Review: Devdas

Devdas
Stars: Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher
Directed By: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Released: 2002

When a film weaves magic, when a film defines a movie industry, when a film touches every inch of your heart and soul, it's name is Devdas. This is the first Bollywood movie that I sat down to watch and I was captured by it immediately. It is a timeless story about love, loss and tragedy that is told in the proper Bollywood way: With Madhuri Dixit, fantastic sets and timeless music.

Devdas Mukherjee (Khan) is a young man returning from studying in England. He has been there for ten years, having reluctantly left his home and his best friend Parvati (Rai) in order to study law. His mother, Kaushalya is over joyed when she hears that her son is returning home to her. This happiness is stolen from her, however, when Devdas is more interested in meeting up with Paro than he is his own family. Paro and Devdas' friendship is stronger than ever and a romance erupts between the two. Paro's mother Sumitra (Kher) is very excited about this, as she believes that Devdas will be the perfect husband for her Paro. When she goes to Kaushalya's house for a party and to propose marriage, Kaushalya turns her down and insults her in the most terrible of ways. Sumitra swears to Devdas' mother that her daughter will marry someone richer and of higher status that the Mukherjees - and she succeeds. Devdas is heartbroken over his family's betrayal and his loss of Paro, and he goes to a brothel with his friend from London, Chunnilal (Shroff), or Chunni Babu. It is there that he meets the courtesan Chandramukhi (Dixit) - the woman who is as beautiful as the moon. With the urging of Chunni Babu, Devdas decides to take his first sip of alcohol - an action that sends him on the downward spiral towards his self-destruction.

Devdas is often Shahrukh Khan's most praised performance - and for good reason. He and Madhuri Dixit prove just how versatile they are all in this one film, which is a very rare thing to find. They both are able to pull off the different shades of their characters, be it happy, sad or angry - they were completely convincing throughout.

Yet another thing that makes Devdas so special is that it has two heroines. Many will try to tell you that Chandramukhi is nothing but a supporting character, but that is simply not true. She had just as much influence on Devdas and the movie as Paro and she is the true heart of the movie. Aishwarya Rai was fantastic as Parvati, but I could still think of better actresses. Madhuri was the true gem of the film. She gave life to my favorite character in all of Bollywood. She is the only role that I could not recast, no matter how hard I tried.

As fantastic as the story itself is, one cannot talk only about the story. They cannot talk about Devdas and not mention the amazing music. Personal favorites are Maar Daala, Dola Re Dola and Kahe Chhed Mohe - all of which, Madhuri Dixit shows off her top notch dancing skills in.

I could not have picked a better film to watch for my first Bollywood film. To me, it represents all the qualities that every single Bollywood film should have. And of course, part of what makes it so special is the fact that not every Bollywood movie is up to the standards of Devdas. I recommend this sensational film for first-time Bollywood watchers and anyone else who loves romance, music and beauty.

Rating: 10/10

Review: Kurbaan

Kurbaan
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi
Released: 2009
Directed by: Rensil D'Silva

So we start out with Avantika Ahuja (Kapoor), a young professor working in Indian while simultaneously taking care of her father who has had medical issues. On her way to work one morning, she comes upon Ehsaan Khan (Khan) who is able to trick her into giving him her cab and therefore starts things off on a not so good note. When Avantika finally arrives at work she realizes that Ehsaan is also a professor there. He is intrigued by her and asks her out for a coffee. She initially rejects his advances but ends up being charmed by him all the same. After a short time of courting, they go to Avantika's father and ask permission to marry each other. Although her father is reluctant because he wants Avantika to marry another Hindu, he agrees and gives them his blessing.

Avantika and Ehsaan move to New York to work in the same university that Avantika worked in before she had to move to India to care for her father. Ehsaan is able to get a job teaching a course about Islam and the western world that many people take interest in. When Avantika and Ehsaan find their perfect home in an Indian neighborhood, Avantika is happy and content - that is until she meets the neighbors. She and Ehsaan are invited over to a dinner gathering and Avantika begins to see just how oppressed the women are by their husbands.

She doesn't think too much of it, however, until one of the women, Salma comes to her in a very distressed state. Avantika finds out that Salma is under house arrest by her husband and now fears for her life. Salma asks Avantika to contact her friend, a news reporter, for help. Avantika does this and learns that the reporter, Rihana - who is involved with Riyaz (Oberoi) will be traveling to the Middle East to deal with business but says that she will go to see Salma when she returns.

After the meeting with Rihana, Avantika goes to the doctor and discovers that she is pregnant. Happy, she goes home to wait for Ehsaan to come home so that she can tell him the happy news. While waiting, she hears noises from the neighbors house and when she goes to check it out, discovers not only Salma's dead body but also the neighbor's plan to bomb the flight Rihana is supposed to get on. Avantika runs but is heard and chased by the neighbors. She reaches her home and is convinced that she will be safe once she sees that Ehsaan is home, but little does she know... he is very much aware of what is going on and is more involved in it that she could have ever imagined.

When I sat down to watch Kurbaan, I thought it was going to be something like Gangster. In a way, it was, but it was also a lot different. I knew from the start that Ehsaan was going to end up being involved in the terrorist organization, but I thought he would be forced into it, not in it willingly. There were several parts in the movie that were terribly predictable, but there were also many times where I didn't see it coming. But sadly, as an altogether story, it wasn't all that amazing.

The one thing that is definitely worth seeing is the scene where Riyaz goes to visit Ehsaan's class and gives his speech about American's being terrorists as well. It sums up my feelings about the entire situation completely and thought that it was very well done.

And thank god for the acting. Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi were all above average. I was mostly impressed with Kareena. Not even a half hour into the movie, I was no longer seeing Kareena playing Avantika, I just saw Avantika. One thing that turned me off, however, was that she and Saif didn't have very good chemistry, especially in the beginning. He seemed to be more of a father figure to her than anything else and it was a total turn off to me. They didn't even look like they were married, on screen or off screen.

All in all, I would recommend this movie if you wanted a good, somewhat action filled time pass, but don't sit down to watch it expecting much.

Rating: 6/10