Dev D - We are all sluts.

Let me say this first - i havent seen any of Kashyap's movies - Black Friday, No Smoking, Hanuman Returns or even the pirated dvd of Paanch. i have friends who hail him as the saviour of Indian Cinema from the kitsch it gives out.

I am a fan of Abhay Deol. That combined by the fact that i was really curious to see Kashyap's movie made me want to see Dev D at the earliest - i saw it on the first day last show.

And i was blown away by the first half. The second half dragged, but as the days passed, i started liking the movie more & more.

Anurag takes us through the lives of 3 mortal characters, who are flawed, yes we all are,they have instincts that they don’t hide,they are shameless with people they know as we all are.Asisiting Anurag in this brilliantly filmed journey is AMIT TRIVEDI’s music,every word is connected to the story,every song is rightly placed,and u never realized that you have just watched a movie with 18 goddamn songs, such is the manner it blends with the story line.The music just lifts the screenplay where it begins to drag

Coming back to the movie,The detailing is phenomenal, the dialogue, the graffiti, the camera, a “real” Punjabi wedding, the abuse, the bong, the drugs,the momos,the brothels ,the black goggles and even the sex - everything is so well placed and thought of that you just cant stop ur self from standing up and givin AK a bow for this work.

He questions us time and again about the way we treat women,a sin which is deeply rooted in Indian phsyche with sublte remarks like “MA- HILAYE” on a bus window,Godesses Kali with money in one of her hands in a graffiti at dev’s room, spot on!!.

Casting is another high point here, with ABHAY rocking, as usual and Mahi,well, she was just as raw as the character wanted her to be( I wonder if a director ever before dared to show what testosterone charged young lovers talk on phone like the brilliant “have u touched yourself?” in the starting scene - missed it in th movie, but saw it online later). Cinematography is awesome & never lets you down.

KALKI ,I think she was made for this role, the innocence of a school girl and then Chanda a girl with no regrets, she has surrendered her to the conditions around her which at one point of time every man does, thus becoming a 'slut'.

About the songs,I think Duniya was brilliantly picturized so was emotional atyaachar and its Rock version, Just couldn’t understand the presence of 3 GUYS(may be anurag’s three musketeers),who danced their way around in Sali khushi and pardesi.

The movie explores the modern male & female psyche well - Dev can't handle the over sexualuty oozed by any of his ladies. Chanda accepts her fate as a "CSW", at the same time carrying on studies during the day. Mahi is in love with Dev, but doesnt forget how he has hurt her & she gets back at him & how !! Hits him where it hurts the most. All her commentsa directed, literally, below the belt.

The dialogues were real & at times full of brazen sexuality. Sample this
"saali palang tod deti hai"
"have you guys done it - S.E.X. ?"
"wahaan se haath nikaal"
"tumhaari photo bhejna - binaa kapde ki"
"woh umar mein boodhe rahenge, par bistar mein nahi. Unpe chadne ki to naubat hi nahi aati"
"im just going out for a walk, im not going to suck every cock that walks my way"
"all you wanna do is fuck. . . Don't u ?"


The raw energy in some scenes just captivates you

1. The scene where Mahi gets a bedding into the fields so that she & dev n get doing what they had been planning for long
2. the scene where Chanda talks sex with dev & he can't handle it & breaks the glass. That establishes right there who controls the relationship
3. Mahi & Dev confrontation in the secind half
4. Lenny's outburst at her father

and many more to list. Watch the movie for them


Complaints -

Second half drags
Why does Mahi start washing Dev's clothes
Chanda's falling into love woth Dev has not been well explained
Abrupt end


So - all in all - yes, i will definitely watch Black friday & No Smoking, just coz AK's directed them. You might hate the movie - but you should still see it. It might not make money at the BO, but its sure to be a cult classic on the DVD circuit.

So, GO FOR IT. It sure ain't Emosanal Attyachaar !!!