Devdas Dissected by a Feminist

Devdas. One of the most misogynistic, sexist, elitist, men escapism apologist (Devdas hits Paro and gives a scar to remember him by and then he drinks himself to death in the name of love for Paro, setting the standard for Indian men having true love with bleeding hearts while Indian women are heartless and shameless bitches who have no qualms sharing bed with the man they marry despite having loved another guy, something men never do which explains Devdas visiting brothel) and patriarchal stories ever. It also sets a benchmark of men not being able to gather their shit up and act like a grownup but instead be like a child rolling on the floor complaining that he didn't get what he wanted while being completely clandestine himself.

And, the women make all that happen to the man. Paro keeps a lamp unextinguished for 10 years in lieu with her love for Devdas and believes that he lives as the lamp flares. I on the other hand can barely keep a lamp alight for one night during Karthigai Deepam. She tolerates Dev's assholic behaviour and accepts the hit as a token of love from him. Chandramukhi pines for Dev and grovels at his feet. Because true love for women is having no self respect and feeling no physical pain.

Chandramukhi loves Dev so much she keeps a room dirty in his remembrance and challenges Paro to take away Dev's scent permeated in the room. And Paro concedes that Chandramukhi's love for Dev is greater than hers indeed. All this and Dev is impenitent and fickle as fuck with the mental capacity of a 2 year old, drinking his heartache away. And two women love this self destructive man, blaming themselves for his lack of capacity of settling his shit up despite being London educated.

No one reprimanded Dev's alcoholism despite him getting his liver damaged. In fact, post love failure/girl problem alcoholism is endorsed if not made indispensable for Indian men. Indian women have a drink to chill and Indian men become instant gynaecologists and oncologists lecturing on how it affects the lady bits inside because a woman's only function is to pop out babies and she must put everything behind and focus on the not yet formed ball of cells in her womb. And of course the men cite culture degradation and preach how women drinking isn't feminism.
And, this is one of the most celebrated stories of India ever which pulls a setting on what women must do when faced with love and life and still get caustic criticism for it.

The only good thing here is the friendship of Paro and Chandramukhi.

As for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, I only jizz at the costumes, songs, choreography and the aesthetic value. The story and everything else are a goner.