Sanjay Leela Bhansal's epic is the tenth movie version of Saratchandra Chatterjee's famous novel and the latest Bollywood blockbuster to be given a general release in Blighty. The money ploughed into it is evident throughout. An A-list cast of Hindi actors, lavish sets and spectacular costumes go towards making this one of the most glittering films ever to come out of the sub-continent.
It is a love story in the most classic sense - ill fated and tragic. A problem remains, however. It is completely unbelievable.
A young couple in love, desperate to be with each other, but forbidden, because of the differences in their social status, spend the rest of their lives pining for each other in utter turmoil. Devdas turns to alcohol and the affections of a beautiful courtesan, Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit), who adores him, but can never take the place of Paro, the one he truly loves. Needless to say, it ends in tears.
Paro, played by former Miss India, Aishwarya Rai, marries someone else, but forever aches for her lost love by keeping a candle lit for something ridiculous like 30 years as a symbol of undying passion.
Shah Rukh Khan, dubbed the Tom Cruise of India, who happens also to be the star of Aoka, the last Bollywood epic to reach British screens, plays the eponymous hero. When not overdoing it, Khan is a charismatic actor. Unfortunately, on this occasion, he hams the pants off his Aoka. We get no idea why this chap is so irresistible to gorgeous women, nor believe that he would really be infatuated with the insipid Paro.
Sticking to time-honoured Bollywood rules, Devdas is over three hours long and contains the customary song-and-dance routines, and although the music and choreography are an absolute delight, the film is only visually dazzling, or interesting enough, to hold the viewer for about an hour.
Bollywood beginners would be better advised to dip their toes into something a little less harrowing. Such as Aoka.
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