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Dev D - Notepad

Dev D

Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Mahi Gill Dir: Anurag Kashyap
wogma rating: Add to 'must watch' list (?)
quick review: Three characters tell you they are only human. They are all insecure. They are self-destructive when in love. They are directionless. And unfortunately, this last sentence can be said about the film too. While the characters are superbly set-up individually, when woven together they just don't gel. And the standards set by the start leave you feeling high and dry by the time it reaches the finish line.
287 views | Add comment | Movie Details

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Plot Summary

Dev (Abhay Deol) and Paro (Mahie Gill) are madly in love with each other. But it doesn't work out. All distraught, Dev takes on to drugs and alcoholism with a vengeance. Along the way, he meets Chanda (Kalki Koechlin), a commercial sex-worker.

What Worked

  • The way the sexual innuendos are worked into the movie - carrot, cocks, hand pumps, etc.
  • The tributes to Madhuri Dixit and Devdas.
  • Paro's dignity and style of self-destruction.
  • Portraying a prostitute as a savior, a Florence Nightingale.
  • Chanda' attraction to Dev because he looked like he was in pain. I'm not sure if this was intended by the writers but that's what it came across as. She felt useful as a person not as a body.

What did not

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

  • A girl in Bhatinda carries a mattress across town without a brow being raised? Sure she gives some explanation to her parents, but that sounded lame.
  • Great song - 'emosonal atyachaar'...but why would anyone pay for a song about 'torture caused by love' at a wedding party??
  • The two women sitting outside Chanda's room. For some reason, they bothered me.
  • The trio in the 'jalte jalte' song. Looked very out of place.

Nitty-Gritty

This section lists things that I think are not important to the overall impact of the movie. In most cases, it could be explained away by something like, "we noticed the glitch after the scene was shot and there were schedule/budget issues and thus we could not re-shoot it". I like giving the makers the benefit of doubt, but I am amused nevertheless. Hopefully, they will tickle you too.

Nittigritties

Dev D - Movie Details

Dev D - Trailer

Dev D - All reviews summary

External Reviews

45 reviewers have given Dev D an average rating of 4.1/5.0. 31 yays, 3 nays, 11 so-so. See all external reviews »

Comments (16)

malati:

the poster seems to be referencing Bunuel's Discreet Charm...don't you think? A tall order?!!

posted 3 years, 3 months ago malati has posted 2 comments and has rated 0 movies. See malati's page for more details.
meetu:

Haven't seen that one, malati, but looked it up on IMDB. And hell yeah... That's the thing with 'new age' cinema, right? They too have inspirations and references, just that the originals are not as widely known :)

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
Top commenter
Mayur:

Why? because both have big fat lips? oh come on..

posted 3 years, 3 months ago Mayur has posted 38 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Mayur's page for more details.
meetu:

A couple of fat lips can't be called inspiration, Mayur? Even if its dominant in the poster. I'm not saying the entire movie is inspired, just the poster. We all the know what the inspiration behind the movie is. Will you be surprised if such tiny references are sprinkled through the movie?

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
malati:

the poster is an artwork and one is only trying to see where a particular visual image is being arrived from. For example, the film Heroes with Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta has a poster that looks exactly like the poster of the TV series Heroes- blue sky lit up in the background and characters standing erect in front. Its strikingly similar, like in this one.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago malati has posted 2 comments and has rated 0 movies. See malati's page for more details.
Aseem Behl:

A great time for Indian Cinema, first Lucky by Chance and now Dev.D. I have talked to lot of guys who have seen the movie. Everyone just loved the first half in which the characters were introduced and their back stories were told. In the second half, self-destruction of Dev starts which didn't find favour with many considering the fact that nobody likes a loser's tale. Now the question in front of AK was whether to stick to the plot(of DevDas) or please the crowd with continuation of what happened in the first half. I am glad he chose to stick to plot. A brilliant film in all respects. Technically the finest India has ever seen with smashing soundtrack by Amit Trivedi. I hope UTV scores again with dilli-6 next. PS: Delete the other comment. It had some typos

posted 3 years, 3 months ago Aseem Behl has posted 5 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Aseem Behl's page for more details.
Top commenter
Mayur:

Loved the movie,. As a representative of today's youth i can confidently say that the movie was successful in representing our mindset, our priorities and our conflicts.. Ending was a bit sync off with the rest of the flow but what the hell, its cool...(4/5)

posted 3 years, 3 months ago Mayur has posted 38 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Mayur's page for more details.
Noopur:

half told....? dont agree.... the way anurag uses small graffitis, background scores, stuff in the background to convey his film is juz superb.... a contemporary masterpiece..... but then, when i had seen no smoking i had felt the same.... and one word for amit trivedi..... if rahman is GOD, this trivedi is a DEVIL.... bloody the best soundtrack ever.....

posted 3 years, 3 months ago Noopur has posted 15 comments and has rated 4 movies. See Noopur's page for more details.
Raj:

I haven't seen the movie yet so don't know if I agree with your review but you need to do something about the way rss feeds are being built for wogma. Movie reviews shown in the feed reader don't have the ratings, quick review etc and neither does the page the feed leads to on clicking it. I have to manually go to the home page and then to the movie's card to see the rating.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago Raj has posted 5 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Raj's page for more details.
abhinav:

now this is what u can call a MOVIE.............and for me a LEGEND. hats off to dev team........

posted 3 years, 3 months ago abhinav has posted 6 comments and has rated 0 movies. See abhinav's page for more details.
meetu:

Aseem, Mayur, Abhinav wow...you guys really enjoyed the movie! Nice!! The second half and especially the climax completely threw me off... Noopur - yeah got all the graffiti and the nuances but missed even the broad strokes sorely as the movie progressed. Raj believe me it's really bothering me too. I'm hoping to have it fixed before the next review is out. Fingers crossed.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
rahul:

hi , nice review,movie deserves all the stars its getting ,it shld also get moolah judging by ppl response in theatre also saw ur interview at bollyadda.com it was nice

posted 3 years, 3 months ago rahul has posted 3 comments and has rated 0 movies. See rahul's page for more details.
meetu:

Thanks, Rahul! :) I'm glad you liked the interview at blogadda too!!

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
rudresh:

I liked the movie

posted 3 years, 3 months ago rudresh has posted 1 comments and has rated 0 movies. See rudresh's page for more details.
Ashwini:

the movie is worth a watch but i felt it was chauvinistic..and by the time the movie gets over u feel like experiencing a hang over of sorts because of excessive drinking by dev..Emotional atyachar (rock version) I think is the first Bollywood song that qualifies to be in the Hard Rock/Metal category.. awesome..

posted 3 years, 2 months ago Ashwini has posted 1 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Ashwini's page for more details.
Pushkaraj:

Firstly, you are not the only one who thought you were watching Tabu! Me too. What I really liked about the film was that it does not glorify Devdas. I doubt if Sarat babu himself portrayed Devdas like what has been shown in countless versions. Bhansali aided by SRK' iconic status took this to new heights. Or lows, whichever way you want to look at it. I definitely want to read the novel now. All the more because one of my friends who has read all or most of Saratbabu says, - if Sarat were to see Dev.D he would have said, "finally someone has understood what I wanted to say". The Devdas who cuts a sorry figure has become a metaphor in Indian psyche. How many unshaven, unkempt, dumped-by-girlfriend college youths have been asked by their friends this question - why are you going around like Devdas? As you come out of the movie hall, you don't feel sorry or remorseful for Dev. Far from it, you almost want to give him one tight slap and ask him to get on with life. I was glad the women have moved on too in Dev.D - so no more of Paro running around the haveli (or sugarcane fields, if you like) with her pallu streaming behind, wailing loudly - Devaaaaaa

posted 3 years, 2 months ago Pushkaraj has posted 4 comments and has rated 0 movies. See Pushkaraj's page for more details.

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