Daas Dev: No Devdas, no Hamlet, only a lacklustre political drama

Why was the film called Daas Dev? It could have been appealing as any other political thriller/drama. Why make even a comparison with the iconic classic, leave aside interpret it? So, two lessons learnt—not every film titled even Daas Dev in reverse resembles the immortal tragic love story; lesson two—a film cannot be called 'inspired’ by Shakespeare's masterpiece Hamlet just because the protagonist's uncle murders his father in the story.

The moment we mention Devdas, a certain expectation of loss or tragedy springs deep in the heart. But Daas Dev, in fact, talks about surviving a the political tug of war somewhere in UP.

By keeping the title of the film as Daas Dev, the director had all the intentions to make the story stand on its head, but by giving shades of the modern Devdas (remember Dev D) and the older Devdas, to his protagonist Dev, director Sudhir Mishra fails to create an original character. So, no Devdas in reverse even.

The story is simple though it pretends to portray a complex intermingling of relationships. The protagonist Dev is the same rich, spoilt drug addict, who comes back to his village to support his ailing uncle in local politics and finally inherit his family’s political legacy.

The childhood friend Paro is there who wants Dev to be strong and determined and not vulnerable. Chandramukhi (Chandni) is the high-profile call girl and a lobbyist too for corporates and political families. Stuck deep in the muck of corruption, deceit, betrayal, Dev finally avenges his father’s death by killing his uncle, constantly saying, “Chacha, you are sick”.

The cunning and conniving politician of an uncle, Avdhesh played by Saurabh Shukla is so obsessed with power that he even spots a political opportunity in his son’s death. Chandramukhi seems to be the only sane person saving Dev always. Dev, in the end, gives up everything even his identity to survive, naturally away from the crime-ridden world of politics.

Rahul Bhat as Dev has played his part well, but with his character’s name being Dev, comparisons with earlier versions of Devdas are bound to appear. And there he fails. Aditi Rao Hydari as Chandra Mukhi and Richa Chaddha as Paro, are superficial. In fact, the problem is that the characters don’t seem to belong to the environs they are put in. In this superficial drama of apparently intense political and love relationships, only one character shines and that is of Milan (Vineet Kumar Singh). His is just a cameo. And he is an excellent actor, undoubtedly.

The film disappoints as a work of an experienced director like Sudhir Mishra. Barring one or two dialogues, screenplay is drab. The director’s storytelling is weak and unimpressive. Look for another film this week, more so when Avengers; Infinity War is releasing this week.