15 Years Of Dev.D: What Makes Anurag Kashyap’s Film The Best Adaptation Of Devdas
Abhay Deol, Mahie Gill and Kalki Koechlin’s Dev.D, directed by Anurag Kashyap, completed 15 years on Tuesday (February 6). It is a modern-day adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s classic Bengali novel Devdas.
In 1955, Bimay Roy had also directed Devdas, starring Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Vyjayanthimala. Later, Sanjay Leela Bhansali came up with his version, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles.
Even after years of its release, Dev.D often draws inevitable comparisons to the previous adaptations.
While Bhansali and Roy’s versions were grand and opulent portrayal of love and tragedy set in a period drama, Kashyap’s take is more gritty and a contemporary reinterpretation.
Bhansali’s Devdas, which released in July 2002, is remembered for its lavish sets, extravagant costumes, and melodramatic performances, staying faithful to the original narrative’s romanticism and tragic elements.
On the other hand, Dev.D offers a stark departure, presenting a more raw and realistic depiction of the story, delving into themes of addiction, rebellion, and existential angst.
