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Staring: Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music: Ismail Darbar
Running time: 187 minutes
Format: NTSC
Video: 2.50:1, 16X9 enhanced anamorphic widescreen, Extras: 4:3
full screen
Sound: Hindi Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Japanese, Spanish and Arabic
Year: 1999 (cinema), 2000 (DVD)
DVD: Main feature: Single sided dual layered, Extras: Single sided
single layered
DVD Author: Digital Entertainment Inc
DVD Release by: Digital Entertainment Inc
Synopsis
A film that needs no introduction - so we're not going to give it one!
This is latest adaptation of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam on DVD
(the 4th!) this time brought to us by DEI as a 2 disc collectors set.
The first DVD contains the movie (which is over 3 hours long) with second
single side single layer DVD reserved for all the extras.
Video
All previous versions of HDDCS DVD have been disappointing
to say the least - such a colourful movie with outstanding set pieces
required an exceptional DVD to capture all the magic of film and we think
DEI have delivered the goods in style. The video is presented is it original
aspect ratio in a glorious anamorphic transfer. The colour fidelity is
exceptional - a true show piece to represent HDDCS in its
true form. The detail level is also very high with very good sharpness
- although disappointingly it cannot be said for every scene. Certain
scene excel in detail and sharpness and can honestly be called reference
quality material but some scene show distinct lack of sharpness and contain
compression and noise artefacts although never too distracting neither
spoiling the movie enjoyment. What is disappointing is the video quality
of the extras provided on the DVD - see below for more details. Overall
this is job very well done and at the end of the day is the best video
representation of HDDCS available on DVD. Video rating:
8/10
Audio
Accompanying the brilliant video transfer is the equally superb sound
track presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound is dynamic, vibrant and
truly a joy to listen to. One of the highlights of the HDDCS
is the music by Ismail Darbar and it is represented in its true form on
this DVD without any noticeable distortion or background noise. The speech
dialog is very clear with first-rate channel separation from the backdrop
sound effects, adding that extra touch to the movie watching experience.
The sound only could have been better with a additional DTS track (although
I'm not sure if this is available on HDDCS) - but the movie
being over 3 hours long this is would have compromised the quality of
video anyway. Audio rating: 9/10
Extras
- The Making Of HDDCS - behind the scenes look at HDDCS
including interviews with cast and makers. This is the same making of
feature included on the Video Sound version
of HDDCS DVD - but disappointingly the feature on this DVD is of significantly
lower quality than on the Video Sound DVD. This is surprising as DEI had
extra space on a second DVD disc to include better quality footage.
- Collector's booklet including song lyrics from the movie.
- Theatrical trailer
- 13 HDDCS promos
- Various awards footage for HDDCS including IFFA UK Awards
and Zee Gold Awards
Web links
Official
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam homepage
Internet Movie
Database entry
IDN
review of the DEI version of HDDCS
Movie reviews of HDDCS on Planet
Bollywood and Rediff
Summary
For the main feature this is the ultimate rendition of Hum Dil De
Chuke Sanam movie but the overall DVD product is far from perfect.
The lower quality of extras especially, that of the making of feature,
is puzzling - it could and have should been better quality. But all in
all, this is the best Indian DVD to have surfaced so far - a brilliantly
made movie and a top DVD for any fan.
Overall 'zulmi' rating:
8/10
Also view the screen grabs of DEI's HDDCS on our earlier
preview page here.
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