DVD Review
Golden Era of Bimal Roy
Director: Bimal Roy
DVD Label: Shemaroo
Rs 499 for four films
Rating: JJJJ
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Golden oldies: Vyjayantimala in Madhumati (top) and Dilip Kumar in Devdas |
Snapshots, that's what stay with you. Nutan's innocence and freshness, Dilip Kumar's drunken act, Sunil Dutt's subtle strength, and Dharmendra's dashing good looks are a treat. This pack of four DVDs, with films Sujata, Bandini, Madhumati and Devdas, is a treasure. If only someone had put together some extra features for posterity's sake!
It would have been interesting to hear what Nutan had to say about wearing a 'jail saree', minimum make-up and yet look so endearing in Bandini. Her transformation from a chirpy village girl to a jail inmate; Ashok Kumar's transition from a revolutionary to a sick man; and Dharmendra's confusion and delicate stubbornness are all beautifully captured in this 1963 film. Granted that the director and some of his stars are no longer alive, but interviews with their families would have enhanced the value of this collector's pack.
Imagine listening to Sunil Dutt talk about his crackling chemistry with co-star Nutan in Sujata! Remember the song where Dutt serenades Nutan over the phone? It reminds one of the late 70s and 80s, when a houseful of family members would crowd around a black and white TV to watch Chitrahar, and Dutt's smiling face on the screen, singing Jalte hain jiske liye.
Dilip Kumar's famous dialogue in Devdas, Kaun kambakht bardasht karne ke liye peeta hai... still sounds so fresh, even though other Devdas films have been made. His entry in Madhumati, with a sweater wrapped around his shoulders like Shah Rukh Khan did years later in Mohabbatein, is calculated to elicit deep sighs!
Shemaroo does put up information about the awards each film won on the back of the DVD pack and provides the option of English subtitles. The print quality is as good as it can get a bit grainy because all the films are black and white.
But considering that youu00a0 get to see and enjoy movies possibly made even before you were born, this is a bonus. Go, grab it.
