Introduction
It is worth noting that the film Devdas is not the first screen adaptation of the novel based on which the movie was shot. One of the versions created earlier was considered the iconic one, so the filmmakers had a difficult job to complete. In this film version, the creators decided to focus on entertainment and a particular visual style, due to which Devdas became a special milestone in the history of Bollywood cinema. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this movie and provide a detailed reflection on it.
Discussion
The plot of the film revolves around the tragic love between people belonging to different castes, which is also the main issue raised. The two characters were doomed to fall in love with each other, and, even separated by caste prejudices, they were able to carry this love through life. For Devdas, love for this woman became a guiding thread, which first led him to the light, but then broke off. The loss of his lover led the protagonist to the edge of the abyss and eventually – to uncontrolled drunkenness.
The filmmakers resorted to an interesting play of light and music. In the protagonist’s world, mild shadows alternate with bright flashes of light that become one with beautiful scenery and landscapes. Notably, the lovers meet in the dark, and their encounters are accompanied by the moonlight, which symbolizes the prohibition of their feelings. After the couple breaks up, the main character begins to abuse alcohol and avoids sunlight.
Curiously, the scenes with the courtesan contrast with the general background strongly – she is wearing colorful dresses and dances in the blinding light of multi-colored lamps. These visual frames and music are used to separate the plot lines and emphasize the different phases through which the main hero was going. The use of color is also of particular interest – red is used to symbolize the feelings between the main heroes (it is introduced in the very first dancing scene). The main character evolves through the combination of white and blue and then red and golden. The visual properties are accompanied by sharp cuts, which allowed softening of the long takes.
The most striking aspect of the movie is the symbol of the candle. The protagonist said that the girl lit the candle while it was he who was burning. His childhood emotions grew into a real passion, but Devdas’s dependence on the opinion of his caste influenced his thinking despite the deep love for this woman. He rejected the love of his love because of the pressure from his father, which led not only to the loss of his lover but also to intense feelings of guilt and remorse. Another important symbol was the umbrella, which may be interpreted as women’s submission to men. The ending scene in which the main heroine runs to Devdas symbolizes the isolation of women from society.
Concluding Points
It can be concluded that the movie Devdas is tied with the concepts discussed in the class closely. In particular, since this is a commercial movie, the creators made intensive use of the resources available to them, such as light, music, costumes, camera work, and so on. The combination of these instruments strikes the viewer and resonates with their individual worldview by bringing to the forefront such social issues as historical isolation of women, class differences, and patriarchal order. Class discussions pushed me to conclude that the leitmotifs of the predestination and the irrevocable nature of time are familiar to almost any viewer, and these two forms of existence are relatable for everyone.