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Devar
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| Devar | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mohan Segal |
| Screenplay by | K. A. Narayan |
| Dialogues by | Sarshar Sailani |
| Story by | Tarashankar Bandopadhyay |
| Based on | Naa (1961 novel) by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay |
| Produced by | Mohan Segal |
| Starring | Dharmendra Sharmila Tagore Shashikala Deven Verma |
| Cinematography | M. N. Malhotra |
| Edited by | Pratap Dave |
| Music by | Roshan |
Production company | Mohan Segal Productions |
| Distributed by | De-lux Films |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Devar is a 1966 Hindi tragic-drama film directed by Mohan Sehgal.[1] It stars Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore in the lead roles, supported by Shashikala and Deven Verma.[2] The music is by Roshan and the lyrics by Anand Bakshi; this is their only film together that met with success.[3]
The film is based on the short novel Naa by the Bengali writer Tarashankar Bandopadhyay. This novel was already adapted into a 1954 Bengali film of the same name, and the 1962 Tamil movie Padithaal Mattum Podhuma.
Plot
[edit]The film revolves around two childhood sweethearts, Shankar and Bhawariya, who are separated in their youth by unfortunate circumstances. Shankar grows up to be a somewhat less-educated hunter, while Bhawariya, now known as Madhumati, is a traditional and beautiful woman.
Shankar's cousin, Suresh, is a well-educated advocate. When marriage proposals come for both Shankar and Suresh, family traditions dictate that the boys cannot see their intended brides beforehand, but they are allowed to see the other boy's intended bride. Shankar's proposal is for Madhumati. Suresh's proposal is for Shaanta. Shankar sees Shaanta and finds her suitable for his cousin. Suresh, however, is immediately captivated by Madhumati's beauty when he sees her (as Shankar's intended bride). He decides to deceive both Shankar and Madhumati, in order to marry Madhumati himself.
He devises a wicked scheme. He writes two anonymous "poison-pen" letters to the families of both prospective brides. In these letters, he maligns both Shankar and himself in a way calculated to scuttle the existing proposals. Despite the letter, Shaanta's family, impressed by Shankar's personality when they meet him, agrees to give her hand to him (not realizing he is not as educated as they believed). Suresh, portraying himself as a martyr, agrees to marry Madhumati, thus achieving his ultimate goal. On the wedding night, Shaanta discovers the truth about Shankar's lack of education and feels cheated, leading to a breakdown in their relationship. As the details of the poison-pen letters surface, everyone, including his parents, suspects Shankar of writing them out of jealousy.
Feeling isolated and heartbroken, Shankar finds his only solace in his cousin's kind and understanding wife, Madhumati, who becomes his bhabhi (sister-in-law). Madhumati also becomes fond of his “devar” (brother-in-law), Shankar. Accidentally, Shankar discovers the shocking truth: Madhumati is actually his long-lost childhood sweetheart, Bhawariya. He elects to suffer in silence by keeping it secret. Meanwhile, Madhumati's brother, a handwriting expert, discovers Suresh's wicked plot and the truth about the letters. He confronts Suresh, but Shankar overhears the entire confession. In the resulting emotional confrontation and rift between Shankar and Suresh, Suresh dies in an accidental death.
Shankar is unjustifiably held responsible and charged as the culprit. Madhumati is initially determined to see her husband's killer (Shankar) hanged. However, during the trial, Madhumati, for reasons of her own compassion or perhaps affection, changes her testimony at the last moment, which ultimately saves Shankar from conviction. The story concludes with Shankar being acquitted, but the bittersweet and tragic irony remains: Madhumati never learns that Shankar is her childhood love, a painful secret he keeps to himself.
Reception
[edit]The Essential Guide to Bollywood (2005) says that the film "contained deep elements of Bengali literature... The film is remarkable for projecting the ironic twists of fate in an unconventional format with the lead pair bound to the 'wrong' spouses till the very end."[4] In 2014, The Friday Times noted that this film was "probably the only role that comedian Deven Verma played that had shades of grey...."[5]
Cast
[edit]- Dharmendra as Shankar: Bhawariya's childhood sweetheart, who is tragically manipulated by Suresh into marrying Shanta
- Sharmila Tagore as Bhawariya / Madhumati: Shankar's childhood sweetheart, whom Suresh marries through an act of trickery
- Shashikala as Shanta: the woman Shankar marries due to Suresh's deceit
- Deven Verma as Suresh: Shankar's wicked cousin who, through deceit, marries Madhumati, Shankar's childhood sweetheart
- Dhumal as Ram Bharose
- Durga Khote as Madhumati's mother
- Mumtaz Begum as Shankar's mother
- Lalita Kumari as Basanti
- Sulochana Latkar as Shakuntala
- Sabita Chatterjee as Lily
- Raj Mehra as Thakur Mahendra Singh
- Tarun Bose as Advocate Gopinath
- D. K. Sapru as Diwan Jaswant Rai (as Sapru)
- Bela Bose as dancer in 'roothe saiyan' song
- Brahm Bhardwaj as Public Prosecutor
- Nazir Kashmiri as judge
- Pardeep Singh
Music and soundtrack
[edit]The music of the film was composed by Roshan and the songs were penned by Anand Bakshi.
| Songs | Singer |
|---|---|
| "Aaya Hai Mujhe Phir Yaad" | Mukesh |
| "Baharon Ne Mera Chaman" | Mukesh |
| "Duniya Mein Aisa Kahan" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Kajalwale Nain Milake" | Mohammed Rafi |
| "Roothe Saiyan Hamare" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Main Mar Gayi, Mushkil Mein Pad Gayi Jaan" | Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle |
References
[edit]- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle". www.tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Devar - Review". Molodezhnaja. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Arunachalam, Param (19 July 2015). "Bollywood Retrospect - The enduring lyrics of Anand Bakshi: Anand Bakshi's long career speaks about his success in adapting himself to changing times". D.N.A. Sunday. ProQuest 1697064272. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Jha, Subhash K.; Bachchan, Amitabh (2005). The Essential Guide to Bollywood. Lustre Press. p. 30. ISBN 9788174363787. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "In memoriam: the suave humorist". The Friday Times. 14 December 2014. ProQuest 1635816081.
External links
[edit]Devar
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and development
Literary adaptation
The film Devar originated as an adaptation of Tarashankar Bandopadhyay's Bengali short novel Naa, first published in 1961, which centers on a plot of deception and tragic love set in rural Bengal, interwoven with themes of irony and rigid social norms. The novel had previously been adapted into the 1954 Bengali film Naa and the 1962 Tamil film Padithal Mattum Podhuma.[4] In adapting the story to Hindi cinema, the narrative was structured to preserve the tragic core of forbidden love and familial conflict.[5]Pre-production
The pre-production of Devar centered on adapting the Bengali novel Naa by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay into a Hindi screenplay, handled by K.A. Narayan.[6] Sarshar Sailani contributed the dialogues.[6] This adaptation process emphasized the novel's influence on the film's core plot of star-crossed lovers separated by societal norms. The film was produced under Mohan Segal Productions, with financing secured through a distribution deal with De-lux Films, enabling the project's launch in the mid-1960s.[7] Mohan Segal, as producer and director, assembled key creative talent early, including music director Roshan, known for his melodic compositions that would underscore the film's emotional intensity.[6] Lyricist Anand Bakshi was brought on board for this project, one of their collaborations alongside CID Girl (1959), contributing poignant lyrics to complement Roshan’s score.[8] Initial planning also involved storyboarding select tragic sequences to visualize the dramatic confrontations and climactic resolutions central to the story.Production
Filming locations
Principal photography for Devar took place in India.[9] The film was shot in black-and-white by cinematographer M. N. Malhotra.[6] Specific filming locations and detailed shooting timelines are not extensively documented in available production records.Casting process
Dharmendra was cast in the lead role of Shankar.[6] [Sharmila Tagore](/page/Sharmila Tagore) was cast as Madhumati.[6] For supporting roles, Shashikala was cast as Shanta.[6] Deven Verma was cast as Suresh.[6] Mohan Segal was appointed as both director and producer, building on his track record with commercially oriented comedies and dramas from the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the successful Apna Haath Jagannath (1960).[10]Cast and characters
Lead actors
Dharmendra portrayed Shankar (also known as Bhola in childhood), the wealthy and adventurous protagonist who becomes tragically deceived in a web of familial arrangements, displaying a wide emotional range from initial joy in rediscovering lost love to profound despair upon realizing the impossibility of their union. As a rising star of the 1960s Hindi cinema, Dharmendra brought depth to the character's internal conflict, drawing on his established screen presence following breakthrough roles in films like Phool Aur Patthar earlier that year.[11][12] Sharmila Tagore took on the dual-layered role of Madhumati (adult) and Bhanwariya (childhood persona), embodying the innocence of a childhood sweetheart transformed into a vulnerable bride trapped in a troubled marriage, her performance emphasizing subtle emotional fragility and quiet resilience. Following her Hindi film debut in Kashmir Ki Kali two years prior, Tagore's nuanced depiction added layers of poignancy to the character's suppressed desires and societal constraints.[13][14] The synergy between Dharmendra and Tagore elevated the film's exploration of forbidden love and deception, with their on-screen chemistry—marked by restrained intensity and unspoken longing—propelling the central arc, most notably in the pivotal revelation scene where Shankar confronts the heartbreaking truth of their relationship. This pairing, rooted in mutual respect for the material's emotional core, contributed significantly to Devar's lasting impact as a study in unrequited affection.[12]Supporting roles
Shashikala portrayed Shanta, Shankar's wife in a marriage arranged amid deception, whose initial rejection of him due to family misconceptions heightens the emotional tensions and underscores themes of misunderstanding and marital discord within the household. By 1966, she had built an established career, appearing in over 100 films since her debut in the late 1940s.[15][6] Deven Verma played Suresh, Shankar's cousin, in a nuanced role that intertwines genuine friendship with profound betrayal, heightening the ironic contrast between familial bonds and personal ambition while deepening the tragic consequences of his actions. This performance represented a significant departure for Verma, transitioning from his predominant comedic roles to embodying a morally ambiguous, dramatic character.[16] Additional supporting roles, including those of family elders portrayed by actors such as Durga Khote and Sulochana Latkar, serve to intensify the themes of social pressure, portraying the rigid expectations and collective judgment that trap the protagonists in their fateful circumstances.[6]Synopsis
Plot summary
The film Devar is a tragic drama with a runtime of 156 minutes, structured around ironic twists in its narrative of love and fate.[17][18] In the opening act, Shankar and Bhawariya, as children, develop a deep romance while sharing adventures like hunting and singing together, but they are forcibly separated when Bhawariya's family relocates due to traditional arrangements.[17] The second act unfolds years later, as Shankar, now a wealthy landowner, and his educated cousin Suresh face arranged marriages; Suresh, enamored with Madhumati, deceives Shankar through forged letters about the brides' qualities, causing Shankar to marry Shanta while Suresh weds Madhumati—who is later revealed to be the grown-up Bhawariya. Marital discord ensues, with Shanta resenting Shankar's unpolished ways, escalating to violence; during a confrontation, Suresh dies accidentally, and Shankar is accused of murder.[17][19] In the climactic third act, Shankar stands trial for Suresh's death; Madhumati's courageous testimony exposes the deception and the accidental circumstances, securing his acquittal. However, unbeknownst to Madhumati, Shankar has recognized her as his childhood sweetheart but keeps his identity secret, resulting in a tragic, one-sided unfulfilled love amid societal and familial constraints.[17][5][20]Key themes
The central motifs in Devar center on deception and irony, manifested through fate's cruel twists that trap the protagonists in forbidden relationships, reflecting the source novel's critique of rural hypocrisy where societal facades mask personal tragedies.[21] This is evident in the ironic revelation of familial bonds that transform innocent love into taboo, underscoring the deceptive nature of arranged unions in traditional villages.[22] A profound conflict between love and duty permeates the narrative, pitting personal affection against rigid societal obligations, particularly highlighted in the fallout from an arranged marriage that enforces family honor over individual desires.[23] The film uses this tension to symbolize the broader struggles of youth in rural India, where emotional bonds are sacrificed for communal expectations, leading to emotional isolation and moral dilemmas.[22] Tragedy and redemption form the emotional core, with the protagonist Shankar's internal turmoil—stemming from guilt and societal judgment—culminating in his acquittal, which offers a semblance of moral closure while indicting blind adherence to outdated traditions. This arc critiques the destructive consequences of unyielding customs, portraying redemption not as triumph but as a bittersweet acknowledgment of human frailty amid irreversible loss.[23]Music and soundtrack
Composition and recording
Roshan composed the music for Devar. Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics. The recordings occurred in late 1965 at a prominent Mumbai studio during the film's production phase, featuring intensive sessions with a live orchestra to achieve rich, layered soundscapes typical of mid-1960s Bollywood music. Playback singers, including Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, and Asha Bhosle, were specifically selected for their distinctive emotional timbre, enabling nuanced portrayals of melancholy and yearning.[24] The complete soundtrack comprises six songs.List of songs
The soundtrack of Devar includes six songs, one of which, "Kajalwale Nain Milake", was popular on the Binaca Geetmala chart in 1966, ranking at #23.[25]| Song Title | Singer(s) | Duration | In-Film Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaya Hai Mujhe Phir Yaad Woh Zaalim | Mukesh | N/A | Picturized on Dharmendra in a scene of reflective solitude.[24] |
| Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Loot Kar | Mukesh | N/A | Picturized on Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, and Deven Verma.[24] |
| Duniya Mein Aisa Kahan | Lata Mangeshkar | N/A | Picturized as a romantic scene featuring Sharmila Tagore.[24] |
| Kajalwale Nain Milake | Mohammed Rafi | N/A | Picturized on Dharmendra and Deven Verma.[24] |
| Roothe Saiyan Hamare Saiyan Kyun Roothe | Lata Mangeshkar | N/A | Picturized on Dharmendra and supporting cast.[26] |
| Main Mar Gayi, Mushkil Mein Pad Gayi Jaan | Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle | N/A | Featured in a comedic or light-hearted sequence. |