Devdas

by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

India

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Script: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Prakash Kapadia

Cinematographer: Binod Pradhan

Editing: Bela Segal

Art Director: Nitin Chandrakant Desai

Costumes: Abu Sandeep, Neeta Lulia, Reza Shariffi

Music: Ismail Darbar

Songs: Nusrat Badr

Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai, Jackie Shroff

Production: Barat Shah (Mega Bollywood)

Distribution:
Diaphana
155 rue du Fbg St Antoine
75011 Paris
France
Tel: 0033 1.53.46.66.66
Fax: 0033 1.53.46.62.29
Mail: [email protected]
www.diaphana.fr

Year: 2002

35 mm, Colour, 180 min
OV with French Subtitles

Cannes Film Festival 2002

Devdas is the son of Narayan Mukherjee, a rich landowner. He has been in love with Parvati, whose nick name is Paro, since their childhood. When Devdas is sent to London for his studies, they remain separated for ten long years. Devdas comes back to Tal Sonapur, his village, hoping life will start again as before. He has forgotten how cast system and class difference have such power in India, at the turn of twentieth century. Paro is married off to a rich nobleman, much older than her. Shuttered, Devdas seeks refuge in alcohol and in the presence of a courtesan whose beauty is famous. Torn between a woman he keeps loving and another woman he cannot love, Devdas’ hope for happiness is forever gone.

Every one in India knows this love story from Sarat Chandra Chappopadyay ‘s novel published in 1917 and ever since adapted in 7 films. This film brought Bollywood to Cannes for the first time in 2002. This huge production, glamorous melodrama, is far from the Indian art films. Let us be carried by the flow of dance and sets, costumes and lights, and by the outstanding beauty of two Indian stars: Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994, and Madhuri Dixit.