and bring back the craze of my Ek, do, teen [from the film Tezaab] days," the glamorous screen beauty said, at the launch of a line of cosmetics named after her in Kolkata.

Madhuri Dixit Devdas, which follows her experimental roles in Gaja Gamini by painter M F Husain and Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, has been the first exposure of its kind for Madhuri Dixit-Nene.

"I play a courtesan for the first time in my film career. It is no doubt a very challenging role, especially since Sanjay [Leela Bhansali] does not compromise with quality. The self-effacing nature of the character really appealed to me," Dixit, who was accompanied by her parents, said.

Dabbling with roles beyond the mainstream was one of her dreams ever since she rocketed to the top with N Chandra's Tezaab, said Dixit who was clad in a navy blue business suit.

PTI

 

Who's hotter: Madhuri or Ash?

It's a bewitching beehive.

Post shooting a major part of his film at Film City, Bombay, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has now moved to Filmistan Studios for the last lap of his dream project Devdas.

Floor 3 of Filmistan. I am greeted by a gaunt Sanjay. He has lost so much weight: "Yeah, look at what Devdas has done to me."

Sanjay is shooting the climactic dance number, featuring Paro (Aishwarya Rai) and Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit). Both look gloriously Bengali, in heavily embroidered silk zari saris and traditional jewellery. The chorus dancers, too, with their saris wrapped in the traditional Bengali style, are dressed to kill.

Madhuri, Aishwarya and cinematographer Binod Pradhan (working for the first time with Sanjay) get into position. And much to Sanjay's annoyance, the dancers chatter incessantly in the background. It takes a while for them to get quiet.

I'm dazzled by the sheer multi-dimensionality of Sanjay's sets. The colours scream with subdued flamboyance. Red, silver and gold dominate the dance floor. Art director Nitin Desai looks pleased. "Sanjay is a director who knows exactly what he wants," the affable Nitin looks on at the world of romantic lyricism he has constructed.

An entourage from London has come to observe Sanjay at work. Though the shooting commenced around 1300 hrs, they were invited at 1100 hrs. The Brits look on with genuine interest as Madhuri, eyes brimming with tears, moves towards the camera to give a perfect take.

"Their saris are really lovely," a Londoner leans over. "Tell me, which one of the two ladies is hotter with the audience?" I tell him.

The question reminds me of the inevitable comparisons between the two that are bound to crop up once Devdas releases in April.

Right now, both seem comfortable in their individual space. While Madhuri retires to a chair after every shot, Aishwarya is more effusive. She hugs Sanjay, laughs and whispers in his ear.

I make small talk with Aishwarya and head towards Madhuri, who smiles politely. "Sanjay doesn't like his heroines disturbed between shots," she hints broadly as I sit next to her.

I look at Sanjay, daring him to shoo me off. He grins and rolls his eyes.

The cameras roll. Aishwarya and Madhuri are transformed into two exquisitely lovelorn ladies, pining for Devdas who, incidentally, isn't on the sets that day.

A few days later, on Floor 4 of Filmistan, Shah Rukh Khan is looking dapper in a dhoti. Jackie Shroff, who plays Devdas' friend and confidante, Chunnilal, is even more comfy in the national garb.

Madhuri, Jackie and Shah Rukh share a perfect emotional shot. I get up from my chair to offer her a seat. Madhuri beams and plonks herself on the other seat. "It's okay. The chair doesn't have anyone's name written on it!" she laughs.

On the set, Shah Rukh and his director remain locked in a serious discussion about the next shot. Jackie comes down, smiling to meet one of his favourite directors, Ketan Mehta. They chat amiably.

I tell Jackie he makes a cool Chunnilal. "Let's hope the audience feels the same way," he winks, and goes back to gabbing with the softspoken Ketan.

The set is alive with sounds and smells today. Perfumes and unpolished wood mingle with samosas and dahi vadas as snacks make their round.

The director's utterly charming mother is on the set today. She is undoubtedly the star of the evening as the entire unit fusses around her. But she is worried: "Look how much this film has taken from Sanjay. He hasn't eaten since this morning."

Finally, after the next shot is duly discussed and decided, Sanjay turns his attention to the lunch which his mother has prepared. With her watching over him, Sanjay digs into his home-prepared dal chawal. He invites me to have a few morsels. "This could be my last meal for a long time," he grins.

A familiar-looking boy walks up to her. She greets him warmly. He is the boy who played Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas' son (and Manisha Koirala's little brother) in Sanjay's first film Khamoshi: The Musical.

The faces I saw on the sets of Devdas are memorable, alive, eager -- the mood is mesmeric. The elegance, poise and romance of an era gone by are about to come alive on screen.

Sanjay, for one, can hardly wait.

Sanjay Bhansali: Changing history

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the director of the most awaited film in the year 2002, has changed history. In a bid to create that `extra' drama Sanjay Leela Bhansali has included a dance competition between lead pairs of Devdas aka Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai. Chandramukhi and Paro even share some acidic dialogues. The song has been choreographed by Saroj Khan who according to Aishwarya has done a fabulous job giving them equal footage. The buzz is that Bhansali was compelled to bring Madhuri and Aishwarya together to cater to the demands of the distributors. One wonders if purists will object to this considering that Chandramukhi and Paro don't even come across each other in the original novel of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. But Madhuri and Aishwarya surely will electrify the screen, what say!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali may not know it but Bengalis will butcher him after the release of Devdas.  Blasphemy!

His underproduction film Devdas has a jugalbandi between Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit! Ash plays Paro, the girl Devdas loved. He couldn't (didn't) marry her because of a little ego clash between the two and turned alcoholic in despair. Madhuri plays Chandramukhi, a nauch girl who falls in love with Devdas and his cynical ways. Paro becomes the respectable housewife of a zamindar after her marriage. There is no question of any interaction between the two, least of all, a dancing competition and that too between a kothewali and zamindarin!

Some of the earlier versions of Devdas

  • Devdas (1928) (Bengali/Hindi) (Note: Since it was a silent film it has been variously described as Hindi and Bengali) Director: Nitish Chandra Mitra. Phani Burma played the lead.
  • Devdas (1935) (Bengali) Director: P. C. Barua. Barua played Devdas. (Saigal played a bit role and sang two songs.)
  • Devdas (Hindi) (1935) Director: P. C. Barua. K L Saigal played Devdas.
  • Devdas (Hindi) (1955) Director: Bimal Roy. Dilip Kumar played Devdas.
  • Devdas (1979) (Bengali) Director: Dilip Roy. Soumitra Chatterjee played Devdas.
  • Devdas (Telugu) (1953) Director: Vedantam Raghavaiah. A Nageshwara Rao played the lead.
  • Devdas (Telugu) (1974) Director Vijaynirmala. Krishna played the lead.
  • Devdas is a film within the film in Guru Dutt's classic Kagaz Ke Phool.

Mads and Ash compete with each other


Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the director of Devdas, has added a special dance number to the film which will have the lead female stars-- Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai compete with each other. The two who play Chandramukhi and Paro even share some acidic dialogues.

The song has been meticulously choreographed by Saroj Khan to give both the stars equal footage. Apparently, Bhansali was compelled to bring Madhuri and Aishwarya together in the dance item to cater to the demands of his distributors.

Eventhough Chandramukhi and Paro do not meet in the original Bengali novel writtn by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, we are sure that they will definitely set the screen ablaze together.