Kahani mein twist
Nonika Singh
“Every film is political; even when it’s maintaining the status quo…” acclaimed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra deems so. Not surprising, even when he comes across the classical love tale of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s immortal Devdas, he decides to place it against the background of politics. To see the film as leftist or rightist would be limiting the understanding to a very elementary level. For the director, best known for creating nuanced films and complex portrayals, basic and simplistic would be blasphemy, if not hara-kiri.
Not only has he turned the timeless love story almost on its head, titled it Daas Dev, but even freed his characters from the shackles of novel’s paradigm. Taking immense pride in calling his film “disloyal to the original text”, however, he doesn’t see Devdas as a loser. The very fact that the character has endured so many decades and continues to fascinate both people’s imagination and tickle makers’ mind speaks volumes.
“When it comes to lovers there are few analogies greater than his devotion… even if it followed the self-destruct mode.”
But what Devdas of Sarat Chandra did in 1917 is not possible to replicate in 2018. So, Mishra’s Daas Dev is addicted to power and without drawing parallels with any person living or dead this Devdas is also a symbol of dynastic politics. Somewhere in between the film also seeks inspiration from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and gifted actor Saurabh Shukla’s part is cut out from abominable uncle Claudius.
Shukla, who by the way celebrates his birthday today, also cherishes 25 years of his association with Mishra. If the award winning director has never made a film without Shukla, the actor too sees in his films an acutely aware political sensibility. In a way politics is Mishra’s legacy too. Grandson of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dwarka Prasad Mishra it is no accident that his films have a political inflection. But with a grandfather who believed, “you don’t become a politician just because you come from a certain womb,” films will be his only intrusion into politics.
Making a political film or for that matter any work of art is a risk and a challenge. That’s why he stands peeved by the government who views filmmaking as just another ball bearing industry and also like a sin such as alcohol and cigarettes. Seeking blanket tax exemption on making films, except income tax, he holds a brief not just for art filmmakers but for all those blockbusters too.
Bollywood has indeed come a long way since he made Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi and people quizzed him; what kind of heroine is this who flits from one man to another. He quips, “Imagine no male actor was willing to be a part of such a film.” Today he has deliberately chosen Rahul Bhat (of Ugly fame) for he wanted a clean slate, unencumbered by an image for a role that has been played by legendary Dilip Kumar and in recent memory by Badshah Khan. Bhat rose to the part simply by “being honest from action to cut.”
Of course, what is Devdas without his Paro and Chandrmukhi? Once again the maker has turned the tables. Unexpectedly, spunky Richa Chadda is Paro and Aditi Rao Hydari with its aching vulnerability and strength is the Chandramukhi, both strong complex female parts. Mishra invariably portrays female protagonists as powerhouses of strength. “You don’t have to be a woman to get into her head, all one has to do is get in touch with one’s feminine side.”
Like Hollywoood, does he think Bollywood too needs its MeToo movement? He nods, “Sure… only I see it as movement not just to bring forth the problem of harassment of women but liberation of ideas and another kind of story telling too.” As he is all set to tell you his take on Devdas, he reminds, “What is original is the viewpoint as Ghalib said andaz-e bayan aur.” To those expecting yet another Devdas, he advises; better watch Bimal Da’s Devdas. This is Daas Dev, better still Daas to Dev… a slave to power who seeks and finds redemption.” Mishra by the way, vindicates, himself by refusing to toe the line as also by not shutting up on issues that matter.
nonikasingh@tribunemail.com
