20 years of 'Devdas': Bhansali says- I made the film amidst great obstacles, I endured a lot of pain

Kathmandu. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Devdas was the only Indian film to be shortlisted by Time Magazine in 2002 as one of the top 10 films in the world. Speaking about the film, director Bhansali said, "We made the film despite all the obstacles. Devdas was selected in the uncompetitive section of Cannes. '

He was open about how challenging it was to make a film with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. ‘Devdas was definitely not easy to make. I suffered a lot. When I was called to Cannes, my two years of penance seemed to pay off. '

‘God had his own way of telling me, you suffered so much. Now is the time for happiness to begin. We had to work at double speed to make a timely film for Cannes. We were completely amazed. We sent them an almost finished video. But there was no time for fine tuning, 'he says.

‘Devdas was not to be seen on the big screen. It is a miracle that the Cannes jury praised it on the small screen. When the email came from Cannes, it was an important moment in my life. I felt happy from the bottom of my heart. In two and a half years, I have been excited about other things besides making films, 'he said.

Sharad Chandra Chatterjee's grand adaptation of the classical romance tragedy confirms his belief in the director as a visual medium to create poetry from melodrama. After ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, Bhansali created a captivating romantic tragedy that works to give the audience a sense of the grandeur of life and the flow of emotions.

The characters of the film walk in their ornate costumes which look like they have been cut from fine thread. But that grandeur does not hinder the pace of the story anywhere. As Vimal Roy portrayed in words in 1950, director Bhansali went beyond that and portrayed grandeur.

The scenes created by Bhansali to confirm the tragic moment are the highlights of the film. Whether it is the act of presenting the two female characters of Devdas, Paro and Chandramukhi, together in a fun dance, or the male character Devdas who is drunk at his own funeral. Bhansali's original ideas make the film beautiful.

Director Bhansali has constructed a bright building in the timeless setting of the feudal splendor and leisure mood of early 20th century Kolkata. There was hardly such grandeur in the Indian film before Sanam that we gave our heart to. In the closing scene of Chatterjee's novel, Bhansali breathes his last in front of a dying house, which is taken from a slightly different angle.

Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit have unlimited potential in the roles of girlfriend and city bride. It is considered as a grand choreography by Meenakumari in the film 'Pakija' in the role of Nagarvadhu. Madhuri Abbal is seen in this role.

When Devdas was released on July 12, 2002, it received rave reviews in India. Which really hurt Bhansali. ‘I was criticized for making Devdas a showman. But realistic film is not a real film in this country. It’s not in a genre like Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, where the presence of the camera is so little mentioned that it almost disappears, ’says Bhansali.

‘You think you’re in a real wedding. I am happy that the dimension of Indian cinema has now spread from Mira Nair to Satyajit Ray. He had his way. I have mine This is not to say that my film should not be criticized by critics. But they should have judged the film in the genre and format I chose. My path is also a path. Another director can make the same story in a different way, 'he says.

About his role in Devdas, Shah Rukh Khan says, ‘Devdas is the traveler who needs everything and nothing. He is both a winner and a loser. This is very unique. While reading the book, Paro calls Devdas Da, which means brother. So he is a lover and a brother at the same time.

How did it happen Such a thing can only happen with Devdas. Many are comparing our film to a novel. In my opinion, few people have the right to read novels. You can't look at Devdas with preconceived notions and expectations. Every time I read Devdas, I get a different mood. '