On Dilip Kumar’s 100th birth anniversary we visit his remarks on the 1995 cult classic Devdas, which is going to be re-released in cinemas with some other hits on December 10 and 11.
Devdas (1995)
Late veteran actor Dilip Kumar is a celebrated figure in the Bollywood industry and is known for his memorable roles in movies. One role of his that is still a stellar performance is his titular role in Devdas (1995), based on the novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay of the same name. Directed by Bimal Roy, the film starred Dilip Kumar in the lead role, Suchitra Sen played Parvati/Paro as she marked her debut in Bollywood and Vyjayanthimala played Chandramukhi the courtesan. The film garnered praises from far and wide for its engaging narrative, incredible cinematography and the actors’ outstanding performances.
Dilip Kumar on Devdas (1995)
The actor expressed his concerns in his book Dilip Kumar: The Substance and The Shadow co-written by journalist Udaya Tara Nayar, “It troubled me initially to experiment with the rendering of a character who carried a heavy measure of pain and despondency under the skin and could mislead the more vulnerable youth to believe that alcoholism offered the best escape from the pain of losing in love. As I reflected over the subject, which had already been filmed very successfully with K. L. Saigal in the title role, I felt that it could become a memorable film and find itself a place among the iconic films of all time if I played the part with appropriate discretion.”
He added, “The lines from Devdas, I must mention here, are some of the most responsible and sensitive ever written for a Hindi film hero. In fact, the dialogues of Devdas are replete with a haunting sensitivity, spontaneity and meaning”.
In an interview in 1986 with Channel 4 series, Movie Mahal, Dilip Kumar elaborates on the character’s mass appeal, “Their popularity emanate from the fact that characters like Devdas are so close to the soil. It was an education to work with Bimal Roy. I was in my formative years to work with a man who leaves you to get under the skin of his character. There are institutions now where you can go and learn to act, there weren’t any institutions those days. We could learn only through such instruction and persuasions and by one’s own personal application, because the thing in Devdas was trying not to do, rather than doing.”
Dilip Kumar on Devdas (2002)
Dilip Kumar has been an inspiration to many actors in the film industry. He was one of the pioneers of ‘method acting’ in Bollywood. He influenced actors such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan to follow this profession. Interestingly enough, Shahrukh Khan played the lead role in 2002 Devdas movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. When asked to comment on the movie, Dilip Kumar said, “It could have turned out to be better than mine. I did Devdas 45 years ago. And now, the techniques have developed, the instrumentation is versatile and at the disposal of the filmmaker. There are so many developments.”
Dilip Kumar is revered for his contributions to Bollywood and continues to be an inspiration to many. His roles are etched in our memories as we take a journey back in time with his movies such as Devdas, Ram aur Shyam, Shakti and more that are being re-released on December 10 and 11. This is evidence that he still resides in the public’s heart and his films are considered classics that people will still pay to watch and continue watching in the future.
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