Sudhir to merge ’Hamlet’ with ’Devdas

Mumbai, July 26 (IANS) After K.L. Saigal, Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan, it's Shiney Ahuja's turn to play Devdas, the ultimate tragic hero of Hindi literature, in Sudhir Mishra's next movie.

The film, which will have a modern context and political leaning, will have the best of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay's 'Devdas' and William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

'It's not only Devdas. Devdas is just the takeoff point. Like if you see 'Westside Story' it's directly linked to 'Romeo & Juliet'. In my film, from Devdas I also go into Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. I feel when Saratchandra wrote 'Devdas' in 1901 he must have had 'Hamlet' in mind,' Mishra told IANS.

'The protagonists are very similar. I'm putting both the tragic heroes into a modern context and political leaning. It would be dramatic debate on 'Devdas', 'Hamlet' and Indian politics.

'Chandramukhi will be portrayed as a keeper of dark political secrets while Paro will be a part of an opposing political party,' said Mishra.

'All my films have a strong political base. I'm seeing 'Hamlet' and 'Devdas' as take-off points for a political drama set in the present times.'

Mishra and his regular writer Joydeep Sarkar are preparing the screenplay.

'I want to re-interpret the love story of Devdas and Paro in a modern political context.'

The idea was born out of a conversation with producer Pritish Nandy.

'He suggested I re-do 'Devdas'. I thought about it. And now we're both damn excited.'

Mishra's favourite hero, Shiney, has been part of the director's much-celebrated 'Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi' and the just-completed 'Khoya Khoya Chand'.