http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/may/29dev.htm
...it seems that he liked the whole movie except the ending, and he says it's not on the same levels as Bimal Roy's Devdas(no shit)

Also caught this snippet from an LA Times overview of the films at Cannes so far:

"Equally entertaining, and the complete opposite of realistic, was the irresistible "Devdas" from India, the first singing-and-dancing Bollywood-style film ever invited to Cannes and the most expensive one ever produced. Starring former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and taken from a 1917 novel that's reportedly been filmed nine times in four Indian languages, "Devdas" is a soap opera story of true love thwarted by indecision, scheming women and family pride. With its opulent production design, gorgeous costumes and elaborate choreography, this is the kind of spectacular fairy tale musical no one else is making anymore."

Another view point on Devdas from Cannes Film Festival.
http://midday.chalomumbai.com/chalomumb ... p?id=13539

Folks here @ Zulm ( and everyone that visits this place casually ). Pls Ignore all the remarks made by the co called DESI- Critics... cos they are use less and lack substance (You cant expect much after you have been fed with year after year YRF-Karan Johar Crappy stuff)... Watch DEVDAS for the sheer joy of watching a classic film on celluloid, something last seen when LAGAAN was released !

And if someone is inclined to compare Bimal Roy with SLB that person is an inveterate fool .. PERIOD

The critic may have been too drunk himself, comparing the old with the new.I mean Bimal Roy made his version of Devdas according to his translation of the novel, as well as using his talents to deliver Devdas in proper shades of Black and White(i.e. expressing the moods of different scenes). However, SLB's version is full of brilliant colors and beautiful sets to potray his vision and translation of Devdas (i.e Devdas being rich and all...). He could've done this to compliment the excellent choreography in the movie as well as to attract todays movie-audience... ok common ....you have to see the movie itself to believe it....

India-Today's Film Review
REVIEW Too Beautiful to be Great
GOOD LOOKING: Rai and Khan in Cannes In 55 years, only a handful of Indians has sauntered up the hallowed steps of Palais des Festivals at Cannes to cinematic glory. Most of these trips have been unsung. It wasn't so this year as hundreds of foreigners sat through three hours of Devdas at the Salle Lumiere and applauded at the end.

The film's setting and time remain unaltered from the 1935 and 1955 versions but the narrative unfolds with deconstructed finesse. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is not overawed by the talent of his predecessors and confidently paints a large canvas. His earlier films Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam had amply demonstrated his grasp on the medium and a flair for song and dance. In Devdas, he emerges as the front-runner in a generation of filmmakers who dare to dream lyrically.

After Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray, no one has perhaps used colour, light and shade better to create a mise-en-scene than Bhansali. From the beautifully lit corridors with their coloured panes to slow tracking shots of the exquisite furniture, this is perhaps the best-looking Hindi film to date.

As a story, Devdas has no dramatic peaks, just high points. In such a situation, the director has to remain unobtrusive and the actors have to hold centrestage. Exquisitely pretty, Aishwarya Rai brings a fine balance of arrogance, vulnerability and sensuality to her performance as Devdas' childhood sweetheart Paro. Shah Rukh Khan's is an unstudied performance in which there are at least a couple of great moments. Madhuri Dixit is good as the courtesan Chandramukhi but obviously age is catching up with her.

The screenplay slackens every now and then. But the film has so much going for it that one feels sorry that it merely stops at being a very good film. It could have been great.

-Amit Khanna

See below.



Edited By Simran on June 03 2002 at 21:47

obviously age is catching up with her

Smug stupid b*****! That's how he dare dismiss her performance? Age? She's 32, a hell of a lot younger than Shah Rukh!! Age!!! I bet the jerk who wrote this went to Mathura to find a nice 12 year old to settle down with! AGE!

I am so infuriated. I guess in ten years I too will be over the hill hobbling around with a cane as AGE catches up to me.

My only concern with Devdas is the "over-melodramatic" label some1 gave it. The same person thought HDDCS was mellow and tame, while I thought it was loud and annoying in parts. If this is melodramatic by comparison, should I take some ear plugs and sunglasses with me to the cinema hall when watching it?
Bhansali's Khamoshi IMO was PERFECT. From there, it was only way to go for the director. Downwards... but from the overrated HDDCS (glossy but bad remake of Woh 7 Din), he can go up or down.

I can not agree with you more than that! u sumed up, SLB crear!! khamoshi the musical..though flop was his best film!

HDDCS was OVER-RATED!

Now!! DEVDAS is being CLASSICized? Raam Jaane!

Another Positive Film Review of Devdas From OutLookIndia

..In my opinion, I don't think HDDCS was overrated. If anything that was overrated about that film, it was Salman Khan's loud performance. Excluding that, HDDCS was a very beautiful looking & mature love story.

I couldn't agree more with arsh and yehdilsunrahahai. Devdas is being labelled as a classic well before the picture has even released, even though 99% of the public have yet to see it - why??? Just cos it stars SRK??? Well in that case it's probably going to be the same old melodramatic SHIT that we see in all his movies which are focused around his BIG EGO.

btw... some British journalists (who were also in Cannes during the screening) totally bashed the movie and stated it was nowwhere near the brilliance of Lagaan - check this out on http://www.radiosargam.com

I agree with you Mera Bacha! too! let the time come! we will see!! i dont think HDDCS was a CLASSIC either! mere bacha! Take it easy! give respect to personal opinions, keep ur strong too!
BTW, did u get mera message mera bacha?

http://www.time.com/time....00.html
...a basic overview of the Asian Films that were at Cannes this year by an International Film Critic, he talks a bit about Devdas and says its possibily the most "visually ravishing movie ever".

I don't think the growing interest of Devdas has hardly anything to do with SRK. The very fact that its a remake of a classic novel and movie from India is perhaps the films biggest highlight. Ontop of that, its being made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is by the way a very talented filmmaker. He is one of the very few filmmakers who has been involved with every project that don't disappoint. (ie. Parinda, 1942 A Love Story, Khmoshi- The Musical, & HDDCS). Its not the issue of classifying this film a "classic" well before its worldwide release. Its simply that this film <b>has[/b] what it takes to become a "classic". Great director, great music, great over-view look of the film, and positive response from those who have seen it. And the very fact that this is Bollywood's first film to ever get an official invitation to David Lynch's Cannes Film Festival is a huge honor, obviously Cannes saw something special from this film's production.





Edited By DVD Collector on June 06 2002 at 23:06