Dev-D - The Bold New Face of Indian Cinema

I hadn't watched any movie since Ghajini in the cinemas and i was feeling the withdrawal syndrome. I managed to drag my very reluctant sister to watch Dev-D. A decision, that i would live to regret, dragging my sister that is, not the movie.

Dev-D is everything an experimental cinema should be. It breaks the shackles of traditional thinking in a never before way in the indian cinema. Its unconventional, liberating and invigorating.

Dev-D is in love with Paro, who gets married to someone else. Enters Chanda (aka Chandramukhi), a new emotional release to Dev from the brink of personal destrction.

Here you will not find vampish sister in law or strict dad who was responsible for Dev's downfall.
Dev is responsible for his own downfall, his breaking up with Paro. Dev admits to this in a reflective moment. In his own words, "I am incapable of loving anyone else, I am a slut".

Dev-D features Paro, the new Indian woman, who is not afraid or ashamed of her needs or desires. She can beat up the man spreading rumours about her and walk with head held high, when her boyfriend calls her a slut. She moves on with no regrets. She can boldly walk into a seedy little hotel to meet her ex-boyfriend, clean up after him after her marraige.

Dev-D also features Lenny, a victim of MMS scandal, whose parents denounce her. Lenny becomes Chandramukhi, a commercial sex worker, who cannot understand the hypocrisy of people who downloaded her MMS video, watched, "Got off on it" and called her a slut. or cannot understand why her customers are so scared of the word "Whore" and use differenet euphemisms to describe her.

Abhay Deol excels as Dev-D, as is Kalki as Chanda. Eventhough the movie slackens a little towards the end, the narration is great till the last half an hour. Dev-D is a refreshing change than the candyfloss lovestories that bollywood dishes out at an alarming speed.

If you ever wondered how you can marry Sharath Chandra with Emily Bronte, watch Dev-D.