Well, finally decided to write a review on what seems to be the most-loved film of the year. I’ve seen it twice now and this is my final opinion...Didn’t like it.
Performances
Shah Rukh Khan - I like Shah Rukh, I really do but I was cringing at his acting in this film. In an effort to look like a tormented soul, he ends up looking like a tormented actor. I’ve never seen him overact so much and it was distracting, embarrassing and unworthy of such a great icon. His performance was in my opinion was contrived and superficial, not once did I sympathise with him.
Aishwarya- Another one who took things too seriously. The quivering lip, the trembling voice, it was all too much for me. She looked absolutely ravishing though and her grace is unmatched in Bollywood but I didn’t like her portrayal of the character. It seemed like she was trying to recreate the magic of yesteryear heroines like Waheeda and Nargis and Nutan. Didn’t work.
Madhuri- She was undoubtedly the single saving grace of this film. She was emotive without over-acting, sensual without being trashy and best of all she was subtle. Her face and body language did all the acting for her and she was riveting. She blew Aishwarya out of the water in my opinion. Her restrained but powerful perfomance is surely another hallmark in the career of the legend that is Madhuri Dixit.
What else?
Well, we were supposed to be blown away by the lavish sets and I was. Everything was beautiful designed and constructed and I can’t take away from the efforts of the director. Music-wise as well, it was very well done.
In the end though, Devdas disappointed me. I felt like I was supposed to love this movie but it was really just an empty, soulless film with a gorgeous exterior. The performances should carry a film like this and in all but one case, they were not up to the mark. Devdas tried, by its larger-than-life status to endear itself to the audience. Sadly, it didn’t work for me.