Dev D

Dev D....Anurag kashyap's brilliant take on the tale of the famous drunk lover...Devdas

Dev is a typical rich-on-his-family's-wealth kid who has a childhood companion Paro who seems to be his only friend. But Dev is no symapthy-inducing sob kid...he's a spoilt brat and a lovable rogue. After he's sent abroad to study, his romance with Paro blooms over the net. But after he returns, things go haywire and Paro leaves him to marry someone else. Lost and burdened with what he thinks is heartbreak, Dev finds solace by increasing his Thums up-with-vodka intake. Fate aka Chunni takes him to Chanda's "suite" where he tries and puts his life into some measure of normalcy.

There ends the similarities with the actual / Shahrukh Khan Devdas storyline And now...for the fun parts of the movie...This isn't about a love story...its about separating the lust from the love....

Dev's father is one cool dad...instead of opposing his love for Paro, he was the one wishes to make it happen...watch out for his "London jaake tera taste kharab ho gaya hai" lines. Paro is a fiery lil package who doesn't put up with Dev's bullshit and tells it to his face. His water pump scene is too good. Chanda aka Lenny...she's actually every man's fantasy...smart, sexy and cute. Don't miss her multi-lingual "kinky" conversation. Chunni is hilarious...the scene where he introduces himself had the audince in splits. A lot of real-life incidents in and around Delhi have been quietly yet brilliantly incorporated into the story line. The happy ending doesn't make you go "Huh??" but satisfies your "Gosh...I hope they make it" sentiment.

Casting is brilliant...Abhay Deol rocks once again. Both Mahi and Kalki are excellent finds. Chunni is a surprise. The music is a good blend of local numbers with a rock base. The screenplay could have been a little tighter. The length of the movie could be a little shorter too...but the research of the small but significant bits is brilliant.

If Shahrukh Khan's Devdas put you off the whole drunk romeo bit, do watch this one for a brand new take on an age old love (?) story ;)