Devdas - The Most Loved Tragic Tale | Anupama Chopra and Rahul Desai | FC Retake

Join us as we revisit Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, Devdas (2002). This cinematic masterpiece, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit, is a visual and emotional spectacle that has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. In this segment, we explore the opulent world Bhansali created, the poignant performances that brought this tragic love story to life, and the cultural impact Devdas has had over the years. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, this revisit promises to be a rich, immersive experience into one of Bollywood's most iconic films.
#Devdas #ShahRukhKhan #AishwaryaRai #MadhuriDixit
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The Film Companion is a web channel intended to promote Indian cinema through films review, interviews, discussions, video essays, and analytical compilations. It is intended primarily for the purpose of encouraging informed discussions, criticism, and review of cinema and towards such purpose, the programs use short extracts of cinematograph films, sound recording, and photographic works. These clips and extracts are of a minimal nature and the use is not intended to interfere in any manner with their commercial exploitation of the complete work by the owners of the copyright. The use of works is in compliance with the fair dealing exception provided under Sec. 52 of the Copyright Act, and we assert our use of the works under the exception provided for criticism and review.

[@nivedyapt8556]

You can't talk about Devdas without talking about Saroj Khan. Maar Daala was the culmination of Saroj Khan and Madhuri Dixit's decades-long partnership, and what a song.

[@adverd]

& they call them self film critics.

[@dharmindersingh409]

It's true

[@Ytuser318]

Aishwarya Rai as paro is iconic ❤ I couldn't imagine anyone except her in the role

[@manishisingh1504]

Actually it's a landmark movie because Shreya Ghoshal was introduced One of the most loved and prolific singer of this generation

[@prabhathalovesmovies]

My favourite memory of Bhansali's Devadas is the scene where Madhuri Dixit gives it back to the Zamindar. Will miss you Film Companion

I do not see enough appreciation for Aishwarya Rai in the comments section. She has always, always delivered great performances in Bengali and Tamil movies but in Hindi cinema after hddcs, Devdas cemented her position as a star in Bollywood! I really wish she could have played Rani Padmavati's role too (nothing against Deepika though). Aishwarya's collaborations with SLB are so magical! In Devdas, I was riveted watching her. Her and SRK look so much in love, I as an audience felt shy looking at them. Morey piya is just peak chemistry and beauty. Why didn't he remove the thorn quickly, why did he have to wait?? Why did she have to pour water on his face like that?? and why did he look so handsome with water dripping down his face?? That whole scene is pure insanity. She was perfect as Parvati, he was a great Devdas. I have a hypothesis, and it is only a hypothesis so don't attack me but Aishwarya's beauty is something that women understand and appreciate much more and so easily than men do. I feel that despite her being obviously and drop-dead gorgeous, she never became an object of male desires and was always so much adored by women, probably even more. I don't think she has ever tried to cater to only the male gaze when she could've easily done that and gained so much more popularity. Yes even in Dhoom 2. I am not doing a good job of explaining this well. Anyway I have so much affection for Aishwarya Rai. She is so talented and kind and of course, pretty.

[@SaadKhan-ym1eb]

I think Aishwarya rai was the main limelight , she was so stunning and I cannot see anyone else playing that role

[@bilal_ahmed1011]

Awww anupama don't do this, don't stop film companion. It was and has been my companion. From fighting depression, fighting health concerns, staying alone at night, almost listening to your reviews and interviews so intently as if they were speaking to me. And then to see you, the channel and myself evolve , FC has been a wife i never had, a friend that would never tire and a letter from a lover that I wanted to read again and again.

[@amstv891]

Why is she stopping it?

[@bilal_ahmed1011]

@@amstv891 am also clueless

[@tylerEN]

Life goes on. She has been roped in to serve in an editorial role by Hollywood Reporter India.

[@Sos-soundsofsilence]

So agree

[@darshitajain65]

Retakes is one of my favourite favourite things FC ever did and there have been so many! Thank you for all the love, the care, the critique, the unapologetic love for hindi cinema, you made me feel comfortable with my own crazy love for drama and Bollywood. As a fellow critic, I just want to say, thnk you!

[@darshu790]

Calling the Devdas character as narcissistic was spot on. I had always felt this.

[@malihaahmad334]

A nice shift by bringing Paro and Chandramukhi together. Instead of going the most stereotypical way of showing two women fight over a man, they are shown as celebrating the love they have for a common entity without any malice. Really nice track that one. Kudos to Bhansali for that touch❤

[@ai.ai.captain]

Opening theme of Devdas was fantastic ❤ (plz continue with film companion)

[@debanilpramanik5031]

Have always admired Bhansali for his detailing and world building. But in case of Devdas, as a Bengali I felt the movie was made in a parallel universe.The central conflict of class divide between Dev and Paro was diminished, the moment Paro was seen living in a mansion made out of Belgian glass, The pathos is diminished by making Paro and Chandramukhi meet ... and no, we dont keep on getting Sondesh from one household to another .. It still is one of my favorite films, although without offending anyone, it is a very Gujratified version of a classic story, where often grandeur took over the core essence of the story

[@AzeemaFaizunnisa]

well said.

[@indraniray4752]

This. Yes.

[@anuwarrier]

Not a Bengali, but that was precisely my argument about the film - that the grandeur took over everything else that was great about the story. And man, was Kiron Kher over the top! :)

[@akshayrajan7476]

Special revisit on 22 years of Devdas - for me the highlight of Devdas is the entry of Shreya Ghoshal in my life ❤❤❤

[@karthik.sridhar]

True. For some reason, I associate her more with Saaya. Maybe because she already made an appearance in that song.

[@akshayrajan7476]

@@karthik.sridhar devdas was before Saaya buddy

[@karthik.sridhar]

@@akshayrajan7476 I know. I meant, because she made an appearance in Saaya, my first memory of her goes to that. I missed removing that "already" in my earlier comment.

[@shristiella9144]

@@akshayrajan7476

[@akshayrajan7476]

@@karthik.sridhar ok buddy

[@gurgaonin2009]

I think Madhuri Dixit was outstanding in the movie and sad that they did not even talk abt it… all abt SRK

[@amarsonawane4244]

For me the star of Devdas is Madhuri Dixit,hers was the most difficult character to portray such headstrong yet loony, but hats off she eased it like a pro, something only of her calibre can pull off

[@dia606]

This is true and in retrospect her dramatic acting is what was missing in Bajirao Mastani, in all those dialogue-heavy scenes where Mastani is arguing with everybody - it needed a Madhuri with the wounded grace and emotionality

[@suchith9327]

Totally agree 👍 to accept that small role on peak of her career when she was superstar shows the confidence she had in her

[@hrushikeshahebbar2129]

I cannot still forget the first time I saw this movie…. The audacity the sheer conviction of this man … SLB …. Love love this movie. The best movie ever made .❤❤❤

[@thisfortnightinpakistancc3223]

Yaar where is Film Companion going I am getting stressed. Is it closing that will be sad...Sending Anupama Chopra & team FC best wishes for future endeavours.

[@satarupmukherjee39]

Devdas intoduced legendary Shreya Ghoshal to the world.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I feel like we’re just marking lasts for Anupama Ma’am. Also, another retake episode on an SLB movie? I am SHOOKETH

[@sachiikothari1440]

Any idea where Anu Ma'am is going. I mean she is co-founder of FC

[@amusingwordplay7298]

​@@sachiikothari1440, she's joining The Hollywood Reporter as Editor.

[@trojanleo123]

Honestly, Madhuri Dixit was the best thing about the movie.

[@sambill8910]

THIS....I watch it over and over again just for her...Her performance is the strongest in the movie!

[@trojanleo123]

@@sambill8910 Completely agreed 100%

[@andrewduanebarr4737]

100% agree. I watch this movie for her

[@bapisaha644]

Unfortunately, SLB cannot make a movie like Devdass. The cast, the costumes, the individual monologues, the background score , the songs. More importantly ,the screenplay. I think that it what is lacking in SLB's latest endeavours. A structured screenplay. Also, Kiron Kher. Until Chadramukhi entry, Kiron Kher had the biggest screen presence and got some of the finest lines. One of my favorite " Are Kaushlya, jintey amorood meri beti ne tere bagichey se churai Hai, usse zyaada niwale tere beton ko Maine apne hathon se khilai hain".

[@AaushKumar-ob6wc]

And that one too har naatak ke do ank hote hai Kaushalya pehle ank me mai aur meri beti naache the aur doosre me tu aur tera beta naachega

[@fahadjawaid3569]

Devdas had such a big impact on my and so many young people in Pakistan. We adapted it at one of our plays in Karachi university. It was a spoof but kind of our homage to devdas

[@babartask6628]

Madhuri Dixit is the best thing about this movie. ❤

[@raveenkumar8275]

Devdas is nothing without Aishwarya and Madhuri. 2 of them outperformed SRK

[@bipindaniel9698]

Haha joke of the century

[@raveenkumar8275]

@@bipindaniel9698 the joke is on u. Im sure nonsense will like u like srk’s overacting. No wonder Bollywood cannot produce much outstanding actors in general

[@tiffanygilbert9631]

In Devdas, Madhuri Dixit further cemented her legacy in world cinema. Her performance as Chandramukhi is singularly epic.

[@sambill8910]

What a useless conversation without even mentioning the 2 leading ladies of the movie...Without Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya , Devdas would have never been this conic!

[@syedazhar7773]

Opening sequence of Devdas is so good, So loud and whole family introduce ❤

[@millip6760]

When Kiron Kher dances in the Mukherjee household and then they switch up and she challenges to wed her daughter paro in days time. That scene still leaves me with goosebumps. Two mothers both at loggerheads (one’s ego is battled with another’s anger). All the women in this movie are class acts and SRK the actor shines in this. One of his best performances along with Rizwan Khan in my opinion.

[@swatigupta5041]

Madhuri missed SLB (and SLB missed Madhuri) by a decade ! So sad. Imagine what would they have created together !

[@suchith9327]

Totally agree 👍 100%

[@mayurbhobe3752]

This was Aishwarya’s best performance. I wish bajirao mastani would have happened with her. Only bhansali could have tapped the true potential of aishwarya rai

[@raveenkumar8275]

Pls. Mani Ratnam has done better with Aishwarya Rai.

[@mukeshnekkaradka]

Best story with Great Music🫶👌👌👌...Just Love this film Kaahe chhed , Bairi piya & Morey piya songs are everyday playlist of me🎵🎶😍

[@justjafrinthings]

I kept going back to SRK movies and songs on YT while he didn't have new movies coming out and the magic I felt seeing him on the big screen for the first time in my life watching Jawan was amazing. SRK probably smells like love. I would kill to see him in a VeerZara like romance again.

[@MeghnaSasan]

The only thing timeless about Devdas is it's story written so beautifully by the great Bengali novelist, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Bengal is incredibly rich in it's culture and history. There's something so haunting about it, pulling one into it's own world. Bhansali, a maestro at cinematic beauty, the climax shot effortlessly, yet ignorant to Bengali being spoken incorrectly, disappointing. A story being told from a certain region needs that authenticity. Anupama, your unconditional love for Shah Rukh is obvious but after a point it's unsophisticated. Also, the next time when you're being a responsible senior journalist, you might want to have a think about our slain soldiers or their families who take the gallantry awards on behalf of their sons or daughters who have given up their lives for our country, when you are interviewing and gushing over artists from across the border. Art should cross boundaries but only with countries that are our allies. Not countries that attack India. My father was a war veteran who fought for us. I went to a school where quite a few of our boys go to the Academy. Lest we forget. So let's not.

[@renesebastian8498]

This was a great interview. Also love how so many of the technical artists got "their flowers" here.

[@serendipity0999]

Anu, it's heartbreaking to know that you are shutting down FC. I think in the Indian cinema landscape, FC comes at the top. I will miss all of you guys especially Sneha and you.

[@abhisekdas-1]

My first movie after moving to Delhi....the Devaaaa still haunts watching a movie in Dolby in Delhi after watching all my movies in a theatre in Silchar a small town in Assam ...the sound was amazing

[@ElViajeReviews]

This can’t be the last in a year which marks 20 years of Veer-Zaara. You can’t do this to us. Please reconsider and do one on Yashji’s VZ! That can be a souvenir I’ll cherish for the rest of my last. Pretty please? :)

[@iamPrinceK]

Peak Sanjay Leela Bhansali, hands down 🙌 SRK versatility, & two gorgeous ladies. Cinematography to music just perfect🎥✨🫡

[@priyachhetri]

I feel like I can discuss this movie forever, every time I see it I notice something new about it. It’ll forever be relevant.

[@bipindaniel9698]

What a performance srk has given in this movie.

[@anitadahm9185]

Lovely to hear again about one of my most favorite films ❤️❤️❤️

[@ketansingh2459]

Madhuri Dixit rock in devdas

[@aditisinha224]

Why is this the last episode?? Why can't good things not end??

[@thatfilmydesaikid]

Ma'am is moving to the newly launching India branch of The Hollywood Reporter as Editor.

[@caughtcrjfever2107]

Keep revising through online. Make a podcast with Rahul please

[@SuvojitChattopadhyay]

Why is this the last episode of Retake?

[@JayPatil877]

Few days ago, I tried to watch Devdas but stopped after some time. The grandeur of the sets reminded me of Late Nitin Chandrakant Desai. He was a maverick art director who decorated the silver screen with his craft. His initial collaborations with Sanjay Leela Bhansali left a footprint which is evident in SLB's later work also. Missing Nitin Chandrakant Desai😢😢😢

[@arsalanhasan2953]

This by far the finest Hindi movie ever made by SLB!

[@akshatsha]

Thank you FC for forcing rahul to do videos! Going to miss this.

[@anshumanyadav9433]

I just have one word for this chat: beautiful. Thank you for this, guys! ♥️

[@divyasingh6175]

what an amazing conversation and analogies ....brilliant

[@starsrox7427]

I understand that dramatic pitch was needed but it was done in a way that it took me out of the film every single time until Madhuri appeared. It was a marvelous performance by Madhuri but I wonder if she was that good or the actors surrounding her were bad that she appeared so good. Either way, everytime I rewatch the movie, I am in awe of her performance. The set design, costume design and styling will forever be one of the best. What a incredible imagination Sanjay has. Everyone involved in the production of the film should be proud of themselves

[@deepaknayakmanel8581]

True. She was other-wordly. A standout performance!

[@tiffanygilbert9631]

She is THAT GOOD!

[@irfanfaiza7079]

Our heart stopped in the final 10 mins of the film- I saw my Khalla and my cousin were in tears - it was the last show of the day in NJ that started at 12am and ended around 3:30am-

[@vidhansharma6155]

It will always a remain a special film for me. Something that I can’t get enough of- for its grandeur, music, acting- and surely, its vision- is something that every film enthusiast can learn from. Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The Magic Maker.

[@SimonM7TV]

The point about how artifice isn't tolerated anymore is very true but that makes me sad. I think there's a timelessness to a movie that creates its own world that kinda wraps, visually, around its big emotions. If we've gotten so self-conscious that the only type of movie we tolerate is "realistic", I just think we're poorer for it. So much love to SLB for keeping at it. All of his "too artificial" movies will be re-evaluated in 10, 15 years and we will lament that nobody else even aspires to that kind of visual storytelling.

[@nifrazrifaz4190]

No or little mention about Ash and Madhiri in this 35 minute long interview about Devdas!

[@hazeenajoshi]

Pain is such a universal language. Great insights from Rahul Desai. We need more revisits 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼❤❤❤

[@abhishekhange7777]

Me and my best friend were watching Devdas today and this video came in my feed 😍🙏

[@kushbharakhada4967]

Is FC shutting down or just anupama leaving. Can someone please say i am so stressed

[@senguptasayn]

I think Chopra is joining as editor in some international entity in India.

[@user-gh9jr4pl2q]

Had watched and loved this movie when I was kid. Then I grew up and realized that the male protagonist is narcissistic, abusive and obsessive. Not sure that any woman with any self-worth or a life and a future would entertain such project for a person. Way too many desis think being bechara (pitiable) is a lovely trait! Too many also assume if a man is crying all his problematic behavior is justified just like they used to approach women crying. No amount of lovely sets and dances can convince me otherwise. Overall, find the movie very juvenile now.

[@raja-jl9os]

Mujhe melodrama dekhkar ulti aa jati h

[@divyap7837]

Thanks a lot and this is an iconic movie which deserves such attention!

[@puneetsuryawanshi8067]

For any cinema enthusiast or a student of cinema Film Companion will remain a time less treasure of tremendous flourishing content. ❤

[@hrushikeshahebbar2129]

So so special … love you guys .. love you Anupama and Rahul Desai ❤❤❤❤ thank you for this.

[@RehamanMohammed]

The moments in DEVDAS are ETERNAL

[@anuwarrier]

Shahrukh was easily the worst part of this film. He hammed so much! Both Aishwarya and Madhuri were damned good, especially the latter. And props to the art director, Saroj Khan and of course, SLB - my only peeve was that the grandeur overwhelmed the classic simplicity of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's story. And gosh, was Kiron Kher over the top! (Even more so than everyone else - since the drama was pitched to 10 anyway.) Sad to see you leave, Anupama, and will miss FC Retake as well as your reviews. But... life moves on, and so must you. All the very best for the next step in your journey.

[@vasupradhamagudapathy7812]

As I am watching the video my memories are coming back of the time when I watched devdas at a theatre in Chennai. One of my favourite soundtrack. As they both discuss each points the scenes are flashing in my mind along with the music and also the emotions. Iam literally feeling those emotions as iam watching this video. Before seeing the movie used to hear the songs in fm. After watching the movie I bought it's cassette and always listening in my walkman. The only touch I had with Hindi movies during my college days in Chennai is through this walkman I had. Devdas dch lagaan mainprem ki deewani hoon and many other cassettes.

[@SensiblyVoyeuristic]

I was only 2 when it was released but I have heard the songs and watched the snippets of DEVDAS so many times in the last 10 years that I realized while listening to this discussion that I have never seen the movie from beginning to climax even though I have watched almost everything by Shah Rukh Khan. I am happy that I will get to see it for the first time as a postgraduate literary scholar. 💌

[@shubhamluhadia]

I saw "Devdas" in title and never clicked faster!

[@lilacfunk]

First time I’m listening to Rahul Desai, very insightful!

[@dia606]

Chandramukhi’s love for Devdas is the only thing that doesn’t make sense because she talks about worshiping the ground he walks on, and a kind of Meera-like devotion which just doesn’t make sense for a mature, beautiful wordly-wise woman who can see frailty in men. It would have been fine if she loved him in a more grounded manner seeing him for the beautiful mess he is, but it didn’t make sense why she worshipped him when all he does is treat her badly like she’s beneath him

[@ashish2184]

saw it in Veena cinema, Patna. what an experience. i remember most of the dialoges by heart. thinking abt it still gives me goosebumps. about music, that line when Udit narayan voice comes "woh bachpan ki yaadien,, woh kisse woh naate" .. uff .. my eyes still tears up. they dont make music and movies like it anymore.

[@shashankp648]

Can they please re-release this movie already …

[@vikramsharma5561]

According to FC, apart from SRK movies, there are no movies to discuss in Bollywood

[@raja-jl9os]

Regional actor's bilkul hamare jese dikhte h allu arjun bahut handsome dikhta h fir bhi tum usko dekhkar relate kar skate ho kyuki uska rang bhi swala h

[@azim1866]

"Waqt ne sikha diya paro" 😍😍 masterpiece

[@ankitm7030]

Dear Anupama,there are other actors than Shahrukh who have massively contributed to Indian Films....

[@gautamsinha884]

For me, Devdas (2002) is nothing without Madhuri Dixit ❤❤❤❤

[@starsimvidz]

The biggest flaw is the supporting cast. Outside of the 3 leads, the acting is like a bad saas bahu soap. I can’t even watch the mother and sister scenes, it’s so cringey

[@vedpurohit9294]

That is perhaps the only part of the movie which very much feels like a product of its time

[@shreyarc]

So true. Just pathetic supporting cast acting

[@raja-jl9os]

​@@vedpurohit9294 Bollywood filmmakers ko bas melodramatic movies banana ata h

[@waqasbadar300]

Exactly! 110%. Devdas's mom, grandma, and especially his bhabhi were soo grating and over-the-top.

[@khursheedrind3232]

0:00 #22YearsOfDevdas and #MadhuriDixitNene nailed it as #Chandramukhu it was a blend of emotions and it’s a good film to weep in it’s a sage of revenge love ambition and friendship it’s a must watch

[@ashimrajpanjiyar6678]

Make this type of video on tere naam movie.Share the sweet anecdote of those days .Tere Naam hair style , it's hype on single screen theater.

[@kapadiavicky]

We need a proper farewell from film companion, probably a live session plss, 😢😢

[@subhajitchakraborty5995]

A ZNMD retake should've been made❤

[@pigg90]

Why is FC shutting down? 😭 I'm going to miss it so much 😭

[@Eatwithkaranvlogs]

SRK overacted in most of the emotional parts Kiron Kher, Aish, Madhuri worked superbly

[@amusingwordplay7298]

I strongly disagree. Devdas is the only movie where I think he hasn't overacted.

[@MauritianGuy]

It was a movie for cinema but it was also like a play and if you watch again, you will notice that almost everyone is loud. Another way to see it, every character who was delusional were loud.

[@80sKids]

What do you mean by LAST

[@sreyoshimaitra]

If someone is actually aware of the era and social setting in which this movie was supposed to be set....it's very tough to take this movie seriously. It's really madly over the top. I laughed so much the first time I saw this movie. The second time it struck me how beautiful everything looked. But the emotions, am sorry... never got me. 😊

[@user-zr8ub8wv6c]

Rahul Desai is going to head Dharma productions. He's been a fine spokesperson of them

[@eagleheart1636]

Why last? Why, why, why, why..........

[@rahultiwari-dx8qo]

Rahul desai looking like as if he's just back from working part time on a construction site

[@HELLBOY583]

When Bhansali runs into production troubles while making a film mounted on a huge scale (for its time), it usually earns big bucks: Devdas, Padmaavat et al. Also, this is probably the first time I have seen Anupama C slip on a pair of glasses on FC. Numbers too boggling perhaps.

[@deepikachander5284]

Anupama looking great 😊

[@harmonywithdrali9682]

Stupid review .. didn’t bother to mention madhuri who gave the best performance

[@risg4me]

Wait what did I miss? What is happening to Film Companion? I watched Vickys interview, and she said it was her last interview! I just thought she is leaving but now I get the feeling something is happening with FC?

[@syedasultana4451]

Wish you read the book Devdas. SLB’s Movie doesn’t do justice to the epic, even though its such a grand movie.

[@andrewduanebarr4737]

I am glad you are stopping this show as this man doesn’t know what he is doing.

[@MeghnaSasan]

I agree. He's speaking a different language. They both at times are not making any sense.

[@malik250988]

Best movie of SLB!

[@haya19699]

Why they are saying last episode? Where are they going any new project is going to start?

[@AndroidAccountant]

Why is this the last FC Retake? Is Rahul leaving FC?

[@humptydumpty2849]

Just curious to know, why Film Companion is shutting down???

[@raja-jl9os]

I always have a question- is people of India interested to watch silly melodrama, song-dance or is it the production houses of bollywood or directors? There's already no story in bollywood. So people go to watch movie seeing the star

[@pasinduguruge-ni1iw]

Nominated for bafta too

[@anubhavsaxena5982]

What do you mean by end? Is film companion shutting down?