The Quintessential Tragedy of Sweethearts-The Bengali Trope

This post is majorly about arts and aesthetics that serve as a referential basis for KZK and it's subsequent REBOOT.

What irks me is the ‘Devdas’ domino effect that exists in the Indian audience’s identifications of a Bengali’s cultural identity? For years, Bengali literature that has gained popularity outside the language barrier has been by far Devdas majorly. This began with the EPIC portrayal of the tragic aftermath of childhood romance by Dilip Kumar on Bollywood celluloid. His nuances and the tragic love story of childhood sweethearts that were subjected to social and ego trauma.

Two souls who lived for each other and eventually suffered a tragic end. One by death, another by detesting from society due to her infidelity.

I have always believed that matters of the heart are above the laws of the land.

But, if you look at the current poster promotion, Bengalis would identify that the poster haunts of Devdas, the edits that dominated the 80’s and 90’s.

I am miffed about this panache and repertoire of churning Devadas in different ways across art forms. Why? Because a 1901 tale can be ADAPTED but not REBOOTED with the same REGRESSIVE mindset. Sharat Chandra wrote Devdas from a self-destructive mode when he was just 25. It had Paro too who was the strongest female lead in a MAN'S story!

Coming back to my point, why such obsession with Devdas and churn out this parodied version.

I wonder where are the Charulata’s, the Binodini’s, the Panther Panchali’s - The true epitome of STRONG characters?

Why churn the tragic Devdas again and again?

This is a post that is here to discuss the aesthetics of storytelling and not a war zone for WHO IS BETTER? Also, it's not BAJAJ VS ANURAG, so a humble request to everyone not to go there.

I am miffed with the early 19th century feels of this story. Why? Just why would you make suffering HALO like!!

Just one look at this poster and you’d understand what it means.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4C2S4_FPNS/?igshid=1stfqaef7t5qo

Omg yes..

Firstly thank you for making this post. For the last five minutes, I was staring at my phone and scratching my head, wondering why the picture seems so familiar. Of course it is the Devdas poster!

What has always annoyed me is this love affair that Bollywood has with Devdas. Over the years, we have perhaps seen five different adaptations of this novel. And while this story deserves it's own place in the world of literature, I cannot help but wish that film makers would just branch out now. It's like Romeo and Juliet adaptations. We have enough of those already.

Bollywood and Daily soaps have done a spectacular job in romanticising harassing, stalking, abuse be it mental or emotional or physical, threatening self harm to get people to love them and all sorts of other crap in the name of true love. Can we have an Ashapurna Devi novel adaptation or Tagore's Giribala instead? And of course all the stories you mentioned. Can we get shows and movies that glorify healing instead of pain and misery? That teach us to love ourselves before anyone else.

I so agree with you .. Ekta Mata has portrayed a 16th century story .. ..and even that time Bengali girls were stronger than their male counterparts . then why would modern girls except things like the way they portray here ... ?? Poor concept ... bad research ... worst writing ever ...👎🏼

Other than her own wedding or anniversary Bengalis are very simply dressed ...even rich zamindars families dress up tastefully not like Basu ladies .. 👎🏼

I feel insulted calling this Show based on a Bengali family 🤢

I donno much abt Bengali literature and art but as per the poster by SP

The beginning of the end means anth ki shuruaath ... kiska anth ... we know !

Diwali pe lakshmi bomb jaisa hai Komolika / Sonolika

Originally posted by: manzilmukul

What irks me is the ‘Devdas’ domino effect that exists in Indian Audience’s identifications of a Bengali’s cultural identity? For years, Bengali literature that has gained popularity outside the language barrier has been by far Devdas majorly. This began with the EPIC portrayal of a tragic aftermath of childhood romance by Dilip Kumar that was subjected to social and ego trauma.

Two souls who lived for each other and eventually suffered a tragic end. One by death, another by detest from society due to her infidelity.

I have always believed that matters of the heart are above the laws of the land.

But, if you look at the current poster promotion, Bengalis would identify the poster haunts of Devdas, the edits that dominated the 80’s and 90’s.

I am miffed about this panache and repertoire of churning Devadas in different forms across art forms.

I wonder where are the Charulata’s, the Binodini’s, the Panther Pnqchali’s - The true epitome of STRONG characters.
Why churn the tragic Devdas again and again?

This is a post that is here to discuss the aesthetics of storytelling and not a war zone for WHO IS BETTER?

I am miffed with the early 19th century feels of this story. Why? Just why would you make suffering HALO like!!

Just one look at this poster and you’d understand what it means.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4C2S4_FPNS/?igshid=1stfqaef7t5qo

I totally agree with your point on bengali culture's turmoil onscreen

But believe me comparing kzk2 with devdas is an insult to devdas and its epicness.

Devdas is a cult but kzk2 is a big dhabba in the name of a reboot.

Originally posted by: Tammanaarora9

I totally agree with your point on bengali culture's turmoil onscreen

But believe me comparing kzk2 with devdas is an insult to devdas and its epicness.

Devdas is a cult but kzk2 is a big dhabba in the name of a reboot.

+100000000

I completely agree

First of all such a great topic for discussion.

Storytelling is an art form and writers like Tagore were / are masters of the art. This storytelling is nothing but!

Charulata, Binodhini were characters beyond their times they had passion, conviction and most importantly identities.

Here in this show the characters are just caricatures who blow in the wind as the writer sees fit they have no clarity, consistency or credibility.

Now to the question of why Devdas is the only troupe used time and again in movies is because tragic love stories are timeless like a Romeo or Juliet but here this story is neither a classic reproduction or a copy!

Coming to the poster it is Black for Komo, white and red for the lovers with a Halo around them no points for creativity too.

Life is not just black or white it has hues of grays, pinks, browns and all between and that was what was depicted in the classics of a Binodhini or Charulata.

Thanks

I am actually glad Ekta and the writers knowledge of Bengali literature is limited to Devdas.. Otherwise these writers would have spoiled the other epic sagas you mentioned..

This show has lost it's bengali touch since a long time. The director is heavily influenced by SLB films. I doubt he knows about Bengali literature much.

Originally posted by: Aurtika

I am actually glad Ekta and the writers knowledge of Bengali literature is limited to Devdas.. Otherwise these writers would have spoiled the other epic sagas you mentioned..

This show has lost it's bengali touch since a long time. The director is heavily influenced by SLB films. I doubt he knows about Bengali literature much.

Thank God for small mercies 🤣

Much needed post👏👏 I'm not a Bengali and i don't know much about their literature apart from Devdas and Parineeta. I do have a lot of Bengali friends and can understand a bit of Bengali as well being around them.

I haven't met a single Bengali who resembles anywhere close to the portrayal shown in this KZK. The Bengalis I know in real life are very intellectual, liberal minded, well educated and well dressed. This show portrays the culture totally opposite of what I have experienced till date and I absolutely cringe at this portrayal.