Devdas (2002)

[Drunk Monk]

Devdas was Bollywood's Cannes debut pic, the biggest budget Indian film to date. To say it's grossly opulent completely underrates it. It stars my fave, Aishwarya Rai, alongside smoldering heartthrob Shahrukh Khan and the cool dance skills of Madhuri Dixit. OK, first of all, if you're not into Bollywood, this might not be for you. It's like a crazy Jane Austen story, sweeping in magnitude, dripping with foreshadowing, full of meaningful keepsakes and gorgeously colorful. It's also three hours of thinking 'why can't these star-crossed lovers just get it together?' It's takes a least a half hour before the first good turn, and then the movie is pure oversentimental overromantic Bollywood. Several times I watched Shahrukh thinking, dude, you got these two outrageously hot women who love you eternally - romeo and juliet eternally - and you can't even get a kiss? Oh man. But Shahrukh is the only actor who might have a chance to pull off such a role. And he does get to kiss Ash's bloody foot. Ash is dazzling as always. Speaking of blood, I read that in production, a film hand was decapitated by a fan and it sprayed Ash with blood. Nasty. She went into shock after. Madhuri was the whore with the heart of gold - a totally unbeleivable character - but she's got great dance moves - refined muscle control melding breakdance and classical moves. Overall, I could have used a few more dance numbers, it moves rather slowly at points - but I enjoyed the lushness of the picture overall. And it showcases Ash so well. I'd watch her read the morning paper. Watch her in undying unrequited love? Oh yeah.

If you've never experienced pure Bollywood, this is a good starter. It's a big screen movie - a tiny tv screen just doesn't do it justice. Grab some samosas, some chaat and a mango lassie and make three hours of space for it.

In all honestly, I'm probably the only one here that has a soft spot for Bollywood from my India travels. But I'd recommend it to TQ becuase she reads romance novels and this is a big fat romance, Indian style. I'd recommend it to G because the sets are huge - two mansions and a whorehouse with it's own lake. I'd recommend it to PPFY because outside that gruff exterior, we all know he's a big softy who loves pedicures, bubble baths and chick flicks.