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Mixed bag for Devdas
Will it sustain the excitement?
Devdas is back. And this time with the tag of being the most expensive film ever made in the country. The Rs.50-crore magnum opus by Sanjay Leela Bhansali had a worldwide release on July 12.
Trade analysts say that Devdas, which was able to get a lot of pre-release attention, had a good opening in most of the cities. At Kavitha cinema in the city, the situation is no different as people walk in to see what is so special in this film which has been remade eight times since 1928.
The film has evoked mixed reactions among viewers in the city. As many point out, the box-office success of the film purely depends on whether it is able to sustain the excitement during the coming weeks.
``The film is special since it is a real treat to the eyes. Opulent sets, gorgeous costumes and a star cast comprising Sharukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai,'' says Pramod, a college student.
Bhansali's love for frames with rich colours reaches new heights in the film. Binod Pradhan's camera works magic in the movie. Nitin Desai had recreated the magic of Chandramukhi's khota at a cost of Rs.12 crores. According to trade analysts, the film was sold for a good amount in various territories.
`One, Three Films' which bagged the rights for Kerala and Tamil Nadu for Rs.50 lakhs is confident that the film will be a runaway hit here. ``We have got a good initial response at the four centres in the State where the film was released on Friday. Most of the shows till date were full and we expect that more people will visit the cinemas in the coming days,'' says Mehboob of One Three.
Aishwarya Rai in the film.
While youngsters shower praise on the acting skills of Sharukh, there is difference of opinion among seniors. ``Dileep Kumar was the best in the role of Devdas. And Bimal Roy was able to narrate the story in a more realistic manner,'' says Shyamala, a retired Government employee.
College-goers are full of praise for Madhuri for her portrayal of Chandramukhi. Aiswarya follows in her role as Paro. Sharukh fans are also happy to see their star in a different role. ``The competition between Aishwarya and Madhuri is so visible in the Dola re Dola number,'' says Lakshmi, a college student.
It is the hype and statistical details that attract many others into cinema halls. The selection of the film for the out-of-competition category in Cannes is another factor. For cine exhibitors, the film is a gamble. ``Devdas was a natural selection as the number of Malayalam releases has come down drastically. The initial response has been positive,'' says Saju of Kavitha.
Critics of the three-hour film point out that it fails to do justice to the novel. And they say that the film has nothing new to offer. But the director gets accolades for working on such a big project. Bhansali had proved his skills earlier in `Khamoshi-The Musical' and `Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam'.
By Krishnakumar G.
Photo: H. Vibhu
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