A Review of the Movie DEV
Dev is a film that treads a familiar path. Religion and politics resulting in communal violence, the inherently corrupt nature of the government or the power of politics is not a new subject, nor has it been ignored in the past.
However Nihalani’s film seeks to thread the story of politicians trying to manipulate and indeed corrupt constitutional institutions like the judiciary and the Police which are supposed to be independent and totally non-partisan. Therefore, even if Dev treads familiar ground, it is actually dealing with contemporary issues and Nihalani ends up with a devastating critique on India which commands your attention and demands to be seen. To read the entire review click here...
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94 Comments:
I found "Dev" to be a powerful and culturally insightful film. I was suprised by how critical the movie was of the Indian estblishment. I was under the impression that Bollywood was under much tighter restrictions than it apears to be. So it was a pleasent suprise to see "Dev" tackle serious issues that effect not just India, but some that effect America as well.
Much of "Dev" deal with the religious tension plagueing India. The movie starts with a young Muslim man (Farhaan)being questioned, almost interrogated by a police officer checking tickets on a train. This scene set the tone of religious tension that would persist throughout the film. A voice of wisdom in "Dev" comes from Farhaans father who warns Faarhan of the danger of "communal madness" at the expense of "social wisdom". This appears to be the main the main theme of the movie. As violence spirals out of control in "Dev" it is only this "social wisdom" (i.e. secular wisdom) that can end the violence.
The religious leaders in "Dev" are the main pratagonists. The emotional climax of the movie is a powerfully portrayed Hindu vs. Muslim riot that is sparked by the bombing of a hindu temple. The mastermind of the attack is the Muslim politician Latif. His Hindu counter part is Mangal Rao. Both religious leaders are portrayed as men who manipulate religious tension to serve their own desires for power. Farhaan rejects his fathers nonviolent teaching, and becomes radicalized following his father's death during a protest gone bad. The object of his hate is the police officer Dev, whom he blames for his fathers death. This hatred is encouraged by Lafti, who seeks to exploit Farhaan. But in the end Farhaan is deradicalized by Dev when he takes Farhaan into his home. In Dev's home he preaches to Farhaan his message of common sense/ secular/ constitutional message that seems to also be the message of the film. That message goes something like this; Do not let religious leaders exploit you for their own gain. The rule of law comes before caste and religion. If we support the law and constitution people will be safe and protected. One of the main enemies of Dev's message is his friend and fellow police officer Tej.
Tej is played by Om Puri, whom American audiences might remember from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, Puri does not rip out anyones still beating heart in "Dev", but he is quite the protaganist. Tej and Dev spend much time debating each other. While Dev is a rather moderate man, Tej seems to be something of a Indian neocon. While Dev sympathizes with those who descent against the governmemt, Tej labels the descenters as traitors and agitators who should be wiped out. These conversations are very mellow dramatic, which apparently is indicative of Indian society. These arguments reminded me of discussions had in America post 9/11. Is one a traiter if he disagrees with the government on how they fight terrorists? Tej would probably say yes. I think there is even a metaphor in the movie about how detructive this kind of thinking is. Tej's beliefs lead him to kill Dev and himself.
The movie “Dev” was a heart felt representation of the struggles and problems within an Indian society due to clashing cultures and power hungry individuals. The storyline revolved around three main characters that were forced to search their souls and question their beliefs in order to make justified decisions regarding family, politics, culture, and friendship. This idea of “justice” was an underlying theme that evolved throughout the course of the movie. In the beginning, it seemed Farhaan and officer Dev were destined enemies simply because of their Muslim and Hindu backgrounds; however, real conflict ensued with the death of Farhaan’s father during the protest. Farhaan held Dev fully responsible and was determined to kill Dev in order to avenge his father and achieve justice for his people. Dev, on the other hand, saw protestors such as Farhaan to be enemies of the state and felt getting rid of minority politics would help alleviate the current problems. Tej, friend of Dev and commander under the CM, was a political hardliner and placed all the blame on Muslims for the riots and death sweeping the community. This was mainly due to the brutal killing of Armaan, Dev’s son, and is something Tej refers to numerous times making it clear that he has never fully recovered from the incident.
Although these men start off with different mindsets, it’s obvious Dev and Farhaan reach an important understanding. Looking beyond the realm of politics and cultural differences they approach the issue as human beings. Violence was taking over and in order for a change to occur the perpetrators needed to be punished no matter what side they were on. A powerful moment took place when Aaliyah stepped forward to
Dev in the town square and pointed out Mangal Rao as a member of rioters. This was a huge turning point in the movie and really expressed the shift in Dev’s character. From then onward, Dev was determined to bring justice to society and strengthen the legitimacy of the law by showing people they could trust in him. Dev was a man of honor and took much pride in his duty as an officer. Up until the bitter end he said, “Facing victory or defeat, a soldiers duty is to fight” and that’s exactly what he did.
Another important aspect of “Dev” was the issue of political corruption and its relationship to the cultural battle. Political corruption was exemplified best through the characters Latif and Mangal Rao. Latif was the leading Muslim activist who rallied other Muslims to protest the government and riot against the Hindus. He even assisted Farhaan in the assassination attempt on Dev. However, what his followers were unaware of was the fact that he was using them for his political agenda in trying to get an MLA seat. Mangal Rao, an official of the government, was a prime example of why the people couldn’t trust in the workings of the state. He used his power in an abusive way and slowed the progress of people like Dev in the elimination of riots and death.
Due to such corruption and a lack of trust in the government, the people of Noor Manzil had an overall weak political culture because they didn’t have faith in those with power. The secular divisions led by Latif and Rao within the Muslims and Hindus fostered some levels of allegiance; however, these alliances proved more detrimental than beneficial in the long run. It was sad to see such tragedy occurring to the everyday citizen because many of the Muslims and Hindus involved were brainwashed by these politicians and didn’t necessarily want to fight or kill the other. In one of his explanations to Dev, Tej captures the essence of the entire movie when he utters a profoundly inspiring statement. “Politics is the biggest killer”.
Michael Donahue 11/8
Mitch Masucci
POSC311
Dev Review
Race Relations and Police Corruption in Modern India as Depicted in Dev
Dev is the story of Dev Atraph Singh, a noble senior police officer in modern India. This movie was particularly powerful in its images of race relations between Hindus and Muslims in India and the corruption of the state and its police force. A major theme of the picture is that violence begets violence, and this is certainly the vicious cycle between the Muslim community of India and the Hindu controlled government and police force.
The movie begins with the powerful depiction of race relations and police power as Dev shoots a student protester. The boy simply showed disrespect for Dev and the country’s Constitution, and Dev believed that reason enough to kill him. Continuing this anti-Muslim depiction is when Dev calls Muslim leaders into his office and accuses them of instigating the youth against the police. What at first seems like racism and bigotry, the views learn, is that Dev is correct.
However, as the viewer will learn throughout the movie, Dev is the exception to the rule. The first scene that truly shows bigotry is when the viewer first encounters Farhaan, the son of the peace-loving Muslim leader Ali Saheeb. Farhaan is “randomly” searched on his train by police officers who accuse him of coming from Pakistan. When he asks what would happen if he indeed was meeting with people from Pakistan, he is told that he would be taken into custody.
While Farhaan, like many other Muslim youths, believe that the government is disenfranchising Muslims, Ali Saheb tells him he must learn to live in brotherhood. Muslim or Hindu, they are all Indian.
Dev orders the assassination of a Muslim militant in Farhaan’s neighborhood. Whether this man truly is a militant the viewer never learns, but what the viewer can note is that the Hindu police fire into the man’s apartment indiscriminately, killing his wife and child. While Dev believes that the deaths of these two innocents will just be politicized, the Muslim community, under Latif, organizes a “peaceful” protest which Ali Saheb agrees to participate in. This march turns into a bloodbath when, against Ali Sahebs wishes, the crowd attacks the police officers and Dev. Dev waits as long as he can to let Ali Saheb control the mob, but when the police begin to get hurt by fire bombs, he orders them to fire into the crowd and Ali Saheb is, ironically, shot to death. This is one of the first instances that the viewer can note the “violence begets violence” theme.
While Farhaan promises vengeance against Dev, Latif takes advantage of the situation to recruit more militants to his cause. As the viewer slowly begins to realize that Dev is working towards communal brotherhood, with the Constitution as its aegis, it becomes apparent that Dev’s best friend and superior Tej is one of the main instigators of police corruption. Tej, along with the Chief Minister, devise a plan to deal with the “terrorists” however Tej sees “fit.” Tej is basically given full protection under the law to act however he chooses. While speaking with Dev, and under the influence of alcohol, the viewer sees Tej’s true emotions. He constantly refers to “they,” and “them,” and how “they” are betrayers, “they” are terrorists, and that “they” are destroying the country. He claims that “This country belongs to us [i.e. Hindus]…that is why I wear this uniform; to kill betrayers.” This is an important part of the movie. It is the exact moment that Dev and Tej part ways. Tej wears his uniform to kill Muslims while Dev wears his to uphold the law and protect the Constitution. In an attempt to bring Dev to his side, Tej uses the death of Dev’s son, Armaan (whom Tej refers to as “our” son, perhaps as an excuse for his anger) to ply him from his non-biased stance. Dev, although it brings back painful memories, refuses these advances.
After Farhaan fails in his attempt on Dev’s life, Latif sends him as an unsuspecting suicide bomber on a Hindu temple during a festival. When Farhaan survives this bombing, he realizes exactly the true nature of Latif. After this bombing, the CM tells Tej that the people need an “outlet for their rage.” Tej and Mangol Rao organize a riot on the Muslim community of Farhaan. When Dev arrives upon the scene, Tej tells him not to stop the riots. Dev is unsure of this command, but slowly realizes Tej’s intentions and stops the rioting. Police corruption can further be observed when two high officers tell two young women the unsafe path. This leads to the death of one of the two girls and her entire family. When Dev returns to the CM, he is reprimanded for stopping the violence. “Thirteen Hindus dead and only three Muslims? How will that look in the papers?” he questions Dev. This simply shows the complete lack of compassion by the CM and the police force in general.
Dev captures the Hindu politician Mangol Rao, who was fingered by a young woman as not only an instigator, but a leader of the riots. The CM commands Dev to release him, an obvious example of police corruption. He tells Dev the rules should be bent for “our” people. Dev argues in favor of the Constitution, but the CM tells him that the leader of the government is the law, despite any Constitution.
Upon the release of Mangol Rao, Tej and the politician organize a new riot in which the Muslims are locked inside of their homes and set on fire. The police stand by, watching. Dev goes against the orders of his former friend and does his best to release the Muslims, but to no avail. This is the ultimate depiction of police corruption in the movie. Dev and perhaps two other officers try to release the Muslims while literally dozens more simply watch. The CM commands Tej to take “whatever actions are necessary” to suppress Dev’s report and that he will be under full protection despite the actions he chooses to take.
When Dev goes to the courthouse to present his accounts of the police corruption, two former officers (suspended by Dev) attempt to assassinate him under Tej’s orders. After “saving” Dev from his assassins, Tej trains his gun on Farhaan in a random act of violence against the young Muslim. With his dying breath, Dev jumps in front of Farhaan and is shot to death by his former best friend.
Through the many other themes of this movie (love, politics, etc), police and government corruption is at the fore. The violence between the racist Hindu police force and the reactionary violence by the Muslim community are in a never-ending cycle of killing. Even as current events show, this violence is an ongoing theme not only in the movies, but in real life as well. Without a sufficiently non-biased police force, the Muslim community and Hindu community can never fully integrate. If one looks at other countries, such as the black/white issue in the United States and the immigrant/national issue in France, racial violence is perhaps one of the most difficult problems to stop. As long as the Hindu police forces are brought up being told to watch out for the Muslims and as long as the Muslims are brought up to believe that the government is anti-Islam, this problem, dramatically but accurately depicted in Dev, will never fully be solved.
forgot: mitch masucci 11/09
The movie “Dev” revealed the clashing of Muslim and Hindu cultures in India. This Bollywood film showed the high level of corruption within the state and police force in dealing with the Muslim/Hindu conflict. The move used violence to express the results of the government’s poor handling of the many critical divisive issues facing the nation.
The film starts off with the main character a head police officer named Dev, closely watching a group of college men protest current race relations. Dev feels that one of the boys voicing his opinion is completely rejecting the Constitutional beliefs of India and acting like a coward, therefore shoots the young man point blank in front of this fairly large crowd. In the next scene Farhaan a young Muslim man is questioned as to where he is coming from on the train by police officers who quickly tell him that if he is coming from Pakistan and meeting with the Pakistani people he will be taken into police custody. Both of these alarming scenes immediately open the viewer’s eye to the seriousness of police corruption taking place in India.
Farhaan’s father, Ali Saheb is a Ghandian who believes that the tense situation must be dealt with in a non-violent manor. However his son Farhaan tells him that the philosophy of Ghandi is meaningless now.
The Muslim community organizes a street protest where they try to talk to the CM face to face but aren’t allowed by police. The Muslim crowd turns extremely violent as fire explosives are thrown at officers. It is at this point of chaos that Farhaan’s father is shot to death by an officer and they proceed to take his dead body out of the hands of his son against his will. Farhaan is so devastated that he returns home and burns the books of Ghandi.
Tej, a friend of Dev’s for thirty years and one of the chief investigators of police corruption and often a participator in the corruption is angry at the Muslim community for all of the violence taking place in India. Tej is particularly upset by the brutal killing of Dev’s young and innoscent son named Aarman who was playing soccer in his own backyard when he was shot to death as a child.
There is a later riot caused by a blast of the temple in a terrorist stike. Tej urges the police officers not to take any action even though there are arson and killings taking place because he believes that police intervention will only worsen matters. Dev is very angry at Tej for not allowing him to take intervention and save lives. A few days later after many have been hospitalized the police make a public speech requesting that people come forward with complaints to punish the rioters.
Aaliya who has been sworn by the Muslim leader Mangol Rao to keep silent on the issue comes forward in front of the large crowd and in front of Magol Rao himself. She points to the two officers who deliberately told her to take a dangerous path during the riot where her entire family was shot to death. The two officers were taken into custody and soon after released, proving the true corruption in the thinking of the police force. Soon after when Dev goes to the courthouse to testify against the police corruption taking place he is shot and killed on the courthouse steps by is own ex-friend Tej. In the end Tej kills himself for the guilt he is feeling.
The movie focuses on the conflict between these two cultures and the effect that it has upon the ordinary people of the nation. They are thrust into the violence and chaos created by politicians with little concern for their safety and security, hoping only to promote their own agendas. It is a problem mirrored throughout the world, as the rich and powerful few manipulate the poor and weak masses for their own political gains. It is sad to see the tragic results that befall these people, drawn into a cultural war they have little hope of ever winning or resolving.
Nicole Appleman 11/8/05
Personally, I feel the movie Dev, touches upon many subjects and issues that raises an important question for today’s global climate, should democracy be considered the role model for how we judge other’s in the world?
This film is politically thought provoking, in that it encourages the viewer to reconsider the legitimacy and esteem one holds for a democratic government being the global order. As we all know, India is the largest democracy on the planet and as the movie illustrates it must deal with such dilemmas as, corruption and deception within the government, religious and social conflicts, civil injustice and inequality, and lack of freedom of thought and choice. Each and everyone of these matters in question, are what a democracy attempts to remedy and eliminate for its civilians. Those countries that can not are typically referred to as being authoritative or totalitarian because they neglect to understand the hardships that the majority of the populous faces. In this respect, is there a difference between those countries that the world’s superpowers wish to rectify and countries similar to India? If the largest democracy in the world can not overcome these political and social barriers or impediments, then what hope is out there for countries we deem unlawful and illicit to change. To answer this question, one also needs to look at the United States, who is one of the main proponents for spreading democracy throughout the globe. By looking at all the corruption/deception that has taken place within our government, particularly in the wars like Vietnam and Iraq, the social riots that have been carried out, and the degree of inequality in which still exists, it appears that America has its own set of issues a democracy is not able to make right and mend. What gives America and its democracy the right to enforce our ideology on others, when in some cases we are no better of than the rest? Are we in any way helping the Iraqi people or being a detriment, did we really do any good through wars such as Vietnam for the expansion of democracy?
The main principle or theme that I took from this film was, no matter the kind of government and its ideology there will inevitably be numerous positive and negative consequences that will arise; there’s no utopia nor a perfect form. For now, people should stop forcing their political agenda on others and let them work out their own domestic issues, in order for the result to match the wants and needs of its inhabitants.
forgot: Noah Abrahams 11/10/05
The Bollywood movie, Dev, capsulated the political and ethnic tension that is an important issue in present and past India. This was accomplished with the predominantly Muslim area of Noor Manzil as a case study. The underlining message the filmed conveyed was a need to resolve India’s internal problems of political corruption, religious and ethnic tension, which I found Dev accomplished in a powerful manner. This movie also gave insight into India’s current views on women, which is apparent with the strong female roles.
Regarding this film’s portrait of India’s corrupt politics, the atmosphere was void of truth, justice and equality. This is apparent in all ranks of the government, from the Chief Minister to the common policeman. Each did not look through the eyes of an enlightened Dev, who commented that he was now “a servant of the Constitution.” Instead, they viewed India’s population being comprised of two main groups: the true Indians (Hindus) and the terrorist/traitors (Muslim). This viewpoint was strongest with Dev’s friend, Tej, the commissioner of police. Unlike Dev, whose initial anti-Muslim sentiments diminished, Tej saw the Muslims as “bastards”, “terrorists”, and the root to India’s problems. He uses his position, as well as the police, to inflict harm on the Muslim population, in either refusing to help in riots or neglecting to address Hindu rioters’ actions. Police brutality was also equally severe.
This political corruption was not only a Hindu affair. Latif, a Muslim politician, used the Muslim community as a pawn in his game to gain political power. With acts of manipulating an initially peaceful protest, influencing Farhan to assassinate Dev, and making a deal with Rao for Muslim silence, such selfish actions were used for political gain, not to strengthen his community. This movie portrayed a government where enemies were freed and justice was absent due to the majority’s religious powerful position over the minority.
Less of a theme than religious division and political corruption is the portrait of strong women throughout this film. This is epitomized with Aliyah, Farhan’s love interest. Being the first Muslim in the community to defy Latif’s orders and fighting off Hindu rioters were examples of such acts of courage. She also was the voice of reason, peace, and religious virtues while Farhan easily lost hope after his father died. Other roles, such as Dev’s wife, Bharati, being a doctor also explains this movie’s portrayal of women as strong, courageous and intellectual. This is contrary to the veil-covered and subordinate view most Westerns understand as traditional India.
The issue of religious division in Noor Manzil was the central theme of this movie and the context that surrounded the characters lives. This movie powerfully critiqued this issue and other internal problems of India. It clearly laid out the division that is restricting India’s population from moving out of the third word label that it currently occupies. Along with the portrayal of a divided, corrupt India is an India of hope. The restoration of the Constitution and mending of religious divisions regarding the two main characters, Dev and Farhan, climaxed in the movie’s conclusion. This is the hope, along with the analysis of India, that his movie so powerfully portrayals.
Hate and violence only lead to more hate and violence. This notion of constant retaliation is emphasized greatly though out the movie Dev. Misunderstandings and miscommunications have led to the slaughtering of many in the name of religious purity. However, this phenomenon is not exclusive to Indian culture, but had been reinforced both historically and globally. We hate others not because of their actions, but because of their beliefs and use the law to our advantage to rid those who are strange, not like us.
The perpetuation of the Muslim/Hindu conflicts can be accredited in large part to the narrow-minded government. Political conflict between citizens, as well as their legislative and law-enforcing bodies, is no longer solely about one’s ideology, but about their identity. The political spectrum becomes irrelevant in the quest for finding equality when people have to fear constant attack because they identify themselves as a Muslim or a Hindu. In Dev, many were burned alive, tortured, and maimed with the government refusing to intervene. The power of the government was further emphasized when the Muslim victims were reluctant to file grievances because they feared the unwritten hand of the law led by the beliefs of the Hindus. Blood stains the hands of both groups; however, Muslims were punished for their actions and the Hindus were supported by their government
The blurred line of religion and politics is a concept that Americans are also struggling with today although the consequences have yet to escalate to the extremity of India’s conflict, as portrayed in Dev. The United States remains a relatively religious country, and, as a result, Judeo-Christian influences maintain a strong presence in our legislation and enactment of government in general. This more or less makes the separation between church and state a mere fallacy. It is ironic that we preach (no pun intended) to other countries the value of a secular democracy, yet are unable to detach from religious scriptures and beliefs ourselves.
American citizens are oppressed by the religious beliefs of our law makers. All laws impose someone's values on the rest of society, because they specify either directly or indirectly that certain forms of behavior are preferred and enforced over other forms. While not all legislation necessarily derive from religion, religious philosophy frequently serves as the basis of value formation for many Americans. Thus, both the political agenda and the policy stands that many Americans take on issues such as abortion, gay rights, and capital punishment have a religious basis. As an atheist and a woman, I feel oppressed that the government composed of moral, “compassionate conservatives” can more or less control my body and justify it solely through the means of an entity I do not even believe exists.
According to Aristotle, justice can only prevail in civil society, thus government needs to bring humans together to ensure their self-preservation and ability to seek happiness. Because all humans are by nature political animals, they all seek to be apart of government in some way, which reinforces this notion. When divided on the basis of religious conflict, as with the Muslims and Hindus in Dev, a democratic government can not function and is incapable of providing freedom and equality
The movie Dev portrays the tensions and issues that are dealt with so commonly in the struggle between Muslims and Hindus to peacefully co-exist. I found that the overall theme of the movie was a closer look at what fuels this struggle. Although India is one of the largest democracies in the world, I couldn't help but wonder if the system really works. Although one would assume that the government would work tirelessly to ease tensions and quell religious fervor, it seems that the government is infact one of the biggest instigators. The desire for power seems to overtake the desire for peace or proper morals. This struggle for power is reflected through the friendship of Dev and Tej. The issue of importance for Dev seems to be a peace amongst the different factions. Tej focuses his concern on the status of his position and the possible opportunities and power he may gain due to his handling of the situation.
The struggle amongst Hindus and Muslims that is represented in the film also demonstrates the difficulty of a successful democracy in an area of such diversity. By the end of the movie, I felt strongly that no such democracy existed in India, and that the odds of a successful one were very slim. The corruption that plagues the government and the desire for political power seem to be permanent road blocks in the desire for peace. I feel that the movie Dev was instrumental in illustrating how the situation can not improve until the government and the people cease to be effected by the propaganda and the desire for political power. Democracy would be beneficial for India, and I think Dev illustrates how the democracy that is in place currently must be changed.
I was also very surprised with how straight foward the subject matter was. I was under the impression that Bollywood films focused more on dancing, and the pleasant side of Indian life. This film was quite a shock because the issues were dealt with so directly. I doubt such a political piece would be approved of in this country.
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The story begins with a young lawyer (Farhaan) who is traveling back to his father when he is questioned by the police about being Muslim and having connections with people in Pakistan. This immediately illustrates the hatred and animosity toward Muslims in India. Later in the story when Farhaan’s father is killed by the police he immediately takes a stance to kill officer Dev who he feels is responsible for the murder. After a failed attempt to kill Dev, a bombing of a Hindu temple, and witnessing the struggles of his girlfriend because of the riots caused by Latif, Farhaan realizes that the real enemy is not the police and eventually begins to understand and relate to police officer Dev. I think Farhaan’s character illustrates how someone can get caught up in a struggle without truly understanding who or what the enemy is, or even what they are fighting for. Despite his father’s teaching of peace he gets determined to kill Dev without really rationalizing if Dev and the police force are his true foe. I feel that this character was meant to show how violence can only breed more violence. In addition it shows how Muslims and Hindus can fight and kill each other while the only sufferers are the innocent civilians. As the story progresses Farhaan begins to see that Dev is truly trying to uphold justice and peace and Farhaan takes on the role of Dev’s dead son. In the end after Dev’s death, Farhaan takes up Dev’s police report and represents it to the court on his behalf. Even though Farhaan seems to make a positive progression from the beginning to the end of the movie, I feel that his character could have been more developed. After a certain point in the movie the focus shifts from him to Dev and in addition I feel that Aliya takes away from Farhaan character. She is the one who volunteers information when no one else does and also the person who struggles though the riots. Even though both characters were important and showed the Muslim side of the battle I feel as though the progression of Farhaan could have been focused on more especially when the movie was three hours long.
One theme that I thought was beautifully shown in the movie was the internal conflict between the police force (Tej and Dev). Although the police were supposed to be neutral and uphold the law they were caught up in politics. Dev’s philosophy was to rule based on the constitution, morals and justice, while his friend Tej was focused on eliminating the Muslims who he felt were the root cause of the problem. Initially the differences in philosophy between Dev and Tej were not sufficient to destroy their friendship apart. As the story went on Dev could see the number of innocent people who were being killed in the riots and the lack of effort on the police’s part which ultimately forced him to go against his friend. Even though they were friends for thirty years, Dev had not choice but to bash Tej in his police report to the Chief Minister. Finally the conflict of opinions lead to Tej murdering his best friend. I think that the death of the friendship illustrates an important point in the Muslim / Hindu struggle. Both Dev and Tej were drastically affected by the death of Aarman and were motivated to eliminate the problems that caused his death. While Dev took a moral just route of upholding justice and the law, Tej just focused his anger on the Muslim insurgents without trying to uphold justice or the law. This is an important point in the Muslim / Hindu struggle because it illustrates that even someone who is supposed to uphold the law can become sidetracked (Tej) by his strong passion and views against the Muslims. This strong view does not solve the problem but only exacerbates the conflict and breeds death and violence. Even though Dev was killed in the end I still feel that he triumphed over evil because his legacy was able to be carried out Farhaan who represented him in court.
Dev was a very powerful and insightful film into the struggle and conflict between the Hindus and Muslims of India. To further compound this struggle the movie adds the conflict among corrupt politicians ( Mangal Rao and Latif) who use the Hindu/Muslim conflict to further their political campaign. The main problems in the movie are corrupt politicians and unjustified Muslim anger against Hindus and vice versa. This corruption and anger in the community and leadership lead into the politics of the movie. These politics are responsible for most of the negativity and violence in the movie.
The movie exposes the politics behind the police force whose main duty to protect the people regardless of religion that is hampered by conflicting opinions of high ranking officials. The movie does a great job of showing the politics behind the Hindu/Muslim struggle as well as politics in general. It shows how a leader fighting for a cause may have to change his strategies based on the advice and intimidation of powerful people. This occurs in the movie when Latif tells all his followers not to report any of the attacks against them in the riots. The movie also shows how politicians are responsible for many of the problems such as the riots, killings and fighting. In an effort to progress their individual goals they end up worsening existing tensions and only cause more problems.
This insight into third world politics shows the rest of the world the difficulty in solving problems in countries such as India and Pakistan. With corrupt politicians who only care about advancing their government agenda, problems get compounded and never solved. The riots in the movie could have been prevented if only politicians were actually concerned with bringing peace to their community. I think that this accurately reflected the politics of the third world. Sometimes people from other places look at struggling countries and wonder why no progress has been made even after lots of humanitarian aid and help from other countries. Dev illustrates how even one small corrupt person can cause massive destruction and anger which negates all the aid from other countries. I feel that politics in the third world is too subject to corruption and some intervention is necessary to make sure that forward progress is made in a timely fashion.
In the end the movie beautifully illustrates the never ending clash of religions and shows the public the number of people who die and suffer from the continual violence. It presents a strong critique of the Indian government and police force and exposes the corruption of both parties. It raises awareness to the brutality and inhumane killing of Muslims and Hindus.
Arvind Sabesan
11/13/2005 7:45PM
“Dev” is a movie about how people in Indian society dispute over many different ethical, political, and religious issues. The storyline begins with Ali Saheb’s son Farhaan returning after five years from studying law. Ali Saheb preaches peaceful protest concerning the movie’s main conflict which is between Hindus and Muslims. Farhaan disagrees with his father, telling him that the teachings of Gandhi are no longer relevant in today’s world. Ali Saheb sums up the reasoning behind the conflict by saying that the real conflict is not between Muslims and Hindus, but is concerned with social wisdom and communal madness.
The entire movie reveals intense corruption from within government. Dev and his best friend Tej, who are both police officers, want justice for the death of Dev’s son Armaan. Dev takes the more ethical route and upholds the Constitution and faces the Muslim-Hindu conflict morally. Tej is a perfect representation of the corruption of the government, especially by allowing hundreds of innocents to die just to try to bring about the demise of the Muslims. I found it hard to believe that two men who handled the conflict so differently could be such close friends. I do not think their conflict strictly refers only to India’s democracy. Even though their government’s corruption is much more severe, I feel that there are problems such as these in every form of government. Political corruption is probably the most prominent theme and shows how an underdeveloped country is extremely susceptible to corrupt leaders. The CM gave Tej complete authority to make a plan against the “terrorists”. He knows that Tej is going about his work in unethical ways, but does nothing to stop him and even tries to cover it up. The theme of political corruption goes hand-in-hand with another important theme: radicalism (represented by Tej) vs. a more moderate approach to governance (represented by Dev). Ultimately, these two men wanted the same thing (an end to violence) but they wanted to reach that goal through very different means.
A major turning point in the movie was when Tej allowed innocent women and children to burn alive in their homes while he turned the other way. Dev could not understand why Tej was ignoring his duties as a police officer. Not only did this scene emphasize the strong differences between the two men, but it also acted as the catalyst for the deterioration of their friendship.
The example of a Bollywood film we saw in the presentation of India was very different from this movie. I was under the impression that Bollywood films focused on happier topics, and included a lot of song and dance. “Dev” definitely changed my thoughts about Bollywood films. I was also surprised by some other things in the movie. I was not expecting Dev’s wife Bharati to have such a prestigious occupation (she was a doctor). Another strong female character in the movie was Aaliya, who was the only Muslim brave enough to speak out against Mangal Rao’s riots. Dev promises Aaliya and other Muslims justice for the victims of these riots, which is another way he shows his respect and adherence to the law. The presence of strong females reminded me of several Hollywood films with independent and strong women characters.
“Dev” reveals the all-too-popular conflict of religion and politics. The movie is very realistic and leaves you with images of the injustices from within government and peoples’ struggle to seek justice.
Marissa Brescia 11.13.05
The movie Dev is unique because it shows all sides of the story. It directly portrays the motives behind all the events that take place. The first point of view we hear is that of Dev, where he tells the teachers not to spread ideas of terror in the name of religion. Each character in the film clearly expresses their political views which helps us to sympathize with them. The terrorists commit acts of violence because they are avenging their losses.
Nothing in this film goes unexplained, and that’s why I was able to take this film very seriously. One thing that I always disliked about typical Hollywood movies is that the villian is often an “evil” person, the usual explanation for the villain’s actions is that he or she is simply a bad person. That is not a valid explanation for me, I don’t believe that anyone is born bad. People are born human, unbiased, and pure. Events and influences mold them into who they are. The police killed Tej’s grandson, and they also killed Farhaan’s father. Tej and Farhaan both wanted to avenge their losses and that led them to commit terrorist acts. Their lossess caused them to feel angry. Dev experienced a loss too, but instead of attempting to get revenge, he decided to clean up the corruption in the police force, starting with himself. The subsequent talks between Dev and Tej show the clash of politics and ideals between them, which lead directly to their tragic deaths.
I felt that this film gave us a very accurate account of Indian politics and society, especially since it highlighted the religious struggle between Muslims and Hindus, and also the presence of women in politics. Dev’s wife, Bharati was allowed to express her opinion and it was a very noble one. Farhaan’s girlfriend turned out to be the hero in the film. She was the bravest person in that crowd of people when she chose to give a first information report. Her situation was proof that it is possible to have justice without terrorism. Although this movie was sad because Dev was shot by Tej at the end, it evokes a feeling of hope in the viewer as Farhaan carries on Dev’s mission – the struggle for truth.
Carolina Ribas 11.13.05
‘Dev’ serves as a representation of the politics behind the Indian police force. It provides the viewer with a brief representation of the flawed side of Indians politics. The underlying theme in ‘Dev’ is corrupt politics. The movie portrays politicians who will play off religion against religion in order to thrive. The ambitions of an elite few are what dictate Indian society and culture.
Dev stars Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri, Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The film reveals the struggle of an Indian Muslim. Farhaan, a young Muslim activist, played by Fardeed Khan, sums up his thoughts when he says that he has been branded as an Indian anti-nationalist the moment he was born. This movie is also about the internal struggle of Dev (Amitabh Bachchan), a Hindu police officer whose beliefs are very different of that of his best friend Taj’s (Om Puri), who also happens to be in command. Dev admits that some Muslims may be terrorists, but remains constant to the belief that not all members of the community are Jahadis.
It is interesting how the movie describes democracy. India prides it self on its democratic morals. Unfortunately,” this for the people by the people” philosophy often puts the minority group in a disadvantaged position. With a Hindu majority, most of the government positions are held by Hindus. It seems almost necessary for Muslims to bribe officials for seats just as the Muslim minority leader, Latif, did. If they did not do this it would be very unlikely for Muslims to have adequate representation.
I found it interesting how the film portrayed women. Aliyah (Kareena Kapoor), is described as being a strong, independent women. She finds the march to be exciting and wants to be involved in it. She admires Farhaan’s father for encouraging women to stand besides men in the struggle for equality. When others are scared to confront the police and lay blame on certain Hindus who were part of the massacre which killed Aliyah’s entire family as well as many others, she stood up and did what she belied was right. She was smarter then the rest of her peers who believed everything Latif had to say.
This powerful Bollywood film taught me a lot about Indian's view of politics and culture. About people's lack of faith in the government and how corrupt this government is.
With powerful examples of fighting and murder, the movie Dev showcases the many issues that are present in India especially illustrating the tension between the Hindus and Muslims and the extensive impact a few people’s actions can have on entire communities. With the Hindus having majority rule in politics, it is shown how easily that power is exploited by the Hindu leaders and the result this has for the Muslim community.
Dev, the title character who is played by Amitabh Bachchan, leads the audience on a quest to determine what is right and wrong with the lines becoming blurred when religion and politics are brought into the picture. He is introduced as a man who does not particularly care for minorities and then as time proceeds, he changes his attitude towards compassion, understanding and a fight for justice. Dev is a key figure in bringing to light the injustices against the minorities, especially since he is a Hindu who understands the Muslims’ problems.
The conflicts between the Hindus and the Muslims are played out in many situations throughout the film with a blind eye being turned whenever the Muslims are violated. The way this film was presented is moving because it showed the negative people on both sides and the chain of events that occurred all tied together so it was easy to understand what was going on. There were also positive sides to the conflict because there were the people who promoted change. The character development of Dev and Farhaan Ali (Fardeen Khan) is well played out because it shows both characters in a time when they followed the roles that were assigned to them based on their religions and beliefs but then they are able to work towards a common goal together and understand each other.
Women in this film are interesting because two women play major roles in the movie. Bharati (Rati Agnihotri), Dev’s wife, plays the compassionate role of who doesn’t allow religion to interfere with her view of people and simply wants justice to prevail. The other woman who plays a significant role is Aliyah, played by Kareena Kapoor, a Muslim woman who is involved with Farhaan. She is instrumental in the fight for Muslims because she goes against the leader of the Muslims, Latif played by Ehsaan Khan, who is in it for himself and his own political gain. With Aliyah standing up for herself and others and knowing the consequences of her actions, she is an excellent role model in the movie and has a depth to her that even the political leaders don’t have.
Overall I thought this movie was very insightful and beautifully presented. With each incident that occurred, a decision had to be made over which side was being victimized so a constant surveying of the facts had to happen. This constant re-listing of all the facts made each plot all the more severe because all the other deaths were taken into account. I feel now as though I can comprehend the politics in India with a more understanding mind.
Jenna Douglass 11/14/05
Dev Review
In the film Dev, the conflict between Hindus and Muslims seems to be the basis of all national problems in the country. Throughout the film you see groups of Muslims and groups of Hindus meet to discuss the problems they have with the other religious group, make claims about all of the harm the other group has caused, plot attacks on the other group, and try to figure out ways in which to empower their religious group. It is clear there is turmoil in the country that arises because of the clear tension between these two significant and “firm in their beliefs” religious groups, however the underlying problem is really the political corruption and misuse of power by the government. Dev and Tej, two Hindu government officials, are the main characters in this film both of whom work together yet have contrasting ideas. Dev is focused on eliminating the bad seeds of society, primarily the bad Muslims, while Tej is focused on ruining the entire Muslim community. The debates between these two characters, their differences in beliefs regarding whose ideas are correct and the great influence they have on the government and people of their nation shows the obvious and apparent political corruption that hurts nations like these so much.
There are many events that lead the viewer to believe the main issue here is simply the conflicts between these strong religious groups. The street wars, the riots, the bombs, the fights, the protest meetings, and the group rallies that occur throughout the film portray how much tension can arise from having two strong religious groups within one nation. But the political corruption is at the bottom of all of these issues, stirring the pot, creating more turmoil and intensifying the clash between the two groups.
The two religious groups have high ranked officials within their groups who are responsible for communicating with the government, and organizing and running group meetings. It is by these leaders that so much of the tension arises and eventually gives way to all of the corruption. The main motive of many of these leaders is not to help their religious group prosper, or to help end violence and spread the word of their faith. Instead, their mission is to better their personal standings on the political charts, help corruptly put other leaders into power, and take out their personal anger and distrust in the system and country by using their own people as bait to achieve these goals. One specific part in the movie that is a good example of this is, after a series of violent events, you see Latif, a leader of the Muslim group turn to a government official for help. When the advice he gets is to make his people not say a word about violent Hindu’s, Latif agrees in order to up his ranking in the political system. In this situation, Latif has displayed his own form of corruption by falsely informing his Muslim people of a plan to “better their community”, while his real intentions were on bettering his political standing and pleasing the high ranked officials within the government.
All of the terrorist attacks and events that take place with in the nation in this film occur due to the political corruption. Every conflict in this film arises because of government turmoil. The religious groups are more centered around politics than belief, and the people grouped in these religious communities are followers under improper rule; the truth is never told. Bribery and force determine the actions of these people. Religion is an important factor in helping to convince followers that their leaders are doing what is right by their beliefs, and what is right for their people. It is the use of religion that allows corruption to continue.
Maria Sordoni
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Dev was simply an amazing and powerful film. My first thoughts while watching this film was that I would love to understand more about the struggles between Muslims and Hindus in India. Though I know that there have been these struggles, I haven’t because of many reasons able to explore those problems beyond the basics. I felt this movie was able to show a side of political problems in India that not many people see.
While the whole moving was incredibly powerful, there were a few parts that stuck out. I’m curious as to whether the shooting that was the catalyst for the entire movie was actually religiously motivated. This obviously didn’t matter as even if it wasn’t, as shown by the complete necessity of bringing religion into every discussion. Obviously the use of religion was central to this movie, though I’m interested to see how it would differ from rural areas to city areas.
I did find the idea of “destroying terrorists” as something very similar to an idea held in the United States. The idea that it would be so vocalized in a film is foreign to me though. Though we do allow for that type of discussion in movies, it generally comes from someone who is the “bad guy” and I simply didn’t get that vibe from the chief police officer. I also wondered why having a specific religion made someone a terrorist, but I guess that just comes along with the bigotry, no matter where the event takes place. I did like that Dev did have a lot of influence at the beginning of the movie and actually used it to try and change that perception, even though he lost his influence because of that.
Another aspect I found interesting was the role of women. I felt that the women were very well represented, at times, in this movie. Speaking out against those with more power than you and having a job as a doctor is a very admirable thing to do even by American standards. I did get the idea that the women didn’t quite understand the severity of the issues though, and seemed to have the “why can’t everyone be nice” attitude a lot.
This was a powerful movie that me take a hard look at how Indian politics were and are, and how American politics were and are, also.
Adria Andersen 11/14/05
Wow. This movie was better then what I thought. I found it very interesting. I normally don’t like movies with subtitles but this movie was different. “Dev” portrayed a country, India, that was being torn between two different religions and views, Hindu and Muslim. Hindu is the country’s main religion. People of the country that are Hindu believe that India is their land and can’t be shared. They feel that Muslims are trying to take their land away from them and are plotting against the Hindus. Hindus feel that the Muslims are terrorists. In the beginning of the film the politicians of the country are Hindu and all feel the same way about Muslims. Dev, the main character showed strong views against the Muslims in the beginning of the film but as the film progressed it seemed that his views changed. His views were know about putting “the bad guys” away no matter their religion. This country was very split between the two views. Each religion had their own leader that the people would listent to. The people did what they were told. The politics of India tore to best friends apart. Dev and Tej were best friends who were always there for each other except when it came to which side to take. Tej was more for protecting Hindus and keeping India a Hindu country while Dev was more for the criminal aspect of things. He just wanted to be a cop and do what cops do, put the law breakers away.
Also in this “Dev” it portrayed an India women who did not conform to the normal ways that women did of India. Aliyah was a strong India women who stood up for what she thought was right. The first thing that she did was tell her boyfriend, Farhaan, that she didn’t want him carrying a gun or being apart of the Muslim group of rebels. The largest thing that she did was not listen to the leader of the Muslims. She was told to keep her mouth shut about who raped and killed her family and her best friends family. Aliyah stepped forward and told Dev everything that she knew. She pointed out the men that pointed her and her friend into danger. And she told Dev she saw the leader of the Hindus leading the men into battle with the Muslims.
This movie was very exciting. I actually caught myself getting very invloved in the film. I found myself saying stuff out loud like Dev don't die or someone please shoot Tej. I just couldn't help it. This movie was just not what I was expecting which is a very good thing. This film showed many different aspects that kept me interested, religion and Indian women. This was just an overall great movie.
"Dev" initially appeared to be a movie that was suggesting government was a corrupt machine and did not bring justice to those that needed it most. Thinking this was a movie based on what actually happened and is still to an extent happening in India, I thought the movie would be somewhat held back in what was shown to the audience. To my surprise, the director showed what seemed to challenge the government in India. Opening with Dev killing a protestor getting out of control, you get the immediate feeling that authority was going to be governed by religion and not the law. The director, Govind Nihalani, shows right away the power that the Hindu-run government has over the Muslims and how tension between the two continues to fuel hatred and unrest.
The character portrayals in this movie are at times what seem to be over dramatic, but in the end really show the actual distress that really goes on in a country with tremendous religious unrest. Farhaan shows his transformations from an angry man that believes law is useless as a Muslim to eventually becoming a man that embraces the law and yet still retains his identity. His father’s philosophy is something that he could never understand, especially because of the circumstances surrounding the political situation in India and his knowledge of law. It takes another father figure found in Dev to show that political and religious problems shouldn’t be a hindrance to justice in India.
Dev believes in the higher law of morals—not that of the corrupt officials that run the country. Even with the experience of the loss of his child, he still finds that the religiously motivated violence that’s happening needs to be stopped. His friendships and his religious loyalties don’t overshadow his duties as a police officer trying to maintain order in a chaotic place, even though the pressure is enormous. Tej, his best friend and superior officer presents a problem for Dev that he has to face—whether or not to allow innocent Muslims to lose their lives in order to satisfy a political agenda of the chief minister and the personal agenda of Tej.
Nihalani expresses the problems of religious barriers very well in this movie and shows that politics are almost always influenced by religion. The extreme nature of the violence that takes place in the movie is not something that I would expect, because it directly takes a shot at the real life situations and asks the question, why does this continue to plague the politics of India? This movie shows the difficult cultural problems that have to be faced in India and why they are indeed hard to overcome. The character Dev is certainly a heroic figure that exemplifies how to put biases aside and focus on providing justice, no matter what the ultimatum is.
Initially when told that watching a movie that was three hours long and consisted of subtitles, I was a little skeptical of the possibility of me actually enjoying the film, but to be completely honest, I found the film to be extremely powerful. Dev provided a message about overcoming racial prejudice, and social prejudice. With the role of the oppressor being played by the Hindus, and the oppressed being played by the Muslims, this movie was able to demonstrate the constant struggle of one religion against the other.
I felt that this portrayal was accurate to a degree, but it also was unrealistic as well. The government is rarely that publicly corrupt, and the fact of the matter is that more of a fuss would have been made about Tej’s deliberate act of terrible police work. Although it was not completely realistic, it still was extremely powerful. The cinematography during the riots was outstanding and the bond between Dev and Farhan was portrayed really well.
When Dev led the battle at the beginning of the movie, I assumed that this would be Farhan’s nemesis, but in the end, he did what he believed. He was an inspirational character who defied the hierarchy in the government, knowing very well that his fate may include death. He even had the internal conflict of Tej, who happened to be his best friend. Tej only saw the world as a place where he should do what’s right for himself. The tension in the scene between Farhan and Tej at the end of the movie was really well done. The only negative about that scene was the Hollywood over dramatization. The suicide kind of took away from the message that the movie was attempting to get across.
The most pivotal scene to me was Aaliya’s assertion of who was involved in the riot. She did not fear the repercussions of her decision and took the leap. Despite the fact that she was not the featured character she and Bharati demonstrated that women can be powerful and successful. This was a little shocking to me considering the view that is shared in India regarding women in India. I felt that this was incredibly positive though and it made the movie even more powerful.
The thing that struck me the most about this film was the fact that although it was only a movie, it took on a controversial subject that exists in the real world. The scenes with the riots reminded me of what I have scene during the race riots in the Civil Rights Movement. Also the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict definitely was in my mind, while viewing this film. People in those areas are subjected to constant threats on a daily basis and even the slightest attack can create huge problems. Compromise has been on the agenda from the get go, but like the Hindus and Muslims in this film, no agreement has been met. This to me was why the film was so powerful and well done, because despite the dullness of certain scenes as well as certain clichés being demonstrated, this film took on a subject that few are willing to attempt, and even fewer finding success in tackling the issue.
Josh Kalish 11/14
The movie “Dev” took an interesting look at prejudice, one that is less seen in America than the movie would suggest it is in India. The movie showed the effects of discrimination from a religious aspect, rather than from a race aspect. Through the characters we see how the problem is blatantly obvious in the Indian society.
The growth of Dev, the main character, is the main plot line of the film. Dev’s role as a high ranking police officer brings him into contact with people of other religions, mainly Muslims. Being a Hindu man, he is surrounded by a government and by co-workers that are openly discriminatory toward the Muslims in the community. Throughout the movie Dev is seen first as a bystander and one who does nothing to aid or discourage the racism, but as the film progresses you see a distinct movement toward openness and mental equality. By the end of the film viewer even see Dev and his wife Bharati open their home up to a young Muslim couple.
There are few American movies that deal with racism as well as “Dev” does. There is no sugarcoating or subtle undertones of discrimination in the movie, the writers and director have put everything in plain view. The makers of the movie have left nothing up to the imagination in the movie. The scene where Tej slaughters hundreds by burning them alive is both powerful and disturbing. The scene was put in the movie to contrast the “goodness” of Dev and the “evil” of Tej. While bigotry may be this evident in India, I feel that it isn’t in America, which is most likely why our movies, for the most part, don’t elicit the same reactions as this one does, those of disgust and horror. The film “Crash” is one of the few movies made by Hollywood that directly confronts people’s innate sense of racism in this country.
“Dev” was a great example of how prejudice is shown and talked about in other parts of the world. We as Americans rarely see how this issue is discussed in other countries and other cultures. Although a bit long and drawn out, the movie confronted the topics of racism and hate in a manner that was effective and moving.
The movie Dev was a very interesting portrayal of politics and government in India. The ongoing battle between the Muslims and Hindus displayed the imbalance and need for order and justice in the country of India. I felt the movie did an effective job of showing both sides of the story and allowing the audience to understand what both sides are feeling. Dev also showed the role that women in India are playing and how their lives are influenced by the violence taking place. This movie was successful in demonstrating the political turmoil and displaying the views of all parties involved.
The women in this movie were very strong, courageous and intelligent. Aaliyah had strong beliefs in equality and justice. She asked if she could march with her uncle in support of the protest, his response was no. She believed in the rights of her people as much as any man. In the household Aaliyah seemed to be treated as an equal. When Farhaan began to burn his father’s books Aaliyah did not approve and attempted to stop him. She was not afraid of him and it did not appear that she felt less superior to Farhaan. It was a similar situation with Dev’s wife. Dev’s wife was a doctor and actually cared for Aaliyah when she had been hurt during the attack. Dev’s wife was allowed to speak freely about her opinions and beliefs. There was no clear visible distinction between the feminine and masculine roles. I thought that this was interesting because I was under the impression that there was a true inferiority between women and men.
Aaliyah was a very brave woman. When the audience was asked by Dev to identify the people that were involved in the attack, no one would come forward but her. This illustrates the ability and independence that is being developed by Indian women. Although Aaliyah along with the others in her religious community were threatened not to tell who was involved, she knew it was the right thing to do. If no one would stand up and identify people then justice would not be served to anyone, and the ones breaking the rules would continue to the corruption. Although Dev was not guilty of committing acts of violence personally, other memebers of his government were. The governemtn was supposed to be protecting the people but in reality it was accomplishing just the opposite. It took a very brave person to step out of the crowd and come forward with the truth. Even if it did put her life in danger, Aaliyah was willing to take the risk. This was more than any man was willing to do.
It was surprising to me to see the terrorist versus government battle taking place in the movie. I had never really considered how so many countries have their own terrorists. In America there are terrorists that we deal with that are against the government and take matters into their hands, just as in India. This is also apparent in other countries as well, such as Ireland with the IRA. Just to see how the same violence occurs in many places almost all for similar reasons is truly shocking.
This movie displayed a variety of remarkable people. Dev was an amazing leader and defender of the constitution. He was not corrupt, like the others, and he truly wanted what was best for the country by doing what was expressed in the constitution. Dev like Aaliyah and Farhaan went against all odds, and ultimatly he paid for his beliefs with his life. Aaliyah and Farhaan were also remarkable individuals. They stood up for what was right and the rights of their people. They were strong, independent and brave. Aaliyah, Farhaan and Dev all strongly disagreed with the terrible terrorist acts that displayed only self-interests. So many people were killed or injured, lives that were unnecessarily taken. Innocent women, children and men were sacrificed all to prove points that could have possibly been resolved democratically and peacefully, if given a chance.
11/15/2005
The film “Dev” addresses several facets of Indian life. It shows glimpses into the realms of government, religion, terrorism, and family relationships. All of these aspects of Indian life mesh as we follow Farhaan through his journey from student to activist to terrorist to ultimately becoming a young man in search of the truth. Throughout this transformation Farhaan constantly crosses path with police officer Dev. The two begin as enemies but circumstance and the fight for justice bring them together into what becomes, as Farhaan describes it, a spiritual father-son relationship. The film is a political piece advocating against violence, terrorism and religious discrimination. It instead urges for the pursuit of equal treatment and truth.
A central theme of this film is the fight for the ultimate goals of truth and justice and the factors which stand in their way. Dev states toward the end of the film that the meaning of life is just this, the struggle for truth and justice. In the film, advancement
toward these goals are halted by corruption within government, terrorism and religious tensions. Dev fights against these hindrances and leads his life in the most righteous way he knows how. Working in an extremely tense environment Dev carries out his duties to the best of his ability without the consideration of majority versus minority, Hindus versus Muslims. This is shown in the beginning of the film when Dev comes into conflict with a violent student protestor. Dev shoots the student, claiming that he did what he thought had to be done. When he is accused of shooting the student because he was a minority, Dev states that a man is only innocent or guilty, expressing that the student’s religious background was not a factor in his actions.
Farhaan is a young legal student who is passionate about the discrimination being committed against those of his Islamic faith. After the death of his father at the hands of Hindu police officers Farhaan initially sees the government as the enemy and Dev as his a man who must be brought down. Farhaan’s method of combating injustice is contradictory to Dev’s. As a police officer, Dev uses the law as his weapon. He believes that a country’s power lies in its constitution, political structure and social equality, among other things. Farhaan, on the other hand, sees violence as the answer to his problems and joins a terrorist organization. Farhaan puts aside the teachings of his father, an avid student of Gandhi’s philosophy, and dismisses the non-violent approach to change. In the end Farhaan learns through experience that violence does not accomplish anything. This is one of the main messages of the film; to fight injustice one must act justly themselves and that the road to truth is not found through terrorism.
Dev believes that a man dies when he sees injustice and remains silent. This belief makes Dev’s death at the end of the film very symbolic. Due to the orders of fellow police officer Taj, he is slow to act at the scene of a riot between Hindus and Muslims. Then, once again, he is stopped from helping Muslim victims about to die in a fire set by Hindus. Due to his lack of intervention in these situations, Dev feels that he is responsible for the deaths of many. He feels that he could have saved lives and stopped injustice but didn’t do so. Dev is repeatedly been put into positions, by his long time friend Taj, in which he feels he did not do his duty to stop injustice. This causes Dev to feel like a failure and makes his murder symbolic of the spiritual death he suffered due to his inability to act.
This film comments on the governmental corruption in India and the need for equality and justice. It turns this abstract social issue into a personal, touching tale of two men fighting in their own way for what they believe in. The story has several moral messages but does not overbear the viewer. This thought-provoking film teaches the viewer a lot about religious divides and corruption within India, but also addresses a larger, universal need for justice.
Elizabeth Sullo 11/15/05
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The film Dev is one of the greatest examples of Bollywood yet. The cinematography and presentation rival some Hollywood productions, while its content sets it far apart from American films. The political and social philosophy reached depths that no American film has even attempted. The presentation of both sides of the issues, the internal verse external struggles and the rationale for the character's resolutions are all portrayed as decisions based on current political issues facing the country. In addition to the socio-political elements, the theme of globalization is presented as well in this Bollywood master piece.
The social sphere of the country can largely said to be represented by the internal clashes of the characters on both sides of the coin. On the one hand, the minority party as portrayed by Farhaan and his father are in conflict over the use of violence in there protests and their demands of the government. Traditional knowledge goes against current experience and both sides are emotionally charged from the beginning. This is seen as a simple microcosm of the sentiment of the minority population as a whole. On the other hand, you have the majority party, represented by Dev and Tej. Again, the conflict between these characters is the different paths they choose to reach the same end. Each sides vengeful wrath is justified by a previous injustices legitimizing retaliation. However, the nation's moral ethics are displayed and empowered by the decision making process these characters go through in their ways to resolution.
The political philosophy of the movie was the thread that linked everything together. It is shown through a series of battles such as the Muslims verse Hindus or Farhaan verse his father or Tej verse Latif, but the reoccurring theme is the mistake and the consequences of unmitigated violence and stereotypes it implies. Farhaan’s father spoke the most prophetic words of the movie when he said the battle is not between Muslims and Hindus, it is between social wisdom and communal madness. He was a victim of a politician's game once and took a life, which he regretted forever. He saw through all the rhetoric in his sage and came to realize the politicians were using religion and the community as a ploy against one another. This fact can be seen in Latif's meeting with the parliament representative in which he threatened to unleash his emotional community if he was not granted a spot on the ticket for a MLA seat. This is an universal revelation this Bollywood film captured perfectly; its all a game of political power and those without power are simply pawns.
The globalization theme comes out here, as well. Its a show of the haves verse the have-nots. India is a shown as a political war zone because of the hatred vitalized by those in charge to meet their ends. Its the lie of WMD's, the stereotypical targeting and executions and the continual propaganda of hate that the empowered manipulate the masses with. Globalization is walking the same razor's edge as Dev. Capitalist means are a cut-throat way to synchronize the world and some places, people and ways of life will be cut from the waist side and lost forever.
The film Dev is one of the greatest examples of Bollywood yet. The cinematography and presentation rival some Hollywood productions, while its content sets it far apart from American films. The political and social philosophy reached depths that no American film has even attempted. The presentation of both sides of the issues, the internal verse external struggles and the rationale for the character's resolutions are all portrayed as decisions based on current political issues facing the country. In addition to the socio-political elements, the theme of globalization is presented as well in this Bollywood master piece.
The social sphere of the country can largely said to be represented by the internal clashes of the characters on both sides of the coin. On the one hand, the minority party as portrayed by Farhaan and his father are in conflict over the use of violence in there protests and their demands of the government. Traditional knowledge goes against current experience and both sides are emotionally charged from the beginning. This is seen as a simple microcosm of the sentiment of the minority population as a whole. On the other hand, you have the majority party, represented by Dev and Tej. Again, the conflict between these characters is the different paths they choose to reach the same end. Each sides vengeful wrath is justified by a previous injustices legitimizing retaliation. However, the nation's moral ethics are displayed and empowered by the decision making process these characters go through in their ways to resolution.
The political philosophy of the movie was the thread that linked everything together. It is shown through a series of battles such as the Muslims verse Hindus or Farhaan verse his father or Tej verse Latif, but the reoccurring theme is the mistake and the consequences of unmitigated violence and stereotypes it implies. Farhaan’s father spoke the most prophetic words of the movie when he said the battle is not between Muslims and Hindus, it is between social wisdom and communal madness. He was a victim of a politician's game once and took a life, which he regretted forever. He saw through all the rhetoric in his sage and came to realize the politicians were using religion and the community as a ploy against one another. This fact can be seen in Latif's meeting with the parliament representative in which he threatened to unleash his emotional community if he was not granted a spot on the ticket for a MLA seat. This is an universal revelation this Bollywood film captured perfectly; its all a game of political power and those without power are simply pawns.
The globalization theme comes out here, as well. Its a show of the haves verse the have-nots. India is a shown as a political war zone because of the hatred vitalized by those in charge to meet their ends. Its the lie of WMD's, the stereotypical targeting and executions and the continual propaganda of hate that the empowered manipulate the masses with. Globalization is walking the same razor's edge as Dev. Capitalist means are a cut-throat way to synchronize the world and some places, people and ways of life will be cut from the waist side and lost forever.
The Bollywood film “Dev” correlates with issues plaguing not only Indian politics, but a global community. Three main conflicts particularly drew attention in regards to the political and cultural order represented in this society; the struggle between just legal practice and political pressures, religious motives vs. political motives, and stereotyping of terrorists.
Defacto and dejure practice of Indian law symbolically clash between Dev and higher ranking officials. Dev represents dejure law or law strictly as written with in the constitution. No matter the circumstance or consequence, Dev intends to uphold the Indian constitution equally. Despite his Hindu religion, Dev believed that justice should be served to the Muslim victims equally as with the Hindus. Despite his loyalty to the C.M. and his close friend Tej, he was willing to testify against them to preserve the legitimacy of the constitution. Tej and the C.M. on the other hand represent defacto practice or how the law is actually carried out. These two high ranking officials allowed riots and ethnic tension to prosper in the name of personal political gain. They used their ranking power to surpass the constitutional law, refusing to grant justice to those victimized. The movie demonstrates this conflict when dev challenges the corruption. Towards the finale, Dev is killed, leaving the viewer to believe that the legitimacy of law is weakened. The C.M. and Muslim politicians will continue shaping policy according to their lust of power. Farhann offers a spark of hope within the darkness of racist political corruption. We are not told whether Farhann will win Dev’s case against the state because there is no exact answer to the conflict of Dejure and Defacto practice. One is left to choose the ending, should societies be governed according to law or individual politicians?
“Dev” demonstrates the tension between politics and religions. Often many view religion as the main proponent of ethnic strife. “Dev” demonstrates that this generalization is false. It is not a religion that promotes violence against man, it’s the politics of figure heads which bend and construe a sacred peaceful philosophy into warfare. Latiff and Mangol Rao masked their political motives by falsifying and distorting the visions of their loyal subjects. Through this manipulation they turned the people against one another in the name of gods. While structuring a distorted view of the “enemy”, these two bartered politically. When Farhann was taken into custodity, Dev recognized he was educated but his frustration allowed Latiff to manipulate his mind. In an opposite respect, Tej attempted to muster Dev’s anger of his lost child to pin blame on the Muslim population. Since religion is culturally sacred, an attack on religion generates anger and violence. By tying certain events into a religious community, this allows certain political aspirers political mobilization and bargaining power.
Finally “Dev” demonstrates two sides of terrorism, the generalized American stereotype and the frustrated minority. The stereotype which is often heard on American news is portrayed as the life hating, post-modern, religious fanatic. This stereotype is exacerbated through Tej’s hate for the Muslim society. Tej refers to Muslims as outsiders in “his” country, and lumps them in the category of terrorist. He believed that the elimination and displacement of Muslims was the best effort in combating terrorist. Racism, ignorance, manipulation, and anger fostered this image and linkage to a religious fanatical killer. Members of the Hindu majority used terrorism as an excuse to attack the Muslim community. The other side of the terrorist displayed in this movie is portrayed through the early character of Farhann, a young educated man who endured great loss. A combination of the death of his father, anger towards an unfair majority ran system, and manipulation by a superior figure birthed a terrorist. When Farhann witnessed the police officers allowing the massacre of Muslims, he felt the system worked against his people. Although terrorism is wrong, it is important to understand these people are not medieval killing machines, attacking aimlessly due to a hate for humanity. These people commit atrocious attacks because they feel they have suffered injustice, cultivate distaste against an oppressive system, or have been influenced by higher priest/officials. Desperation to impact the system is achieved through horrific attacks. Farhann realized that his desperation to avenge injustice left him holding a child’s carcass amidst a field of death.
This film is an inspiration among ideals of developing nations such as India. One man’s vision of a united country under and equally governing constitution gives hope to conflicting ethnicities. If one man can step up to the corruption, terrorism, and brutality within the system, others may follow.
M.Andrew Campanelli 11/16
The film Dev was a long yet entertaining film. What I liked about it was that it was a no-holds-barred type of film. The director, Nihalani, was not afraid to take on contemporary issues in India and therefore created an insightful, exciting, and powerful film. Also, the storyline was well thought out with many scenes revealing to the viewer more and more about each character little by little.
Two of the issues tackled by Nihalani in this film are religious tension between Hindus and Muslims along with police and government corruption in India. Religious tension is thrown at the viewer in some of the opening scenes, such as Dev shooting the student protester and Farhan being questioned by the police after getting off his train. Farhan is a Muslim man and the police officers are Hindus who “randomly” select him for questioning after leaving the train, much like Muslims are randomly questioned at our countries airports every day. Another powerful scene depicting racial tension is when Dev calls a group of Muslim men into his office to talk to them about the promotion of terrorism in Muslim run areas of Noor Manzil. Latif, one of the men who is also a politician, takes special offence to this interaction. Latif is later exposed in the film to be very corrupt himself. After he convinces Farhan to try and assassinate Dev, an attempt that failed, Latif tries to have Farhan himself killed. This is only some of the corruption in the film.
Dev proves to be a by the books police officer who wants to uphold the constitution, while his best friend Tej is just the opposite. Tej sees his position as one which allows him to persecute the Muslims as much as he wants, a notion that is supported by other high ranking Hindus. When Dev takes action to reveal the corruption, Tej is instructed to get rid of Dev no matter what it takes. He orders two men to assassinate Dev but their attempt proves to be futile. Dev does not die until he takes a bullet meant for Farhan, shot by Tej himself.
This movie opened my eyes to one major thing; the fact that Muslims are persecuted in other parts of the world and not just America. I am not sure if I had ever thought about it before but watching the film made this very clear to me. I do have one question though. Many times in Hollywood, directors make government corruption part of the plot and we Americans see it as no more than that. Is this the same in India of the Bollywood viewers, or do they perceive this as a political statement? My other question is should we Americans now view some of the films we see as political statements also?
Either way, the movie Dev was much better than I expected it to be and would recommend it to people who want to watch a powerful, meaningful film.
Sean Guidera, 11-16
"Dev" was my introduction to Bollywood. As a fan of foreign films, primarily Hispanic, I wondered why I was not introduced earlier. I prepared myself for a three and half hour drama filled with synchronized dance moves and happy endings, equipped with a bag of Doritos and large bottle of water. What I discovered was a highly intelligent film, with arresting imagery and important themes, which included: racism is absurd, and justice is blind.
The effectiveness of "Dev" is due in large part to the passion displayed by the actors. Dev's relentless loyalty to the law and constitution sets the theme for the movie, and was the chracteristic I admired most in the film. Another aspect of the film, which I felt was crucial in my interpretation of the movie, was the story of Farhan. Providing a background for his resentment of the state, made me think about the stories behind the screaming faces of insurgents and rioters depicted on T.V. It is difficult to understand oppression when one has never been exposed to it. Not being able to drive my father's car was not oppression, no matter how deeply I felt it was. It is movies like "Dev" which give those not involved, a greater understanding of the politics of oppression. I also liked director Nihalani's depiction of the women in the film. Aaliya's role in the movie displayed how women, in the face of violence and rape, were often the most courageous in oppressive societies.
Personally, the greatest moments of the film were the conversations between Dev and Tej, which resembled equality's and basic human rights' struggle against bias and racism; an issue which has plagued India. The Hindu-Muslim tensions is a sensitive topic, and I felt that "Dev" adequately displayed both sides of teh issue. Through corrupt Hindu police and politicians, coupled with Muslim terrorists, Nihalani was able to avoid bias; bringing to attention the effects of racism and injustice.
"Dev" is dark and grim, yet highly effective. Giving the viewer an inside look at truly segregated societies. Although Hindu-Muslim friction is getting better, it is important for films like "Dev" to mainstream the issue, so people in areas as remote as Delaware become more aware.
The movie “Dev” brilliantly and dramatically uncovers deep political and religious issues that have been plaguing India for years. Our first impression of the film is of a corrupt government that gives no justice to its people. As the movie progresses we see that it is much more that that. It is about two religions and the politics of one land trying to coexist. I didn’t think that an Indian movie would be so unbiased in the way its politics and government are presented. It is so blatant in its depiction of how the government is run and the way the people of India are treated. Dev also reveals the unrelenting tension between the Hindus and Muslims and shows just how deeply it penetrates the lives of all those involved.
The character development gives us a sense of hope in that the situation can be changed. Dev originally appears to be just another corrupt officer when he shoots a student speaking out in the beginning of the movie. However, he eventually sees all the fighting and violence for what it is. Even though he was personally affected by it when his young son was shot and killed by Muslims, he is able to look beyond this and see that neither side is right. By the end he comes to realize that the incessant aggression and blood shed needs to end because innocent lives are being lost in vain.
His good friend and superior officer, Tej, does not have the same revelation, however. They start off on the same side but when Tej allows the brutal killings of innocent Muslims, Dev cannot stand idly by. In the end the problems fueled by the religious conflicts prove to be too strong to overcome even for them.
The character of Farhaan also illustrates the tragedy that affects the lives of so many people in India. When his father is killed he blames the government and thinks that there is nothing he can do as a Muslim to stop the death and destruction. There are so many instances like this in India and all to often people are left feeling helpless. People can’t even turn to their government for help because often it is government that is causing the distress to begin with. The movie Dev is a powerful illustration of a country divided. It shows how politics does not go unaffected by religion and realistically shows how violence and death are often the result of this religious battle.
Christine Madurski
11/18/05
A running theme through out “Dev” is the personal versus the political, the tensions it creates, and ultimately the heroes it gives rise to.
The first image we are given as viewers is Dev being questioned for his actions taken against a group of students. From that moment it is known that Dev is a man who follows his beliefs despite the situation and in uncompromising, even when authority questions him. As a result of this, one might feel as if Dev is a villain, a person to be feared.
However, the next layer of Dev is given when we see him as a family man. The personal is brought in only after the political foundation is laid. It makes one question how someone who has a family of his own could do such things to others such as the students. If Dev was to compromise his personal beliefs for the political situation he finds himself in, this film could not have been as strong and as powerful.
Farhan’s character also struggles with the personal versus the political. As a law student, the son of a true follower of Gandhi, and a religious minority every day is a battle for him between his personal and the political realms of life. He, like his father, believes that the only way to make change is to follow the letter of the law and use it, not force, to affect and hopefully better the situation he and his community find themselves in. It is not until his personal life is shattered that the change in his political life takes place. With the death of his father Farhan looks to the political for answers and becomes one of many men that are used in order to better Latif’s political situation. By having an imbalance of the personal and political, Farhan quickly spirals out of control and it takes yet another major moment to bring him back in balance.
It is not until Farhan and Dev meet up, due to a chance meeting of Aliyah and Dev’s wife, and learn about the struggles each has made to find the separation between the personal and the political that the insanity of the whole situation they find themselves a part of can be seen in as a bigger picture. It is important when such different cultures become a part of the same government that understanding takes place in order to guarantee a peaceful coexistence. Perhaps it is utopian to think that knowledge will lead to such a time, but it seems that the more we know and understand about certain groups the easier it is to comprehend why they exist the way they do therefore making the personal the political aspects that tend to separate.
Much of the theme in Dev concentrates on ethnic hatred. Many of the stereotypes we saw in the movie are perpetuated in real life every day. Globally as well as locally, in native and foreign lands, minority groups have faced persecution. In India, for instance, the majority of the native population is Hindu, but there is still a strong, native minority Muslim population. We may ask ourselves what breeds such hatred, especially in places in which communities have been coexisting for centuries.
Dev shows us that many of the stereotypes that are perpetuated by ethnic bigots are being used as political fuel. The ‘politicians’ in the movie continually use the religious affiliation of the people they are representing as means to instigate revolt, riots, and hate crimes. After these incidents, which were caused by them in the first place, they use the episodes to make themselves seem like ‘victims,’ and in order to ‘protect the community’ they encourage further revenge. This disseminates the already complex situation, and any who were willing to try to stop it, such as Dev and Farhan were only punished and subdued. Dev and Farhan tried to change the cycle of hate in their community, and the film illustrated how hard this can be when it is so instilled in society.
The moral that Dev was trying to justify is that change needs to come from within, from the roots of society. If societies as crooked as that in Dev rely on the government/police, which is already very corrupt, to make the necessary adjustments, the interest of the community will not be served.
-Jacque DiMattia
11/18/05
Why do humans relate personally with each other and yet fight to the death in the face of stereotypes and uniforms? Dev, directed by Nihalani is an excellent representation of interpersonal relationships and political warfare clashing together. Dev, played by Amitabh Bachchan, does a superb job demonstrating the conflict that occurs within one man’s conscience. Dev’s relationships with Tej and Farhaad are symbolic of the struggles a nation often faces in civil war when it is divided by faith or policy. Dev represents a type of character that overcomes stereotypes and makes decisions on an individual basis, the kind of political player that many people strive to become.
First, Dev’s personal relationship to Tej represents how a historical friendship can stand up in the face of disagreement. While in plain clothes, Dev and Tej are only the best of friends in a short term disagreement. In reality, the film reveals the critical differences between their choices and the potential political implications, such as civil war, that could follow from their actions. However, when the two men are dressed in uniform, their attitudes towards each other completely change. The scene in front of the burning housing complex where Dev is arguing with Tej about whether the innocent people trapped inside should be freed demonstrates how friendship no longer matters in political action. Dev lives by a code of justice that does not discriminate on the basis of friendship or faith. Similarly, on the courthouse steps the fury that burns between the two uniformed men shows just how easily politics can shatter a friendship; Tej shoots his best friend to save face. Dev however is able to make decisions without being swayed by his friendship with Tej. By speaking out against Tej’s actions, he shows that even friendship should not come before justice.
The relationship between Dev and Farhaad demonstrates how two expected political enemies become personal friends through the evolution of the film. Although individual situations cause the men to be brought closer together, their religious groups are brought to loggerheads. The death and destruction throughout the film stems from Hindu and Muslim political clashes. It is implied that Muslims killed Dev’s son and detailed religious clashes occur throughout the film. The issue within Dev is his personal tragedy of losing his son, and finding a man to replace his son in a Muslim. Although Tej attempts to convince him that Farhaad is an enemy, simply because he is Muslim, Dev is able to keep a clean mind. His conflict is between taking sides with two political groups or treating every person on an individual basis. In the film he says, “I am a servant of the Constitution,” rather than saying he is a servant of his faith or political party.
Dev is representative of an individual who is able to see through stereotypes and politics to see disputes on a human level. In reality, it is personal experience that can bring individuals together to overcome political enemies. Just as Romeo and Juliet capture audiences with their passionate love that survives all political hatred, Dev gives us a political icon that strives for fairness and justice. Dev’s belief in justice to overcome religious conflicts moves audiences to such a degree because it offers a romantic model for individual action that seems to overcome religious and political differences.
Liz Lycett 11/19/05
Dev is an example of a film that transcends its target audience and can be internalized by many, even those that do not speak the language of the movie or have ever been anywhere near its setting. The two protagonists in the film is a young Muslim named Farhaan and a high ranking Hindu officer who the movie is named after. The movie begins with Farhaan being questioned by the police and this is the first sign of what will be the driving theme of the movie which is religious tension between the Hindu majority and Islamic minority of Indian society.
The tension felt between these two religious groups in India can be initially attributed to the pure fact of that they share a different religion. It is no secret that many do not feel comfortable accepting people of a different faith and this may especially true in a culture in which religion is such a deep rooted institution. This tension would typically not lead to any real problems and in most cases is generally diminished with time, exposure, and education of people in regards to the differences between people. This trend is shown in the character development of Farhaan’s father, who is a Muslim leader who attempts to restore peace between the two feuding sides. Farhaan’s father took part in a riot and killed a Hindu man, shortly after this murder he was helped and possibly saved by a group of Hindu men and women. This experience was life changing and showed that prejudice against a class of people is rooted in ignorance and hate.
Unfortunately Farhaan’s father was killed in a march that was set up by Latiff the Muslim leader who used his “people” as puppets in scheme for political power. These people followed him blindly in the name of their religion. This type of political and religious manipulation is the spark that lights the powder keg of religious animosity and violence between the two groups. This was the theme of the film that most interested me because in this day of age; this post 9/11 age of fear, terrorism and a Western focus on Islamic religion has become a priority to our government and people.
In real life this religious and political corruption can unfortunately be seen on a much larger scale and this is where I felt most relate to the film. Latiff characterizes the beliefs of men such as Osama Bin Laden but on a smaller scale. Men such as these corrupt their own religion and the people who unfortunately follow them to serve their own cause. The actions of men such a Bin Laden and people of his mindset has effected the whole world both directly and indirectly; in the past few years the United States, England, Spain, Northern Africa and other nations have felt first hand, the dangers of religious and political corruption.
These acts of violence across the world have unfortunately caused many
to take ignorant stances on the Islamic religion as a whole. Although this is an unfortunate problem the end of Dev serves as a microcosm of hope to treat this problem. As with his father, Farhaan himself is helped by a Hindu specifically Dev the man that he once tried to kill. Farhaan takes Dev into his home and even ends up saving his life when it came down to it while sacrificing his own. Farhaan realized the wrongs he has done and the fact that he was practically brainwashed by Latif. As stated earlier often the best remedy for prejudice is exposure to show the prejudicial person first hand the faults in his/her skewed beliefs.
Dev is a good film in that its themes of the movie shows both the problem and solution to what is now a world problem of religious and cultural tension, especially between Western and Middle Eastern Cultures.
ARTURO CASTRO
11/19/2005
Dev addressed many issues that are evident in the societal structure of many present day developing countries. This was obviously a groundbreaking movie into the exposure of such corruptions that in the past have been unspoken of. The political message of propaganda seen in the film was obviously a presentation intended to emphasize the guaranteed rights and freedoms that all people within “Bollywood”’s reach are entitled to by their own governmental constitution. This intent to spark progressive attitudes and practices of political and societal conduct is a trailblazer intended to set societal norms in preparation for the already evident emergence of a global society within Bollywood’s region. Such a global society is growing at a rapid pace due to the economical expansions seen by developed countries into these developing countries due to globalization.
Political corruption was made evident by portraying the Hindu vs. Muslim conflict that is an everyday occurrence in today’s India. The opposing political manipulation and terrorism is used as a way for opposing sides, that are based on religion, to gain control of territory that is increasing in value due to globalization. This places politicians and law enforcement torn between the issue of religious and political power, in contrast to moral human and civil rights, that are guaranteed by the constitution.
Dev is used as a way to educate older populations of the immorality and unreasonableness of using violence as a way of gaining political position and power within a constitutional society, as opposed to the lawless tyrannical regimes they are accustomed to. It also exemplifies the how such behaviors stunt social, economical, and political growth within any society. It is also intended to influence behaviors as to brace them for the change that globalization will have on political, and enforcement practices, as well as societal norms. With out such changes into a global society, their economies will not be able to mesh with globalization.
Dev addressed many issues that are evident in the societal structure of many present day developing countries. This was obviously a groundbreaking movie into the exposure of such corruptions that in the past have been unspoken of. The political message of propaganda seen in the film was obviously a presentation intended to emphasize the guaranteed rights and freedoms that all people within “Bollywood”’s reach are entitled to by their own governmental constitution. This intent to spark progressive attitudes and practices of political and societal conduct is a trailblazer intended to set societal norms in preparation for the already evident emergence of a global society within Bollywood’s region. Such a global society is growing at a rapid pace due to the economical expansions seen by developed countries into these developing countries due to globalization.
Political corruption was made evident by portraying the Hindu vs. Muslim conflict that is an everyday occurrence in today’s India. The opposing political manipulation and terrorism is used as a way for opposing sides, that are based on religion, to gain control of territory that is increasing in value due to globalization. This places politicians and law enforcement torn between the issue of religious and political power, in contrast to moral human and civil rights, that are guaranteed by the constitution.
Dev is used as a way to educate older populations of the immorality and unreasonableness of using violence as a way of gaining political position and power within a constitutional society, as opposed to the lawless tyrannical regimes they are accustomed to. It also exemplifies the how such behaviors stunt social, economical, and political growth within any society. It is also intended to influence behaviors as to brace them for the change that globalization will have on political, and enforcement practices, as well as societal norms. With out such changes into a global society, their economies will not be able to mesh with globalization.
The movie “Dev” was a representation of the corruption in the Indian government. The political figures use there religion against the other religion to dominate the government. As a result, the movie “Dev” reveals the clashing of religions, Muslim and Hindu, and politics which ends in communal violence throughout the society. The movie also focuses heavily on the tension between Hindus and Muslims, especially with the Hindus having majority rule in politics. With the Hindu majority rule in politics, the Muslim community lose faith in the government, democracy and justice.
The movie was quite more interesting than I anticipated. In the first two scenes of the movie you are presented the country of India being torn between the two different religions, Hindu and Muslim. The Hindus feel that the Muslims are terrorists and want to take there country, India away from them. Hindu is the main religion of India, and the Hindu political officials use there religion as means to get rid of the Muslims and to empower them. The movie is named after the main character “Dev” played by actor Amitabh Bachchan, who is a head police officer. In the beginning of the movie I thought that Dev was just as morally corrupt as the Indian Government because of his views against Mulims. However, later in the movie, Dev proved to be a Hindu who believed in democracy from a government and justice to every citizen of India regardless of religion.
The movie “Dev” portrayed how the politics of India could destroy a friendship of 30 years. Dev best friend was Tej, who later became Dev’s police captain. In the beginning of the movie, its seems that Dev and Tej both have the same views against Muslims. They both hold something sacred to them that increases there rage against the Muslims, and that was the killing of Dev’s son. This bond keeps them on the same side. However, during the movie, the friendship between Dev and Tej is broken by the politics of India. Tej believes in the India government and the power and protection of the Hindu’s, and Dev believes in justice and the rights provided to everyone by Indian law. In the end, Tej and Dev were on two different sides of the government. I believe what brought Dev to the other side, was his encounter with a young adult Farhaan Ali.
Farhaan Ali reminds Dev of his deceased son Armand. Even though Farhaan Ali is Muslim and wants to avenge his fathers death. Farhaan hears the voice of his father in Dev, and Dev sees a young boy that his been turned into an ally because of the government (like his own son). They both help each other to achieve justice and set precedent for others to believe in the government of India , especially women. I was proud to see how they let go of each others religion and found a family bond between each other.
I also liked how Dev portrayed the women of India. The two main women were Dev’s wife Bharati played by actress Rati Agnihotri, and Farhaan girlfriend Aliyah. I expected the women of India to be quiet and listen to there husband or if there not married there father. They have no voice, or no opinion, they are only considered property . However, in the Dev, that was proven to not be the case. The women were respectful, and were very out spoken. They spoke when no one expected them to speak, and when they were told not to speak. Bharati, Devs wife was very compassionate and respectful to her husband. She disagreed with Devs opinion of the government purpose without any hesitation. I liked Aliyah the most, especially when she spoke against the will of her leader. I was proud of her, and I was also proud of the effect she had on the members of her community. She was asked by Dev to point out who committed the atrocities in her community, and she told him. I liked how she pointed to the police first (which I didn’t expect) then told him about the Hindu leader she saw.
I had a stronger reaction to the movie than I expected. I was shocked at how good it was and the outcome of the movie. The movie was quite long, however I liked how when you thought it was over, it wasn’t and at the same time always kept you on your toes. The movie was very intense and I enjoyed.
Love Henry 11/19/2005
Dev is a film that has many powerful messages about the Hindu-Muslim struggle in India, communal fighting and violence, and the corruption of politics, but it also carries messages about love and self-realization. While the movie is clearly pertinent to the Indian and Pakistani conflict and surrounding areas, I get the sense that this film does not carry a theme all too unfamiliar to many Hollywood movies. We are all familiar with the ideas of self-serving politicians and police forces that are consumed with idea of power, which we can recognize in the character of Tej, who becomes a one dimensional, almost villainous “communalist”. And I know that the protagonist who has overcome extreme personal tragedy and takes a strong, yet isolated, moral stand, much akin to the character of Dev who suffered the loss of his son to a “communal” bullet and remains the only one who believes in carrying out his duties as a police official with honesty and integrity, is a common theme in American films. While we may face some tense issues in differences of opinion in the US, the defining difference of Dev’s storyline in comparison to a seemingly similar Hollywood film is the isolation of the Muslim minority in India. The US, however untrue, does carry a certain legacy as a melting pot, or perhaps better stated as a mixed salad. Such bold violence in response to religious faith has never been witnessed in American Society. This is the very reason that Dev is a critical movie for Americans to watch. The film is in some scenes difficult to watch due to the graphic rioting. It really grabs your emotions and takes you into the heart of the Hindu-Muslim conflict, allowing us outsiders to get a glimpse and ultimately a better understanding of the daily lives of those caught up in this conflict.
One other extremely powerful correlation in this film is the tie that exists between the characters of Dev and Tej and that of the reality of Democracy in India. It seems as though, in line with the corruption of the police force and politicians who seek to enhance their own power, Democracy in India is somewhat a façade. While India is in name a democratic nation with democratic ideals, which can be symbolized by Dev, democracy may be more elusive. Democracy may actually be to India what Tej is to the police force in this film: corrupt and insincere. Perhaps true democracy is a utopian idea; much like the lone “good cop” Dev is to his government and to the people of India. India may not be ready for democracy in the sense that we as Americans know it until the corruption and religious tension are relieved.
Dev Film Review
The film “Dev” was very informative and well-done; I thoroughly enjoyed it. The film showed that there is clearly a lot of political and ethnic tension that has been ongoing in India for many years now. “Dev” very accurately portrays the corruption of India that is present in their religion, their politics, their police, and their government.
For a very long time, there has been a great amount of ethnic tension in India between the Hindus and the Muslims, which is where a lot of the corruption in the police, the politics, and the government of India stems from. Towards the beginning of the film, Farhaan talks about how the romanticism of Hindu-Muslim is dead and then a while later, his father says that the real battle is between social wisdom and communal madness, not the Muslims and the Hindus. This statement that Farhaan’s father makes is a reoccurring theme throughout the film. What I interpreted Farhaan’s father’s statement to mean is that the major source of problems and violence in India has shifted. While the ongoing battle between the Hindus and the Muslims used to be the main issue in India, it has since changed. Now the real problem is not necessarily between the Muslims and the Hindus, but instead the non-stop urge of people to be violent towards others, which results in more violence as a response, and is therefore an ongoing vicious cycle. According to Farhaan’s father, it is only the social wisdom of people that can stop this violence and communal madness in their country.
I was very impressed by the role of Aaliya and her actions in this film. Aaliya goes against the will of her people to not lodge a complaint to the government and does. Aaliya tells Dev that two police officers led her to a very dangerous path of violence and fighting during a major riot. The two police officers that Aaliya tells on end up getting suspended. Aaliya also tells Dev that she saw Mangal Rao among the rioters, which leads Dev to ultimately capture him, although the Chief Minister does not agree with this. It was good that Aaliya was strong enough to go against the will of her people for a cause that she knew was right, because if she had not, then neither Dev nor anybody else would have known that Mangal Rao was in fact part of the riots that resulted in many deaths. I thought that Aaliya was extremely brave and courageous throughout the film and I admired her for her constant strength.
Another part of the movie that was very striking and stood out in my mind, besides the role of Aaliya was the death of Ali Saheb. Ali Saheb was a very politically correct and good-natured man. Ali Saheb did not like the idea of a protest march, but he says that he will agree to it if there is no violence involved. During the protest march, violence breaks out, even though the people promised Ali Saheb that it would not. Ali Saheb tries very hard to stop the violence coming from his side, but he fails to, and is one of the sole few that are left dead after the protest march is over. This was a very disturbing and sad point in the movie for me. This event just shows how wrapped in violence the people are, for they were willing to lie and go against Ali Saheb’s wishes just to be violent, and in doing so, lead to him getting killed.
I thought that there were many aspects of this movie that were very well done, which included the plot, the cinematography, the acting, and the music. The acting was very powerful and good; my favorite characters were Dev, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Aaliya, played by Kareena Kapoor. I also enjoyed listening to the background music throughout the film. I thought that the plot of the movie was well thought out and had a number of action scenes, as well as dramatic parts that kept me intrigued.
Although “Dev” was three hours long and subtitled, it did not seem like it because it was so eventful and interesting. “Dev” is one of those movies where the time just flies by. I was very impressed by the Bollywood film. The only other Bollywood film that I have seen is “Monsoon Wedding”, and that was very good as well, although was very different from “Dev”. As did many other people, I thought that Bollywood films were a lot happier and had a lot more dancing, singing, and laughing. However, “Dev” is more my type of movie than “Monsoon Wedding”, and after seeing it, I think that I will definitely make an effort to view some more Bollywood films!
Kandis Kovalsky
November 20, 2005
This post has been removed by the author.
The most obvious and striking facet of the film “Dev” was its portrayal of India’s very closely knit, often overlapping relationship between religion and politics, as well as the corruption that spirals out of control as a result of this connection. The film focuses on the tension and resulting clashes between two cultures, the ruling Hindus, who brand anyone against them (primarily the Muslim population) traitors and terrorists, and the minority Muslims, who as a whole only seem to long for some semblance of equality.
In the political arena, where the Hindu man rules, corruption and suspect behavior are rampant at what appears to be every level of the government. Though Dev, a senior police officer and the film’s title character, completes a transformation from beginning (in which he shot a protesting college student for a display of disrespect) to end (when he rallied against his own government, his fellow officers, and his best friend in the interest of constitutional justice), the film’s other political bigwigs are not so noble. Perhaps the biggest proponent of the corruption within the police force is Dev’s longtime friend, Tej. He displays a clear hatred of the Muslims, branding them “bastards,” “traitors,” and “terrorists,” and uses his power as Police Commissioner to essentially murder these individuals whenever he feels it “necessary,” an effort discreetly blessed behind closed doors by the all powerful CM. It would be these types of incidences, including Tej denying Dev’s right to act during Rao’s riot, Tej’s support of the CM releasing Rao, and the Tej lead police riot, in which Muslim’s were locked in their homes, which were then set ablaze, that would tear the two men apart. Tej would later order Dev’s assassination, with the CM’s vague blessing, as he walked up the stairs to the courthouse, where he would present his report on police corruption, including his former best friend’s transgressions. When Farhaan botches the assassination, it is Tej himself who delivers the fatal bullet, killing his longtime friend. Later, haunted by memories of Dev, the corrupt Tej turns a gun on himself.
However, the Hindu leaders are not alone in engaging in corrupt activities. Muslim frontrunner Latif is a power hungry politician, posing as a spiritual leader. His actions always seem to have some ulterior motive, a fact first made evident when he promises Ali Saheb a non-violent protest following the murder of a Muslim by police in Ali Saheb’s neighborhood. The protest, however, turns violent, and ironically, it is the peace craving, Ghandi following Saheb who loses his life. Latif then uses the anger of Ali Saheb’s lawyer son, Farhaan in his grief stricken state to advance his own agenda. He sponsors the training of Farhaan, with an end objective of assassinating Dev, which ultimately fails; he attempts to make Farhaan an unknowing suicide bomber, which again, ultimately fails, though countless others are left dead and injured in the blast; and seeks to oppress his own people, as he announces that silence will be the best way of dealing with the riot that killed and injured so many members of the Muslim community – all in the name of furthering his own lofty ambitions.
What impressed me most was the strength and assertiveness of the women, and the growth of the assertiveness throughout the film. In the beginning, it appeared that women took on more of a submissive, stereotypical role, giggling over good looking boys and taking care of household chores. Even though Aaliya wanted to march with her uncle, Farhaan, and the others, she was advised to stay away and did as she was told. However, throughout the film, Aaliya made it clear that she was hardly a weak, submissive woman, from stopping Farhaan from burning his father’s books, to taking away his gun, to her pivotal stand against her own people. She defied the corrupt leaders of the Muslim community, becoming the first to step forward and take action against the men who raped and murdered her family and friends, the police officers who steered them towards danger, and implicating Mangal Rao’s role in the riot. I also found it very interesting that when Dev requested all of those individuals who saw Mangal Rao partake in the riot to raise their hands, the women were the first to do so, with the men following suit. It was also refreshing to see that Dev’s wife, who earlier in the film seemed to be portrayed as a sort of pampered housewife to a high ranking Indian elite, was in fact an educated woman – a doctor.
Dev was my introduction to Bollywood, and it was hardly what I expected. I expected more bright colors, more singing, more dancing – more “cheese.” However, I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the length of the film, and the subtitles, it was very intense, and I found myself more engrossed in the story than I thought I would be. While I think the film showed the reality of the situation in India, I also believe the character of Dev is a symbol of hope that someday the divide between Hindu’s and Muslims will close, and that police ordered assassinations of Muslims, and overall distrust of Hindu’s will be only images and ideas of the past.
Jessica Blackwell 11/20
The Bollywood film, “Dev,” exposes an uncomfortable confusion of law, between what is said and what is done, and what is supposed to be and what is. Aristotle said, “The law is reason, free from passion.” This film defies Aristotle. Perhaps the laws and constitution of a state should be free from passion, the passions of personal prejudice and power politics, but the film exemplifies that what should be is not how things necessarily are. In “Dev,” the law is trifled with, it something to be manipulated for personal gain. Justice and legitimacy are lost to this personal gain in the film, a stunning critique of India.
The conflict in the film is drawn on religious lines, the Muslim minority and the Hindu majority. However, the conflict is not really fueled by religious differences, but the cruel manipulations of power and politics. Corruption of the state reaches to the highest levels of authority- elected officials, and from there, extends to the local levels of police jurisdiction. The use of violence is instigated in order for a single man, Latif to gain political power. Once begun, the violence seems to be a vicious unending cycle of hurt and hate. Sorrow and anger are emotions that can be easily manipulated into atrocious acts, such as massacres and terrorism. Although the government should be trying to ease the tensions of a conflicted society, it only provokes further abuses through inhumane neglect and closed door agreements.
Portrayals of the characters are confusing. Who is the person lying dead in the street? A criminal? Or a martyr? The film does not give this information to you. Responsibility and justification are the unrelenting questions. Does a man in conflict kill another, and therefore responsible for one death is justifiably killed himself by another? The battle lines seem to become so unclear. Dev tries to stop the hatred and killing. He desires to be certain, certain of the enemy, certain of the innocent and then, to pass judgment and justice effectively. Dev is a powerful character. He too, exhibits the dilemma between what should be and what is. His young son was killed by Muslims, but unlike his good friend he is not consumed by bitterness and prejudice. He exceeds the norm of revenge and becomes a more compassionate individual. His character is applauding as he never stops fighting for his beliefs as a police officer and as a human being.
Although the scene is set in India, the overall theme of passion in politics inflicts a feeling of unrest as it is easy to see the horrid extent of the manipulation of power which has the ability to extend beyond India’s national borders. In the beginning the scene of a police officer investigating a Farhan because his name is Muslim is not far from a police officer in the United States further questioning an African American because of his skin color or a Muslim because he could be a fundamentalist. One’s personal prejudices distort laws. This film revealed a dangerous scenario because what should be is not the reality.
Jodi Dawn Tully
Any one of the many interwoven layers of the film “Dev” could be explored individually at great length. On one level, “Dev” comments on modern relationships and human nature, while exploring the ties that bind together families, friends, and lovers. The emotions stemming from personal relationships flow into political and religious issues on an individual citizen’s level as well as national. “Dev” candidly probes very serious issues affecting Indian society, such as the on-going development of women’s rights, violent and deep-seeded conflicts between Muslims and Hindus, the influence of religion, and blatant political corruption. While the film’s specialized focus on modern issues affecting India is powerful and effective, one of the “Dev”’s greatest strengths is that its themes truly are universal in nature, thus making the film approachable for even foreign viewers.
Ultimately, “Dev” strives to create a realistic portrayal of human nature; there was no real villain figure to speak of (besides perhaps the government itself). Dev Pratap Singh, as fond as the viewer grows of him for his wisdom and philanthropy, shoots and kills a student point blank in one of the very first scenes opening the film. Dev’s friend (and eventual murderer) Tej who spews such hatred towards the Muslims also is clearly capable of love (proven by his relationship to Armaan and his parents). The same emotion can manifest itself into polar opposite forces. The grief for Armaan’s death is channeled into compassion and love with Bharati and Dev, whereas Tej is incited to bitterness and anger. An entire group’s emotions can be turn into a weapon used against them, such as Latif’s manipulation of his neighbors’ emotions and religious beliefs in order for him to gain political power.
Despite the frequent disturbing scenes of violence and hatred and cautionary message of the destructive nature of human emotion turned to fanaticism, “Dev” does not cross into the realm of apocalyptic film. Rather it suggests balance, peace, harmony, and cooperation as a means of unifying a disjointed country and is a testament to the incredible power and influence of human emotion.
Christiana Dobrzynski 11/20
I really enjoyed the movie “Dev”, other than some editing issues. I felt that the movie was a realistic interpretation about how politics and religion work in India. I had assumed that Bollywood would be much more censored and have a greater political agenda. I suppose I only assumed this because of the way the media portrays the governments control over everything. I am sure that there are some restrictions and some films that are not permitted to be released to the public.
I really enjoyed how the writer and the director were able to depict Farhan’s struggle as a young Indian man struggling between his religious beliefs and the prejudices against them. It really allowed the audience to feel the struggle and to understand his torment, especially when his father was killed trying to solve things peacefully. In the beginning of the film I though that Dev was an “evil” character if you will. During the first meeting, the one with the members of the board, it seemed as thought he was forcing his options on people. To me it seemed a real twist that he ended up fighting against the “man”, maybe not for equality, but at least fighting for the truth. It was also odd to see how personally Tej took the death of Dev’s son; he really seemed to make that the main fuel behind his prejudices. By the end of the film it was good to see how Farhan had grown and matured and was able to use his degree to start helping his people by at least getting some of the truth of what had been happening out to the public and hopefully to people that could eventually bring about a change.
I felt that by the end of “Dev” the message was for peace between the two religions, so that the government can grow and become more stable. I was actually really shocked to see how the government was run and how the people in power had such prejudices during the movie. It was also shocking to see how much the prejudice was able to influence the way the government was run. I will admit that when the government official’s would not allow the police to stop the burning of the homes and the people I almost had to leave the room. As an American it is hard to believe that things like that happen, especially a middle class America. I always thought myself to be well educated on what going on around the world and to see that things like that happen really actually made me feel quite naive. I hope that eventually there can be greater piece for the people of India and that they can express their religions and beliefs freely.
Reviewing the movie Dev
After watching the movie Dev, my initial reaction was "That was Bollywood?" The film played out as many American films do with action and romance, suspense and drama. Yet the main difference was that the settings and plot involved an entirely different culture, and surrounded itself with India's political and religious identities.
The movie Dev discusses religion, politics, violence, and corruption, among other subjects. We see right in the beginning that the Muslim people are the targets when the movie opens with Farhaan (a young Muslim man) aboard a train minding his own business. As the police pass by they decide to question him in his journey, and notice a letter which hints he might be from Pakistan. He is told if he admits to being from Pakistan they would arrest him.
Farhaan is one of the main characters throughout the film. His father is Ali Sahib, a leader of the Muslim people in their hometown of Noor Manzil. In the beginning of the film, three top Muslim leaders (including Ali Sahib) are called in to speak to JCP Dev Pratap Singh about terrorism. They walked out feeling they were being wrongfully accused and fingers were being pointed at the Muslim society. Ali agreed to lead a protest against the police, as long as it was to be nonviolent. However one of the other leaders wasn't in favor of that and helped to encourage protesters to commits acts of violence and turned the protest into a bloody scene where Ali is killed. His son, Father, pledges to murder Dev and holds him accountable for his father's death.
Farhaan is taken in under Latifbai and his political party. Latif helps Farhaan train so that he can kill Dev but in all is using him in his favor. Dev's execution is not successful and Latif feels that Farhaan is no longer useful to him. He tries to have him assasinated but again it does not work.
Dev works under the command of Tej. They have been friends for a long time, and Tej has recently been given the task to control the Muslim minority. Much of Tej's anger comes from the killing of Dev's son when he was 8 years old. This aids his resent to the Muslim majority. When Farhaan is almost killed in a terrorist blast at a temple, a riot occurs. Tej orders Dev not to let the police officers react, fearing that police invention will only make matters worse. Dev is furious with Tej for making this order, and reacts by sending the police in as the madness worsen.
Underlying the politics and religions throughout the movie is romance. Aaliya has been a longtime admirer of Farhaan, and finally as Farhaan is back from his law studies, they connect and form a relationship.
This movie really describes the prejudices and hatred between different religions. The scenes are well directed as the audience gets tied into the actor’s feelings and gets a good grasp of what is going on in a country that is much different from America. We see how troubling this matter of being of Muslim or Hindu faith affects the people, and how through Dev and Farhaan, two people on two different sides, can work together. Farhaan wanted to kill Dev in the beginning, and Dev was totally against Muslims and had no problem killing them. Yet in the end, Dev ends up playing somewhat of a father/protector role to Faheem and tries to lend him some guidance.
This film was different from what I expected of Bollywood. In doing research on Bollywood I expect the films to be a happy-go-lucky type with lots of singing and dancing, but this film had no dancing and the songs were not actually sung by the actors. It was very similar to Hollywood films yet it dealt with a totally different culture and there were times I felt confused because I did not know how to relate or what was going on. Yet I would still recommend this film highly to see the political and religious tensions, and cultural differences between the United States and India.
Jennifer Seelin 11/20
“Dev” is a heart wrenching story that examines the impact of religious intolerance and corruption in the modern state of India. The movie follows two families, that of Dev Pretap Singh, a Hindu police officer devoted to maintaining respect for the constitution and peace in his area, and that of Farhaan, a young Muslim law student dedicated to obtaining rights and respect for his minority community. When a minority riot goes awry and Farhaan’s father is killed in the crossfire, a chain of events is set into motion that will alter the lives of both men. The movie is well constructed in that it shows no bias in favor of either side of the conflict, as there is good and evil portrayed on both sides of the fight. Both men are faced with the difficult choice of deciding between what is right and what is easy, and the personal suffering and loss that each encounters along the way makes their journey difficult to watch but also inspiring.
The movie examines the idea of defining terrorism, and when, if ever, violence is justifiable. Brutality is used by both sides as a scare tactic and for political means, with little thought given to the tragic loss of lives and needless destruction of homes. The scene in which the police stand by and allow the mass murder of an entire Muslim village in response to the bombing of a Hindu temple is extremely tragic because it shows the heartlessness of the individuals caught up in the violence and their inability to place love and respect for humanity over political gain. It also shows how under circumstances of political corruption and instability, even the law can become a force of terror in a country, as there seems to be little difference between the Muslim rebel Latif’s band of militant terrorists and the police force led by Tej, a Hindu man blinded by his hatred for Muslims.
There is a clear separation, however, between violence and religion, to ensure that the film does not falsely portray Islam and Hinduism as promoting or tolerating violence. Dev and his wife, Bharati, use religion as a stabilizing force in their lives and to help them overcome the grief of losing their son. It is their strong faith that allows them to forgive the men responsible for their son’s murder and avoid becoming bitter and hostile, like their friend Tej. In his comment that “the fight is not between Muslims and Hindus but social wisdom and communal madness,” Dev identifies the true cause of the violence in India. In his final days he attempts to overcome this communal madness by exposing the corruption of the police force he once belonged to. When he is gunned down in front of the courthouse, it is young Farhaan who vows to carry on Dev’s mission to fight for justice. The passing on of this goal from the elder Hindu to the younger Muslim represents the importance of fostering a state of cooperation and understanding across the generational and religious gaps in order to ensure the formation of a united and healthy Indian nation.
forgot Lisa Gehman 11/20
Caitlin Ginley
“Dev” film review
The film “Dev” makes a bold statement about the political structure of India, revealing corrupt public figures and a rising tension between Hindus and Muslims. The dramatic plot and political undertones of this film make it an unlikely representation of what we think of “Bollywood,” without any flashy colors or dance sequences. Instead, “Dev” takes a serious look at India’s current political and social scene, while giving a moving and emotionally-driven perspective of India’s current situation.
The most intriguing character of the film is Dev Pratap Singh, the center of the film’s political and religious conflict. At first he seems intent on exterminating the Muslim minority, but later becomes the film’s hero and protagonist. Flashbacks reveal the tragic murder of his son, killed 20 years ago by terrorists. But instead of remaining bitter about his son’s death, he serves the police force with integrity and stands up for truth in a very corrupt political atmosphere. As the movie progresses, we sympathize more with Dev and see him more as a man trying to serve and protect the well-being of his country, rather than an officer affected by religious prejudices.
A similar progression of character is seen in Tej, a good friend of Dev and also tragically affected by the death of Dev’s son. However, Tej turns his mourning to anger and pledges to avenge the child’s death. He evolves as one of the more corrupt figures in the film, driven by political schemes and personal prejudice. Ultimately, this anger will ruin him and cause him to kill his dear friend, Dev, and, not being able to forgive himself, commits suicide. Unlike Dev, whose death we find poignant and tragic, Tej’s death does not have nearly the same effect.
One scene which epitomizes Dev’s character, and I thought one of the more disturbing events, was the burning of the Muslim community. The police officers stand by as men, women and children are burned to death in their homes, with their doors locked so they could not escape. Tej will stubbornly not acknowledge the screaming, jumping bodies from the buildings and refuses to save the Muslims. Dev, shocked by this scene, disobeys Tej and tries to help the burning victims.
Dev’s relationship with Farhan is another complex, evolving feature of the film. Farhan, embittered by the death of his father at a demonstration, blames Dev for his death and decides he must kill him. After a foiled assassination attempt, however, Dev begins to develop a paternal relationship with Farhan, seeming to fill the void of his own son’s death. This partnership ultimately gives the film another twist, as these two men begin to work together, despite their opposite ideologies and religions. In accepting Farhan as a companion, Dev and his wife Bharati seem to accept their son’s death.
The message of “Dev,” however, is not one filled with hate, violence and despair. Through these characters, especially Dev, we learn about hope and possibility for a divided country, a positive message for India. I would have liked to see the effect it had on its intended audience and how relatable these events were for them. In a class of American college students, it’s difficult to have the same reaction and to even understand how real this situation is for India. Nevertheless, I found the movie to be heartbreaking and emotionally-charged, although sometimes dramatized with songs and love scenes. Overall, I thought it was an excellent lesson of India’s political and cultural situation, complete with a portrayal its deep-rooted turmoil, conflict, but the possibility for a stable and honest government.
"Dev": A Call for Religious Tolerance and Gender Equity
"Dev" is a bold movie which makes intense criticisms about the government and society as a whole. The movie’s poignant monologues and graphic action sequences reveal the causes and results of ethnic tensions and misunderstandings in India. The movie is especially courageous because many people today would prefer to ignore the issues rather than address them. Furthermore, although the movie is set in India, its message can be applied to any country because the issues are not unique to India. All too often people, like Tej, Rao, and Latif, allow their fear of what they don’t understand to consume them. In the movie, these men perpetrated horrible crimes against humanity because they were scared that if they didn’t act first then these crimes would be done against them. Without realizing, they essentially became the same kind of men that they hated and were fighting against. In addition, they despised people simply because they were different, and because of their influential leadership roles held in the public sphere, their bigotry influenced other people in their community. The public was fed ridiculous lies so that the masses could be used to work the leaders’ wills. So many innocent people were ruthlessly murdered or injured because people, like Tej, Latif, and Rao, also allowed their own greed and self promotion to obstruct justice. A good leader must put his people before his own needs and none of these men had this quality.
Conversely, Dev perfectly exemplified what it takes to be a leader. He was compassionate and dedicated to his duty as JCP, and even more importantly, he was utterly committed to what his role symbolized. He believed in justice and the morality and ethics that the law tried to protect. Because of this, he sacrificed his own life for what he deemed to be right. (Dev’s death was a pivotal point in the movie and was very moving because it showed the consequences of intolerance, and corruption and also how it can pit bother against brother and friend against friend as was the case with Tej and Dev.) Nobly, the Truth mattered more to Dev than his own wellbeing. These are rather lofty expectations for the common man to be expected to pursue; however, I think that all people can try to strive to live with the same standards as Dev. If more people try to incorporate Dev’s beliefs into their everyday lives and try to act against atrocities instead of merely accepting them then the world might be a better place.
Overall, one negative is that the movie sometimes tried to ensure that its themes were understood by the audience by employing too many repetitive scenes and melodramatic dialogues; however, the movie still portrayed its meaning with sophistication and grace. I thought that it was interesting how modern the movie’s message was in its pushing for equality. Not only did the movie attempt to bridge the gap between religious differences, the movie also attempted to portray its female characters as empowered and integral to society. Americans tend to one-sidedly view Muslim women as incredibly oppressed and violated; however in the movie, these women were some of the strongest characters. Aliyah not only killed her would-be rapist/murderers by herself but she also single-handedly defied her community’s leader in order to file the police report against the massacre’s perpetrators. She became a pariah in her community because of this action; however, she also helped bring justice and peace to her people. She was as equally important in ending the corruption of the city as her male counterpart and love interest Farhan. This character portrayal was refreshing and important in sparking social change.
The director of this movie had lofty aspirations in the making of this movie but I do not think that he fell short of his goals. After the movie is over, no one in the audience can claim ignorance as an excuse for inaction anymore. The movie may not actually influence government officials or induce radical societal change; although, it can be a great tool to help people rethink preconceived notions about race, gender, religion, and violence. That, at least, is a step in the right direction.
--Kristin Uhlemeyer
11/21/2005
~Trying to Survive in an Unstable World~
“Dev” is a poignant take on the ethnic conflict and government corruption in India from the view of Muslim minority and Hindu army. I was surprised to genuinely enjoy this movie, and how powerful I found its story and its message to be.
Watching "Dev" gave me more of an insight into life in India than I think I could have gotten any other way. It is easy to listen to the news about the tensions in the country and make assumptions about the lives of people living half way across the world, but the movie brought a personal aspect to the story of religious conflict.
The media is constantly harping on the horror of that violence in the name of religious conflict brings, and always adds a negative light to what seems to be unnecessary pain and suffering. While what happens there is a tragedy, watching “Dev” helps you understand where these people are coming from and background they are doing it in, and to not just judge what they are dong as right or wrong.
In the movie the apartment building in which the main Muslim characters is a microcosm of outside world. The struggle the Muslims go through being a minority in a small pocket of a mainly Hindu city and the relationship and mistrust they have with the government is a powerful one.
The story starts out as Farhaan, a Muslim’s journey of readjusting to being a minority, disrespected and looked down upon, after being away at university. However, soon after he gets home life turns into mayhem when his peace loving father is killed in a small Muslim protest. The inequality between Muslims and Hindus is represented in this scene, as the Hindu army of at least 25 men strapped with huge guns all to squash maybe 40 armed merely with bags of small stones.
What follows Farhaan’s father’s death is a chain of events that it changes his life and everyone’s life around him forever. In an emotional turmoil in which Farhaan vows to murder Dev Saheb, the one of the leaders of the Hindu Army that ordered the shooting at the protest. In his anger he falls into the hands of Latif, the corrupt minority leader, who uses him as pawn to kill an high ranking army official and set off a bomb at a Hindu temple during a festival.
What is so upsetting in this movie is that not only do the Muslims have to face persecution as minorities to begin with, but the people they are supposed to be able to count on could care less about their well being and Even Latif, the man that the Muslim community respects and looks to for direction uses them as pawns to help him get more power in the government. He is accountable for the best interests of the community, but is only out for himself and he is goes behind their backs and taking orders from the Hindu army.
Dev turns out to be the one sympathetic Hindu in the movie, which is surprising because at first he is portrayed to be a coldhearted man willing kill anyone likely to be opposition to the government. Yet when he is put in the middle of riots and violence, he is the one person out to help both sides and wants save Muslims and Hindus from as much violence as possible. Dev looks at the different ethnic groups as people not as religions.
What makes the movie effective is getting to see the emotional turmoil and aguish that all of the horrific violence, pain of having to follow others orders, and falling out he goes through when the other members of the army realize he is sympathetic to the Muslim cause. While it is upsetting to see, it is necessary. Showing the characters as fallible human beings who have lives outside of the office makes them easier to identify with. Everyone can understand having to worry of the well being of your family. It is barely even fathomable for some people in the West to be faced with such tough decisions as Dev does, knowing the outcome of either obeying or disobeying your employer can effect the safety not only of your family and friends but of a community of people.
I think this is a great and important movie for anyone to watch to better understand life in the Middle East. While it is not an excuse for the violence of religious conflict, it can help you better understand the world these people are living in, and to not jump to conclusions so easily because as with anything in life, it is not that simple.
---Lauren Guzzi
11/21 2:10 PM
I watched the film Dev a couple of weeks ago in the small theater in the media center at the library. There were quite a few technical difficulties, and the chairs were harsh on my back, but the movie was rather enjoyable nonetheless. Everything in Dev was new to me. I was uninformed of anything about India prior to the film, whether it be culture, politics, or religious disputes like the one causing so much tension in the movie. What really struck my interest was the point of the movie between peaceful and violent protest.
The movie begins with the arrival of Farhan, coming home from law school. Farhan’s father teaches him of non-violent action from a very young age, and all through his life. He explains to him that violence and instigating the police get people killed. Ironically enough, Farhan’s father ends up getting killed as a result of violent protest of the police force on unfair treatment of the Muslim minority and police brutality. Instead of seeing this as a lesson of what his father taught him, Farhan becomes bitter and is ready to take a more aggressive role in the struggle of the Muslim people. Intrigued by his anger is Latif, a political figure who sits on the other side of Farhan’s father on the issue of passive and violent tactics.
Latif turns Farhan into a terrorist, for lack of better words, and even aids his eager desire to kill Dev (whom Farhan blames for the death of his father at first). Farhan fails, and is later arrested and questioned by Dev. Latif is suspicious of his young apprentice by this time, and attempts to have him killed. Mistakenly, the bomb meant to kill Fahran fails, but kills many, many other innocent people in the market place. It is at this time in the movie, when Farhan sees the burned bodies of innocent men, women, and children, that he realizes the words of his father make more sense than he had ever made of them. His stance on passive and violent tactics change from one extreme to another in the film.
Dev had offered Farhan help at the time of his arrest, which he now acts upon; he grows a strong relationship with this man, that not a week prior, he tried to kill. Dev starts to realize, growing closer to Farhan every day, that the police force is crooked, and begins to agree that this should no longer be the case. When the riot, resulting from the bomb in the market place breaks out, Dev had specific orders from above not to intervene. He knew that this was wrong, and went against his orders and justifies it as acting upon his duty as a police officer to assure the safety of the people. Aliya is followed home by rioters at which time, her family is brutally murdered. Upon asking police officers of the safest rout away from the riot, they purposely send her down a shady ally. Later, as the police force summons the victimized community to a council to find the root of the atrocity, Aliya is the first to stand up and tell Dev that Rao was in fact a part of the doings, after she and all others had been threatened not to say a word. Dev also shows an act of bravery towards the end of the film as he writes a report of what he saw as the community was burned down on the part of Tej, his best friend. Tej did not act, and allowed the community to burn.
Walking into the court house for the case against Tej, gun shots ring out. It was unclear to me who was being shot at, but Tej aims his gun at Farhan when Dev steps in and takes the bullet. Dev dies and Tej later shoots himself in his all out guilt.
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Although it was longer than I felt the movie should have been, it gave me in depth look at relations between
Although it was longer than I felt the movie should have been, it gave me in depth look at relations between the Hindus and the Muslims living in India. All of the bollywood movies I have seen before Dev had a lot of singing and dancing, it was surprising not to see that in this movie. Whenever I think of India especially after having a large amount of Indian friends I always associate them with the Hindu relegion. I was always taught that Indians who were Muslim moved over to Pakistan in order to avoid religious persucution. My of the issues that we face today in a post 9-11 world in the US was prevlent in the movie. The treatment of the Muslim population, which was largely under a police state and the treatment of the people exposed many issues.
Dev and the rest of the police force in India face the same problem that countries as the US face everyday. How do you prevent terroism without infringing on the rights of those who are mean the state no harm. The movie does a good job of showing how terrorism creates fear on both sides of the face and creates an enviornment where both parties lose. The terrorism and exxcessive use of force by the police force created a neverending spiral. Those who were not orginally hostile towards the state eventually become hotile because of the harsh treatment from the government. The problem is not solved by using more force to subdue the minority population who also has to deal with corruption within their own communities by their so called leader.
Those affected most by violence in their community, the mostly poor muslims and Hindus are shown to be pawns in politics. The scenes where movie where muslims and hindus are attacking each other shows how both groups are divided and conquered by the poltical leaders. These so called political leaders of the community are making peace next to impossible. They are the real villians in the movie.
In the beginning of the movie it is difficult to tell whether Dev is merely doing the job he is told or if he really believes or finds enjoyment in oprressing the muslims population. As the film progresses he redeems himself as a hero although flawed for his past offenses against the minorities. Dev's friend and colleague Tej truely esposes the softer side or rational side of Dev. Tej is also a major protagonist in this film. His views on Muslims expose that Dev is actually "not that bad".
The love story that exists between Farhaan and Aliyah is a little unecassary but no different from love stories that are placed in American movies. The love story does allow for a softer side of Farhaan to be seen. Farhaan's father is an outlet for the history and how some believe that things should be in India. It was a way to bring in the history and philisophy of Ghandi and other in favor of non violence. Throughtout the movie Faraan also like Dev is in conflict with himself. The teachings of his father but anger over the death of father caused him to also be a flawed hero. He is fighting with what his idea of living a viturous life while standing up for himself and his beliefs.
Overall "Dev" is a good movie that gives in depth view of the religious enviornment that exists in India. It explains just how complicated everything is. It also shows the different aspects of that essetially at the root of the problem.
The movie "Dev" is a powerful portrayal of the controversial events in an Indian community surrounding the life of police officer Dev Pratap Sing. The film delves deeply into difficult issues plaguing Indian society such as justice, politics, racism and religion. However, because of the fundamental nature of the problems addressed, parallels can be drawn across places and time. The director uses scenes arranged in carefully thought out chronological order as well as powerful imagery in order to explore the various issues.
In an opening scene, Dev shoots the leader of a group of minority students that taunt him about his power as an officer of the law and are causing disorder in a school. In the following scene, the viewer witnesses Dev discuss possible terrorist activities in the madrasas with prominent Muslim leaders from the community, which are viewed by some of them as insulting. The juxtaposition of these two scenes in the beginning of the movie is extremely effective because it helps to paint an incomplete picture of the protagonist as being biased against minorities. As the movie progresses, it is revealed through Dev's actions and comments such as, "The constitution is my bible", that he is completely non-partisan. It has been said that the truth is seen, but rarely heard. This is a comment used to illustrate the corollary notion that actions speak louder than words. These concepts are utilized by the director. Instead of literally telling the audience that most people form initial biases based on impartial information, the scenes portraying Dev as a man that whole heartedly believes in equal justice acts as a mirror that forces the audience to confront their own initial bias against Dev. This technique is extremely useful because it humbles the viewer, allowing for a greater appreciation of the true nature of the problems on which the film focuses.
Since gaining independence from Great Britain in 1947, there has been tension between Muslims and Hindus living along side one another in India, which at times has led to outright violence and chaos. Just as is the case with the slow revealing of Dev's honest nature, the director capitalizes on the audience’s preconceived belief that the true source of this timeless violence is always inter-religious tension. However, through the manipulative actions of Latif and the releasing of Mangol Rao after he is accused by scores of Muslims concerning involvement in the deadly riots, it becomes apparent that much of the violence is only religiously motivated at the superficial level. The underlying current of chaos, however, is politics and power. This concept is clearly illustrated in the film through scenes such as when Latif organizes the protest march, instigates men to throw rocks knowing it will cause violence and then does not participate in it himself. Afterwards, Latif uses the police reaction to the violent protesters to play on the fears of his Muslim brethren that the police are against their religion. This is done to both enhance his image as their leader and to gain political power. Without those inter-religious fears, Latif knows he would not be able to intimidate the Muslims in his community into rallying under his aggressive leadership. In order to perpetuate the fear, Latif creates instability by such acts as getting Farhan to unknowingly explode a bomb that kills many Hindus during a religious festival realizing this will cause violence in return against the Muslims. In today's world of constant "suicide bombings", this is an enlightening attempt to reach below the surface and find alternative causes for what is always immediately labeled Islamic extremism. Just as Latif recruited the vulnerable Farhan to carry out the bombings, leaders of terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda spin the actions of Western governments as well as the actions of the governments of Middle East countries that they consider to be apostates, in order to manipulate Muslims and their insecurities.
On the opposing side of the power spectrum, is the Indian police and Chief Minister. While Dev may be the Joint Police Commissioner, his best friend and philosophical opposite Tej, is a higher ranking officer. Once again, clever cinematography is used to give the viewer an understanding as to the depth of their friendship by showing how fondly Tej feels towards Dev's infant son, going as far as referring to himself as "Uncle Daddy". The boy is later seen murdered by terrorists in Dev's backyard when he is just a young child. The life and death of the Dev's son harnesses two very different responses from the old friends. This is a fundamental philosophical issue regarding the different paths taken when confronted with a powerful event. Dev becomes more understanding and tolerant, while within Tej the event only serves to facilitate further bias against Muslims as "terrorists" and "snakes" that will always eventually bite.
The philosophical difference between Tej and Dev is symbolic of what occurs in most societies facing terrorism, such as India, the United States and Israel. One side is prone to be more understanding, looking for the root cause of why people would devote their lives to murdering another group of people. This is the position taken by Dev in the movie. He believes that equality under the law is necessary in order to remove the fear and insecurities of the Muslims in the community who believe they are unfairly targeted, or as Farhan says, being railroaded. Outside of religion, both sides of the conflict are citizens of India and should be treated as such. By integrating Muslims into the community as equals, there will be no reason for communal violence. This argument is quite difficult for many people that are being terrorized to accept because it is human nature to look to outward for the source of problems. This concept forces people to look inward at themselves and their society, an action made increasingly more difficult when the people whose problems they may have helped cause are using violence against them.
The other side of the argument is represented my Tej, the Chief Minister and Mangol Rao. As previously mentioned Tej believes that all Muslims are inherently prone to commit evil acts and should never be trusted. If they are treated fairly as Dev suggests, the Muslims will only use it to their advantage. This is why he acts corruptly and immorally when he lets the rioters, organized by the politically motivated Mangol Rao, lock the Muslims of Noor Manzil inside their homes before burning it down. The Chief Minister and his minion Mangol Rao understand the politics of situation. If the Hindus are not allowed to let out their aggression in retaliation for the bombings Latif organized, there could potentially be an enormous backlash. The masses can be very powerful. Tej, understands the politics, but beyond that believes that Muslims are genuinely not good. Therefore, force is the only language that they understand and is necessary to suppress their potentially wicked deeds. Both Tej’s and the Chief Minister’s reasons for allowing violence are extremely dangerous. Just as Latif played on Farhan’s fear for political purposes, the Chief Minister in the movie and many governments in real life, use the fear created by terrorist acts in order to leverage more political power. This can used to label those who share Dev’s view as weak or unpatriotic and/or to pass strict anti-terrorism laws that give the government extraordinary powers.
The movie Dev provides excellent insight into many of the issues facing societies in the increasingly globalized world where communities of various races, religions and creeds live alongside one another. As been the story throughout the ages, both physical and theological differences lead to tensions that often result in violence and bloodshed. The different viewpoints of justice displayed by both Tej and Dev not only have serious implications for systematic corruption and fundamental equality, they have deep underlying roots in which lies the struggle for politics and ultimately power for the sake of power. While I have been told that many of the characters in the movie are based on actual Indian officials, my complete lack of knowledge cannot lead me to the same conclusion. However, viewing the movie as objectively as possible, I was able to see an abundance of parallels facing America today. Each of the main characters in the movie played a role strong enough to give a general representation of the different arguments on issues such as equal justice, racism, the causes of terrorism, how to stop the creation of new terrorists and how to combat current terrorist acts.
Jason Tarasco
11/22/05
For people who are unaware of the corruption and ethnic tension that takes place in India Dev is the perfect film to introduce them to it. The ethnic tension that this movie portrayed are not restricted to just India but can be related to by people all over the world because this is a problem that many groups of people are faced with. From the Balkans, to Central Africa, to South Asia, as well as the Middle East, ethnic conflict is a problem all over the world and this movie showed just how powerful these problems can be. This film also gave a behind the scenes look at the politics that takes place in an area where these problems are happening.
The conflict in this movie is between the Hindus and the Muslims. The tensions that arise between these two groups are partly a result of their leader’s narrow-mindedness and unwillingness to change. One of the opening scenes of the movie has Dev shooting a student point blank in the chest because of his protesting and what this student was saying. After the shooting Dev makes the claim that “someone is guilty or innocent” and this adds emphasis to the close-mindedness of the people who are responsible for running the country and also the ability of people to change such as that of Dev as the movie progresses.
While many people in the movie thought that the Hindu – Muslim conflict was the battle that was taken place Farhaan’s father, Ali, had the wisdom to realize that “social wisdom and communal madness is the real battle.” People were fooled into thinking that religion was the reason for all this conflict but in actuality it was the political leader’s manipulation of the situation and them fooling people to believe that religion was the reason for their problems. Mangal Rao and Lateef are an example of how manipulation can be used to achieve what they want politically. They used religion to turn people against one another and gave a false view of who the enemy really was. They caused violent riots in order to help them gain politically and would scare people into not talking to the government for fear that they might be killed. People blindly fallowed them and this helped lead to larger problems throughout the movie.
Change is another theme that is shown in this film. Ali is a good example of how over time you can overcome the prejudices that you are taught throughout your life. Early in his life Ali took part in a riot and he was responsible for killing a Hindu man during that time. He came to the realization that all this conflict was a mistake when he was saved by a group of Hindu people shortly after he had just killed a Hindu person. He began to fallow Gandhi and promoted peace and obliged to lead a group of Muslims in a protest as long as they were willing to be peaceful during it but manipulation of the event Lateef lead to a violent protest where Ali was shot by a police officer trying to keep the crowd under control. Lateef saw Ali as someone who was a threat to him gaining what he wanted politically and realized that he had to do something to stop Ali and death was his best solution.
This movie is an all too realistic portrayal of events that are going on in the world today. This film does a good job of showing how easily it is for leaders to manipulate people in order for them to gain while others lose their lives for it. Manipulation is a very powerful tool that is used all around the world and not just in politics in India so everyone can relate to this movie on some level. In order to bring change people must be educated and power is a very scary thing and put into the wrong hands can lead to events that will have lasting effects for many people and the events that took place in this film show just how bad it can get.
kevin burke
11/26
While thinking of Bollywood, one usually thinks of flashy dances with an overabundance of songs. The movie "Dev," however, was unlike any other Bollywood production I have seen. “Dev” was a spiritually moving cinematic adventure. The film uncovered the violent struggle between the Hindu and the Muslim culture in the Indian Nation. Dev was a shock to me personally, having thought that a Bollywood production could not attain that dramatic level. The movie dealt with many issues such as the corrupt government, the dynamic character of Farhaan, and the impact that one person can have on a whole society.
In any society, there exists a form of corruption. In India, however, the corruption is so great that it damages the lives of hundreds of people. The particular scene with the burning of the homes sheds light on this problem. A massive four level residence containing many hundreds of occupants is set on fire one evening. The police arrive at the seen before the burnings start and stand idly by and watch the residents’ house being set aflame. People are jumping out of windows, and over balconies attempting to escape the fire. Dev wants to help the people, but Tej, his superior, tells him not to act. How can someone stand by and watch a hundred people being burning in their own home? Finally, Dev’s conscience gets the better of him and he runs to the aid of the burning citizens. This scene shocked me to the point where I almost turned off the film. There is no amount of money that would make me disregard a hundred people suffering in that manner. Dev cannot believe that Tej is that concerned with his own job, and his reputation more than the well-being of his citizens. In fact, it was illegal for Tej to let the fire happen in the first place, but he had orders from his superiors to let it happen and that is what he did. I side with Dev on this issue.
The movie also dealt with another dramatic issue. Farhaan, a well educated law student lived in this community. His father was a great man in search of peace. Yet his father was killed when a peaceful riot got out of hand. The leader of the policeman at the riot was Dev, so naturally Farhaan blamed him for his father’s death. Farhaan despised Dev and vowed revenge. After an assassination attempt on Dev, Farhaan was forced to meet with Dev and got to know him. Slowly, the hate which he held for Dev faded away and he began to live with Dev in hiding. Dev viewed Farhaan as a son. He had actually lost his son during yet another assassination attempt years earlier. The fact that two people who initially hate each other, can learn to love each other in that society is so reassuring. It shows that there can be a global culture in the future. I know that there will always be friends and enemies in the world but if people can just see the person behind the uniform, the idea is not far off.
Another aspect of the movie which I found interesting is how Tej’s lack of conscience affected so many people. As one of the chief inspectors of the Indian police, he carried a great responsibility. In many cases, he decided not to help a person in need because he didn’t like them, how they looked or because his superior told him not to. The unbelievable thing is that Tej obeyed. I just find it hard to comprehend the fact that Tej knows that his actions or lack there of will have an enormous impact on the citizens of the area. The character of Tej surprised me in general when we learned that he and Dev used to work together. Now they are polar opposites. Dev is a conscious, truthful worker while Tej is only concerned with his person well-being. How one man can change that much in so little time is shocking.
The movie Dev as a whole was very enlightening of the Indian society. It showed the corruption and selfishness which drives the country apart, as well as the dynamic change of character which can occur.
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I found the movie, "Dev" to be very interesting and insightful. As many other people have mentioned, I was very surprised by the openness of political issues and content that was presented. I was not very well informed on the corruption within the police force and government prior to the movie. I felt the movie was very beneficial in broadening my knowledge of the issues presented in “Dev.
Among all the various topics discussed; the trials and tribulations of corruption, politics, romance, violence, justice, friendship, and religion, I found the most powerful and interesting topic in the movie was the role of women. In particular, the role of Dev's wife Bhariti and Aliyah.
Toward the beginning of the movie, Dev, Bhariti, and Tej are sitting in the living room having a discussion. Bhariti spoke openly about what she felt her ideal world would be like, one full of rights and freedoms. Tej chuckled at her and said that would be a utopia. She sort of shrugs off his comment but I sensed she knew her comment was important. Her character is compassionate and supportive. When Bratiti willingly brings Aliyah into their home, one can see that she does not let the difference of their religions determine the way she treated Aliyah. Her compassion also transcended how she treated her patients in the hospital after the bomb attacks. She represents a woman who was very open and had her own opinions, but also was very supportive of her husband.
We see another woman presented in a powerful role, Aliyah. In the beginning of the movie, the relationship between Aliyah and Farhaan develops. I found the scene where the two see each other for the first time to be humorous because of the music that was playing and the soft sigh the two exchange. Throughout the movie, Aliyah played an important role of trying to convince Farhaan to stay true to the teachings and beliefs of his late father, Ali Saheb. I was impressed when Aliyah questioned Latif about why he asked the Muslim community to not lodge complaints to the police after the riots. No men stood up and said anything, and Aliyah did.
Then in a very poignant moment, Aliyah took a huge risk and lodged a complaint to the police. I found that the scene where she lodges the complaint to be one of the most moving in the movie. To see all the people slowly raise their hands in support, really represented how important Aliyah's role was and how brave she was to speak out against Latif's request. She comes forward and calls out the two police officers who knowingly pointed her and her friend straight into the direction of the violent riots. Her courage shines through all the corruption and violence, and lead to some sort of justice. The two suspended officers schemed with Tej and end up assassinating Dev. However, if Aliyah would have chosen to keep quiet, the investigation into the corruption of the police and government may never have taken place.
I feel these women's roles are very inspiring. They represent strong willed but intelligent women having lasting and positive impacts on the world around them. Although the movie was a little long, I really enjoyed watching it and learned a lot.
Laura Coogan 11/29 5:22pm
One of the strongest qualities of “Dev” is its universal theme as it relates to conflicts worldwide. Before viewing this movie, I had little knowledge of the severity of the Hindu-Muslim conflict in India. However, I can now see its similarity to situations such as the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, the fight against terrorism around the world, and religious tensions between the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. What struck me as most surprising was the reality that the religious tension in India is drawn out by the corrupt government in an attempt to set two distinct groups against each other in one country for political gain. Even the strongest of personal relationships in the movie are torn apart as a result of the corruption, as seen in the broken friendship of Dev and Tej.
The complications of the tension in India are shown by the lack of a purely evil central character. Ironically, Farhan’s father who represented the movement for peaceful protest is killed by the police in a violent protest of which he tried to suppress. There seems to be no room for pure and genuine motives. At the same time, however, it is unclear who the enemy is. Muslims and Hindus find themselves fighting eachother, in an endless battle of retribution and revenge. Looking closer, it is in fact the government that needs to be faught as they sit back and allow the two groups to go to extremes to terrorize and kill the others. When Aliyah, Farhan’s girlfriend, steps in to file a complaint against the government, Dev, one of the few police officers free from corruption, does everything in his power to fight the deceptive high ranked officials. Unfortunatley, this only leads to his death along with the death of Tej, Dev’s best friend who is caught in the middle of the politics as a high ranking officer. This further shows how difficult it is for those with uncoprrupt motives to help solve the clash of cultures.
The message I found in “Dev” is the necessity of the law to be free from corrupt motives, to be an unbiased mediator. If this cannot be accomplished, the conflicts of the citizens will only be advanced.
Katie Ruiz 11/29
I found that the movie "Dev" used one of its characters as a representation of the larger conflicts and problems found in India. These problems can be related to problems throughout the world. Tej's racism was a bleak point thoughtout "Dev". His charge, given to him by the CM, is to work toward elimination of the “terrorist” problem (the Muslims). Tej represents the destructive power of racism, especially racist individuals who maintain high positions of state government power.
"Dev" portrayed the ruthlessness of racism in India. As Professor Khan suggested, the characters and storyline mirrors a true event in India. The characters in the movie are human, complete with weakness, flaws, and inner conflict. Each character shows a different dimension of the racism problem, like the CM and Tej who are viciously racist contrasted to Farhaan’s father who is a pacifist. "Dev" shows how violence stems from racism, which is no different than the racist violence that saturates the world community seen in the recent instances of genocide in Sudan and Iraq. In a moving statement following the riots and the death of hundreds of Hindus and Muslims, Tej refers to those who died as “collateral damage”; this statement furthers the theme of the ruthlessness of the racism found in positions of government power. Racism has no boundaries and it consumed Tej as it does all racist individuals. Clearly racism is a dangerous attribute for those in power.
A related theme that Tej’s racism illustrates is that a divided country cannot stand, much like Tej could not withstand his own corruption and evil. Tej’s racism and inner conflict with his feelings for Dev and his family verses his hatred of Farhaan and the Muslims drove Tej to the brink of madness; in the end he commits suicide. His rise to power, conflict, and fall are symbolic of the state because a state cannot withstand constant straining inner conflict, as India was experiencing (and is experiencing today to a more limited extent). The conflict must be brought to an end, as it was at the end of the movie. Tej’s death also signaled the triumph of peaceful resistance and cooperation embodied by Farhaan. Because of Tej’s fall Farhaan carries on the legacy and true patriotism of Dev in delivering the truth to justice. Tej’s final act adds drama and finalization to the movie because it signals the end of the violence and the beginning of a new era of desired peace.
Last, Tej’s racism in "Dev" shows the politicalization of fear as a means to control the people. Although Tej is not the only political leader to use fear as a means of control, he is very good at using his power to control violence as means to his desired end (especially in the scene where he refused to end the riots and murder of Muslims). Once again, Tej is a representative of the Indian government from this period who effectively manipulated fear to maintain control. When you are a political leader, it is more desirable to have the people riot against one another than to riot against the government. When the masses fear a tangible (or intangible) enemy, they are easier to control and manipulate. In the end, the leaders who use fear mongering for power are all destroyed: Tej, Mangal Rao, and Latif. The movie is a warning to those who use fear as a means to control their people because fear cannot be maintained forever.
"Dev" depicts the themes of ruthless racism, the divisiveness of racism, and the politicalization of fear as a means of control. It shows the viewer these aspects of Indian political and social climate at that period in India’s history is a warning to all people.
The film “Dev” provides an excellent view into the politics of the Third World by portraying the interaction between politics and people through the struggles and actions of characters with various backgrounds. And, in many ways, it is a movie of contrasts. Dev, representing the moral voice in the corrupt police force, is contrasted with his long-time best friend, Tej, a police officer who seeks to solve problems between Muslims and Hindus by adopting a strong and violent anti-Muslim stance. The young and highly malleable Farhaan, who becomes swept up in a violent movement due to his emotional afflictions, is contrasted with his father who preaches non-violence and his girlfriend, Aliya, who represents a lone voice of opposition to the internal political struggles for power in the movie. Furthermore, characters like Latif, Mangal Rao, and the governor are used to show how politicians have manipulated their subjects and encouraged violence to maintain or gain political power in what is supposed to be a democracy. The personal struggles and inner turmoil of all the characters is further accentuated by the depiction of extreme events in India, with the riots and burning of an entire group of Muslim Indians. The movie effectively leaves the viewer with a wider view of the politics in India; politics that have become so based on communal lines that religion has now become a popular means for politicians to wage struggles for power against one another at the cost of human lives. Inciting violence and perpetuating ethnic or religious tension is used in maintaining status and power. So, it is shown in the movie that every opportunity to exploit common people is used without regard to societal development or improving living conditions. The government effectively is self-centered and compromised of a small group of individuals using people to attack each other.
This movie shows how governmental corruption has dangerously seeped into the police force, the body obligated to uphold the law of the constitution and maintain peace. The heavy influence of politicians coupled with the anti-Muslim views of Tej create a system that allows for the ensuing communal violence, which erupts when Latif plots to kill Farhaan with a car bomb outside of a Hindu temple. Ironically, Latif was responsible for Farhaan’s training to kill Dev. This ease at which Latif turns on Farhaan reveals his true nature and the nature of his politics as everyone around him is used to advance his own motives. Retaliation comes when riots are started by Mangal Rao, and later when the police allow for the burning of a building locked with Muslims. The principal motivation for many of the characters in the movie stems from a desire for political power, which is seen through the riots and bombing. However, Tej brings another view to the situation, which is not uncommon to other characters, such as Farhaan. Tej reacts very negatively to Muslims, most notably due to the terrorist-associated death of his best friend’s son, Armaan. Tej’s attitude has been greatly influenced by the emotional trauma surrounding the event. Comparatively, Farhaan initially seeks to rectify the death of his father by lashing out against the police, and in particular, Dev, although it is arguable that Latif was more responsible for the poor outcome of the protest. In this way, the movie establishes something in the background that seems to have a great influence on many of the characters. For example, it is not that Tej is inherently evil in his hate towards Muslims. Instead, the situation is deliberately blurred through politics and by the influence of characters of higher rank.
The underlying theme of violence touches all characters in the movie, whether they actively participate in the events or fall victim to unfortunate happenings. Whatever the case, most people are blind to the true reasons behind their own feelings in the situation. Most commonly, people blame the religious differences. However, the progression of the movie shows the maturation of thinking in many of the main characters, especially in Farhaan and to a lesser extent in Dev. And this change in thinking reveals the core message of the movie. “Dev” suggests that behind the religious tension in India is the struggle for power of politicians who exist for politics alone. This is the insidious force behind the riots and behind the corruption of the police force, as the politicians have achieved expertise in manipulating their subjects and riling them up to the point of violent action. They have powerful skills in influencing entire groups of people, through intimidation, by creating a sense of social responsibility to act, and by playing on the injustices many of their subjects have felt in relation to religious differences. By playing on religious differences, which are things that people can actually see in their daily lives, politicians can twist them to be the root of their created problems.
Although the movie is set in India, it has a very universal application. Reflecting on the communal tension in many countries and the horrific eruptions of genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq, East Timor, Indonesia, and too many other places around the globe, the commonality among all cases arises: ethnicity and religion are the differences among people that are effectively used by politicians to support personal power gain. While highly unproductive for societies everywhere, politicians and many times international institutions and other foreign governments benefit from the brewing of tension to the breaking point. Society and the process of development are only hampered, but these factors are not goals of individuals pushing for uneasy race/religion relations.
The message of the movie can shine much light on the development problems associated with much of the Third World. Governmental corruption is a major restraint to elevating the socioeconomic status of people. Corruption seeks to perpetuate itself, and in turn, thrives off of the disadvantaged positions of people, that are for the most part not actively involved in the government system. Add corruption to the entire array of issues holding Third World countries in their marginalized states, and you have a recipe for tension, terrorism, and violence. Obviously, a sound government system is essential to development, and the ultimate push for sound governance can come from two sources: local people and foreign governments and bodies. In the movie, Aliya goes directly against the orders of Latif to remain silent about the riots. She challenges the system, and despite the eventual death of Dev, a process to hold people accountable for actions is set in motion. Aliya represents the voice of dissent against the corruption, and sure enough as she made the first step, others in her community provided support for her statements. In a greater analysis, international pressure in regards to trade, business development, foreign investment, and international media coverage can encourage the reform of many Third World government systems. In the end, “Dev”, by revealing how corruption can spread to affect everyone in a community, raises more questions as to what can be done to improve conditions. Any film that can empower people or cause them to view their current situation in a critical light is powerful.
Stephen Stolte
11/29/05
The movie Dev is exceptional because it is able to show all sides of the story. It portrays events from one person’s point of view to another. This movie gave the audience a deeper understanding of what is happening between the Muslims and the Hindu’s. It took an outsiders perspective instead of making one religion seem worse than the other.
Dev, the narrator of the movie, is a police officer with the company of his long time friend Tej. Dev and wife Bharti had a son who was killed by a police officer. Tej could not take the death of his godson and seeked vengeance. Another boy, Farhaan, had a father who preached about non-violence and was then shot and killed by a Hindu policeman. Both Tej and Farhaan’s losses fueled their anger into rage, and rage into terrorist acts. Although Dev was devastated by the loss of his son, he decided to use governmental power to help bring corruption to an end.
During the movie, Tej was told to retaliate on the Muslim town for the bomb that had gone off in the Hindu town. If he did as told, he would gain political power. Even when Dev tried to find out who had been injured in the Muslim town attack, everyone kept quiet because the leader told them to. If they didn’t keep quiet, they would suffer the consequences. It wasn't until Aaliyah, girlfriend of Farhaan, stepped forward and gave the first information report that the Muslim people came forward.
The movie opens doors to bringing developmental problems of the Third World into the forefront. It illustrates socioeconomic status as a major fault for many people victimized by the government system. I thought the movie was a good eye opener for showing events at the descriptive level they were shown at. It forces people to take a good look at a situation from someone else’s perspective. You are able to rationalize why someone may do something even though you may not agree with the action.
For many people in America, they are ignorant of issues going on throughout the rest of the world. When the policemen stood and watched the burning of the Muslim homes, this gave many people an insight to what ‘living in fear’ is really like. The message I found in “Dev” is the need for a decrease in corrupt governments. If this situation is not handled, the beliefs and angers of many people will only increase.
i forgot Abigail Mwaniki 11/30
The movie Dev is about violence between Hindus and Muslims in India. In India, the majority of the population is Hindu; however there is a large number of Muslims Indians as well. Due to the fact that mostly Hindus rule the country, Muslims were looked down upon and often times profiled. Many people in Islamic communities felt like they are being stereotyped as terrorists just because they are Muslims. In this movie, the Hindu police officer Dev tries to establish peace between the two separated groups, however he lacks the support of every colleague he had.
In the beginning of the film of the film, a high-ranking police official, Dev Atraph Singh, kills a Muslim protester by shooting him in the head. The man was complaining about the constitution and so Dev responded in killing him. Soon after this, he invites Muslim officials into his office and accuses them of revolt against the police force. Even though Dev was accused of shooting the boy in the head because he was Muslim, it turns out that he was justified because the overwhelming violence at the protest.
After hearing about the shooting at the protest, many become angered in the Islamic community of Noor Manzil. A Muslim law graduate, Farhaan, walks into his fathers house and tells him how while on the train today he was accused of coming from Pakistan, even though he had not. He was told that if he had been in Pakistan or meeting with anyone from there he would be taken into custody. He wants to revolt against the police force however his father, Ali Saheeb does not allow him. He was a strong believe in Ghandi and non-violent protests. When they organize a protest, many people become violent against Ali Saheeb’s wishes. As the police open fire, Ali Saheeb gets shot. This angers Farhaan even more because he was trying to suppress the violence. As a result, Farhaan goes to a known terrorist Latif, and tells him that he wants to assassinate Dev, who was at the scene when his father was shot. After the attempted murder, Farhaan gets arrested when the police force raided Noor Manzil. Farhaan eventually gets let free because Dev believes that he is an intelligent young man who should not become a part of there terrorist groups. This is the first time we see that Dev is trying to suppress the violence, instead of starting it. When Latif hears that Farhaan has been let free by Dev, he believes that Farhaan will abandon his cause. As a result, he tries to kill him by giving him and his a friend a bomb without their knowledge. When the bomb when off, Farhaan and his friend were in a Hindu neighborhood; he survived by his friend did not. As a result, many Hindus start to raid the Islamic community. When Farhaan’s girlfriend Aliyah tries to safely get home during these raids, she asks the police which way was the safest path. The police official lead her directly to the center of violence. When Dev asks his senior police official, Tej, if he can open fire to stop the violence, his request was denied. Tej, who was Dev’s friend, believes that all Muslims are terrorist and they should be killed. Even though the treatment by the police was completely unjust, Latif and his friend Rao, another terrorist, ask all people to keep quiet about what they saw during the raid. When Dev comes to Noor Manzil to try to learn more about the riots, Aliyah decides to speak up and tell him how the police and that that she saw a Hindu government official encouraging the riots. Dev allows her and Farhaan to stay at his house because he knows that they were not safe in the Islamic community anymore. Because of Dev testified in court against this Hindu government official, he was shot and killed by his friend Tej.
Even though this movie starts off about violence between Muslims and Hindus, it ends in the separation within the communities. Tej did not care about Dev’s ideas about peace. He commonly referred to Muslims as “them,” the ones who create problems. And Latif was willing to kill two Muslims because they were starting to abandon his vision of overthrowing the police. Bigotry existed in both groups. I thought this was a very good movie because it clearly illustrated the violence existing between Hindus and Muslims. The death of Ali Saheeb’s in the beginning and Dev’s in the end signifies that nothing has been resolved throughout the entire movie. It’s a circular path of corruption where many people are killed and anger between the two groups will continue to grow.
I was very impressed by this Bollywood film. It addresses the prejudice’s that exist, but makes it very clear that the stereotypes of all Muslims being terrorists and all Hindus being corrupted are not true. However due to the lack of trust between the two groups these beliefs grow among many people, leaving no one to stop the violence. This movie proves that because India is a religiously diverse country, religion and politics cannot mix because there will always be ethnic minorities who feel persecuted and unfairly represented.
Megan O'Toole 11/30
The movie “Dev” represents the struggles of a Third World country. The movie deals with Hindu and Muslim relations, political corruption, and the increasing role of women in Indian societies, which are all real issues that India is dealing with. The movie portrays different points of view about Hindu Muslim relations. Dev who is Hindu is one of the main characters, he believes in equality between Muslims and Hindus, Tej who is Hindu and Dev’s friends is racist against Muslims, and Farhan who is Muslim at first hates the Hindu’s but in the end his opinion changes. The movie deals with serious issues and brings the issues to the attention of the public.
A major theme in “Dev” is Hindu and Muslim relations which are enraged by political corruption. The movie was filmed in Noor Manzil which is a Muslim area in India. Farhan who is a young adult Muslim is one of the main characters of the movie. His father was killed by an Indian police officer and Farhan blamed Dev. Dev is a Hindu police commissioner for Noor Manzil. After Farhan’s father death, Farhan joins with Mangol Rao, the Muslim leader of the community, and is encouraged to kill Dev. Farhan attempts to kill Dev, but fails. He is arrested, but Dev lets him go because Dev sees his dead son in Farhan. Even though Dev is Hindu and his son was killed by a radical Muslim group he wants peace and equality between the Hindus and Muslims. The movie portrays political corruption in India which is a major issue that India is dealing with today. In the movie political corruption was found with Tej and Latif. The head of the state and Tej are Hindus who wanted the Muslims out of India. This is shown through the riots when the Hindu’s attacked the Muslims and Tej did nothing to stop it. This seen represents the battle between Hindus and Muslims and the consent fighting between the two groups. Also, this seen shows the political corruption in India because Tej, who is also one of the highest police officers, did nothing to stop the riots, in fact he encouraged the riots. Latif who is the Muslim political leader is also dishonest. Latif told the Muslim leader to make sure that no one reports the riots because he made a deal with the Hindu leader. This shows that it is not only the Hindu political leaders that are corrupt, but also some of the Muslim political leaders.
The character Dev represents the type of person India needs in politics. He is Hindu, but he wants the fighting between Hindus and Muslims to end. He uses the death of his son as a positive event to promote equality between Hindus and Muslims. The death of his son self-defines Dev and gives his life a purpose. Dev is the only higher chief police officer to try to help the Muslims. For example during the movie after the riot he goes to Noor Manzil and tells the Muslims that if they were attacked by a Hindu to fill out a report and that the attackers will be arrested. This shows that Dev believes in the law and that the law should be applied to all people no matter of their religion, class, or gender. Dev represents the people in India who want peace and equality between Hindus and Muslims.
The character and role of Aliyah, Farhan’s girlfriend, represents the changing role of women in India’s society. Aliyah is the person who goes against the community’s leader and reports the people who attacked her. After she goes to Dev, Dev asks anyone else if they were attacked or sow the same person leading the riots and almost all of the community raised their hand. This represents the growing power of women in India’s society. The filmmakers could have picked a man to do that part, but they realize the growing importance of women in society. Aliyah is a strong, zealous woman who is not scared of men and represents the “new woman” of India. Aliyah also, shows her strength when she stops Farhan from getting too involved with Mangol Rao. She yells at him and agues with him, which most Indian women would not do.
“Dev” is a well done movie that reveals real issues that have been plaguing India for years. If India does not find away to fix the problems between Hindus and Muslims and political corruption then the society will never reach its full potential. The message I found in “Dev” is that the law needs to be free from corruption and only when that occurs will society grow and prosper.
Stacey Closterman 11/30/05
Dev is a movie simultaneously shows some of the worst religious persecution, governmental corruption and unmatched freedom in India and possibly the world. The movie itself handles two of the most explosive topics in human history, politics and religion. There has never been a war fought for any reason other than these two. With that being said it is amazing that the two were able to be blended together so well. The amount of killing and fighting is not surprising in movies today. Even the Disney movie, Mulan, had an entire village, men, women, and children, get slaughtered by the Huns. Even though you do not see the slaughter in Mulan it clearly happens. The difference between Dev and Mulan is two fold. First, in Mulan, the bad guys are clearly defined and get beaten in the end. The second is that Mulan happens in a far off time and place. Because of those two reasons we can easily dismiss it as never happening here. The same cannot be said for Dev, especially with globalization continually pulling the world closer together. We like to think of ourselves as more cultured, civilized, and advanced than ever before. Movies like Dev shatter that delusion and bring us back to a reality that is much closer to the dark ages then to a Utopia. The movie handles an injustice so great that it is hard to believe it could happen. Knowing that truth is stranger than fiction helps, when someone tries to consider that the story is based on actual events.
Dev also shows an unmatched amount of freedom and liberty. This freedom is shown in the mere fact that the movie was allowed to be made. The movie directly attacks the Indian government and accuses mass corruption in the police force, the one organization that should be completely free of any biases and prejudices. If this movie was made in America and attacked the American government, it would never have been in the theatres for over a week. The movie Bowling for Columbine said that the American culture and society had a responsibility for part of what happened in Columbine. In response to that, the movie was criticized and boycotted for months. Numerous debates were started over the topic. If that movie had the same message of political corruption and religious warring as Dev the fallout would have been amazing. The protestors and pro-government groups would be in an uproar and anyone involved in the movie would never work again. This is why Dev shows a freedom that no one in the United States could ever know.
In a world where we are getting closer and closer to world culture and world society, it is hard to dismiss the events depicted in Dev as happening “over there.” In a world society, we are all connected and all affected by what each other does. So something that happens “over there” has the largest chance ever to happen “over here” as well. It is that fact that makes this movie so striking to everyone that watches it.
Paul Thompson 11/30
The movie Dev is an extremely powerful and moving piece that focuses on the struggles of religion and government in the biggest democracy of the world. I found the depiction to be very real and evoked many emotions. I was heart wrenching to watch the women and children being burned alive, but this genuine pain was portrayed perfectly by the actors and the director.
I found the role of women in the movie to be very prominent, even though women do not have a superior and/or central role per se in India’s society. Every instance of true democracy, such as expressing against authority and not being afraid to stand up no matter the consequences, was done so by women. For example, Dev’s wife’s profession as a doctor showcases the movement toward women becoming very active in professional roles; as well as Alyiah standing up to Mangal Rao and his men for their actions against the town during the riots, and the elder women raising their hands to agree with Alyiah to prosecute the deserving men. I found women to also be the strength of the leaders and/or important characters in the movie. This shows an important aspect of Indian culture, I believe, the importance of family and loyalty to one’s family. Farhaan faced juxtaposition when his father had to choose whether to use force against Dev and the police during a protest. This also portrays the divide between the traditional and modern views of the new generations and politics. Ali Saheb took a more peaceful and traditional view towards politics and life in general, as opposed to Latif and Mangal Rao.
I felt that the quote, stated by Tej, “Politics is the biggest killer of the country,” was very essential to understanding the divide in India, as well as around the globe. Many countries are now faced with corruption and personality politicians running the world, and a lack of true sentiment to improve the conditions of human rights and democracy throughout is deficient.
posted on 11/30
I must admit that I was quite unsure of what to expect from the Bollywood film production of “Dev.” I have never before seen a Bollywood movie, and in my research of India, I was under the impression that I would be seeing a film with a cheesy script and a few random inclusions of song and dance. What I saw though, was an intelligent and very bold political statement. The film really offered incredible insight into government corruption and the issues facing much of India today.
Before the film started, there was a slide stating that the characters and situations in the film were completely fictional. Yet, once the film was over, one could see that this was not the case at all. With further research into the topic, one would not be hard pressed to find the true people in the Indian landscape that correspond to the characters in this movie. This fact is both reassuring and disheartening. It was reassuring in that filmmakers in India have found an outlet to air their negative views of the destruction of political efficacy in India, and disheartening because this is an Indian truth.
The tone of the movie was set the moment it started. We could see Dev’s uncompromising view of the law and Farhaan’s battle with religious intolerance. These two issues, law and religion, are faced by each of the characters in the movie, and the political leaders use them to gain political power. Tej, Dev’s friend and colleague, represents much of this political corruption as he agrees to follow orders given by the CM to look the other way as a religious riot threatens to tear the country apart. Tej was angry at the situation facing India and found that the only enemy he could blame was the Muslims.
One of the most important scenes of the film was when Aaliyah stood up at the town square to accuse Mangal Rao of not only participating in, but leading the riots. She also takes a stand against two police officers who purposely sent her into danger during the riot. In doing so, she broke the pattern of silence holding the Muslim’s in oppression. Although this put her in grave danger, it began to uncover some of the outright corruption in government. After this stand against the Hindu regime, Dev and Farhaan’s relationship began to take hold and we saw that these men wanted to look past the religious intolerance and blatant inequality to give the people what they deserved; truth and justice.
While the pride and honor of these two men is blatant to the viewer, the bigger picture to all of India, Hindu or Muslim, is the views presented to them by their leaders. It is clear that the people are unaware of what we are shown in the confines of these men’s homes. The Indian citizens do not see the outright corruption; they only see what they are told to see. The Hindu people are brainwashed by their leaders to believe that they have a common enemy in the Muslims, and vise versa. This movie shows us that they are stuck in a violent cycle of corruption and hate, where the people whom you are supposed to trust, are lying to you in order to promote their own political standing.
I think that the purpose of this film was expertly conveyed to the audience, in a manner worthy of entertainment. It offers the Indian people a view, although somewhat fictionalized, of the people that are chosen to lead, and the truth about what they are bringing to the government. “Dev” gives viewers a feeling of hope. Even though Dev was shot and killed before making the truth known to the court, there was someone behind him ready to fight for the cause that he believed in. There is a chance for justice as long as people are willing to break down the barriers that religion creates and take fuel from the fire that corrupt leaders make of these barriers. Unfortunately, this movie also shows that India is a long way away from that utopian view.
Lauren Price
Nov. 30, 2005
The movie “Dev” raises some very important issues on the sensitive issue of the Indian government’s response to religious tensions. Among the several themes that revolve around a society filled with religious rivalry are observance to the law, personal agendas, and loyalty to one’s religious community. In this society, equality and justice are discarded by some of the community’s most powerful authorities as idealistic notions. Rather, personal vendettas and political agendas take precedence over the law. In one scene, Farhaan’s father, who is a Muslim cleric and one of the leaders in the local Muslim community, advises him that the law is applied everyone, to all religions, and can used by everyone, as well. Farhaan discoveries that despite his father’s confidence this peaceful philosophy does not hold true in his society filled with political ambition and religious motivated violence.
Particularly unsettling about the movie “Dev” is the fact that situations in the movie can easily be transferred to present day America. The United States ‘a beacon of freedom for the rest of the world’ is hardly exempt from the ignorance and prejudice in India as seen in “Dev”. Among the many questions prompted by the movie was ‘Can this really happen?’ As I watched the movie, I wondered how many current or former American officials have allowed personal experiences to justify blatantly criminal acts that result pain and suffering; Tej’s decision to hold the Indian authorities from disrupting the riots or from saving Muslims from the fires are two of the most powerful scenes in the movie. Although higher Indian authorities would have denounced Tej’s actions, other forms of unofficial discrimination like the scene where Farhaan is unfairly questioned on the train, to the point of harassment, would not breach the threshold of legality far enough for the perpetrators to be tried; much like police officers in this country who slightly overstep their legal boundaries. Parallels can be drawn from the Muslim oppression in India to African Americas during the Civil Rights movement; explicit and subtle forms of bigotry were displayed by both average citizens and legal authorities by their action or as in Tej’s case, their inaction. The widespread harassment of American Muslim following the 9/11 attacks provides a more modern example of discrimination.
Beyond Indian society’s religious strains, “Dev” exposes problems not limited to, but more widespread in third world countries such as corruption. Corrupted politicians exacerbate the difficulties that the country faces. In the movie, crooked cops and greedy politicians induce more violence; when the Chief Minister was informed of the results of the riot in which fifteen Hindus’ died, but only three Muslims were killed, he responded “Do you understand the political implications of these numbers?” Instead of addressing the real problem of injustice, the Chief Minister hoped to secure Hindu votes by punishing the Muslims. Indiscriminate mob violence as displayed by the Indians inflames bystanders rather than eliminating or deterring Islamic extremists; it lends credibility to extremist dogma and creates more targets than it destroys. The result is an increasingly vicious cycle of violence and payback, which the politicians must continue to turn a blind eye to or be forced out of office.
For the viewers it is easy to see that the pain and suffering of both groups is based on ignorance and misunderstanding. The message is not specific to the clash between Hindus and Muslims in India. It is a general notion that can be applied to wide variety of situations. The movie does an excellent job of creating compassion for characters of both religions. This compassion allows the viewer to see the sheer brutality when either Hindus or Muslims are victimized. And, more importantly emphasizes that the needless pain and suffering that is experienced by Hindus and Muslims alike can be avoided.
11/30
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This post has been removed by the author.
The storyline of the movie Dev gives us a realistic depiction of the problematic issue of power hungry politicians using religion as a tool to influence high ranking officers and normal public in order to achieve their political gains. This should not be the case in the largest democracy of the world (India), but unfortunately such animosity and political favoritism does exist. If there is a riot in which both Hindus and Muslims are involved, the Hindu politicians will blame the Muslims and the Muslim politician will blame it on the Hindus. The true meaning of “justice’ and “equality of law” has started to deteriorate from the current democratic India. The movie Dev tackles some of the current key political issues in India, and tries to provide a solution to such injustice in the form of ACP Dev Pratap Singh.
There are several important characters in this movie (i.e. Dev, Tej, Latif, Rao, Farhan, etc) with each of hem playing a vital role in their part. Dev plays the role of an honest, just, and law abiding police officer who will punish the criminal regardless of his religion, cast, or ethnicity. He shows that quality right from the beginning of the movie when he shoots a lower cast student during a riot for (qanoon ki behormati karna) disrespecting the law. According to him, everyone should be equal and similar in the eyes of the law, no matter if you are a Muslim, a Hindu, or of any other religion or cast. Through out the entire movie Dev is in a continuous effort to do his job as an honest officer, whether it is by stopping an angry mob of Muslims, discharging his own officers for misleading Aaliyah during a chaotic violence (because she was a Muslim girl and the officers were Hindu), arresting a high ranking Hindu and Muslim politicians (Mangal Rao/Latif) for taking a part for the Muslim massacre in Nur Manzil and bombing of a Hindu Temple, or by ruing his 30 year old friendship with Tej, by going against him in the court of law.
The protagonist Tej on the other hand is the antithesis of Dev. He believes in ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population from India, and does not consider Muslims as true Indians but mere terrorists. In one scene he gets into an argument with Dev on the issue of whether Muslims can be considered good or bad INDIANS and says that (Bahar nikal kar golee mardinee chahia koto ke tarha. Meto Kehtaho encounter kartay hay salo ka), we should take them (Muslims) out and shoot them, and I even think that we should encounter those bastards. This statement by Tej shows the animosity and according to Farhan’s dad (Firqawaryat aur Mazhabi junoon) discrimination and religious radicalism of individuals like Tej, who are unaware that they are mere pawns in this great game of politics.
Dehshatgardi (violence) is not because of religion, it is because of politicians using religion as a mean to gain political goals. Latif (a Muslim politician) and Mangal Rao (a Hindu politician) are the best examples of this statement. Through out the movie, both of these characters are in constant effort to create a sort of religious hatred among their people in order to achieve some political power. On one side there is Latif, a terrorist supporter who encourages and brainwashes the minds of young Muslims, creating a bunch of Hindu hating Muslim extremists (like Farhan). On the other side of the political spectrum is Mangal Rao, a henchman of a power hungry Chief Minister who uses Mangal, and other people (i.e. Tej, Latif and others) in order to protect his political interests. Caught up in the midst of this entire political struggle is Farhan, a Law graduate who after the death of his father in a riot by the police becomes a terrorist in order to avenge his father. Farhan’s situation is possibly the most unfortunate but true representations of how some young Muslims become terrorists. Like thousands of other Muslims, Latif brainwashes Farhan into thinking that the death of his father was due to discrimination against Muslims and the only way he could fight it back is by "Jihad" (a more polite word that some Muslim politicians use in order to justify their terrorist acts). This is the same case with Farhan. However, unlike many other unfortunate young Muslims, Farhan is able to understand that fact that he is being used Latif in order to complete his personal goal, not of the Muslims.
Dev covers a wide variety of current issues in India. But most importantly, the issue of injustice by politicians (Latif, Mangal Rao) and high ranking officers (Tej) who are suppose to be the symbols of justice and equality for the people. The character Dev is presented as a solution to this problem. Despite the fact that Dev's son was killed by Muslim terrorists does not provoke him as a police officer to discriminate Muslims. He always does his job with honesty and integrity of law and if he has to go against the people he love (Tej) or people with power (Latif/Mangal) in order to achieve justices, then he will. Perhaps, if India gets a few honest police officers like Dev, then the people (Hindus and Muslims) will start trusting and abiding (Qanoon) law more. And if everyone gets justice, regardless of ethnicity or religion, then this surely decrease if not eliminate the distrust of young Muslims like Farhan have towards police. As Dev says, discrimination and ethnic or religious cleansing will push them (Muslims) towards enemy (Pakistan) if they do not get justice in India.
MUSTAFA ZIA 11/30
After seeing the film Dev, I was surprised not only with the highly critical look at the Indian establishment, but also the attempt to humanize those who perpetrate acts of terrorism. Dev is unique in that it doesn't simply label terrorists as mindless murderers. Nor does it excuse the actions of those who "fight terrorism."
What this film is attempting to do, in my opinion, is to humanize what many have come to simplify. Terrorists commit incredibly heinous acts, much of the time aimed at innocent civilians. We all know this, and we all know that there is no excuse for this. However, behind the mask and suicide belt, there is still a human face. There is still a man with motivation, who can feel loss, love, and hate just like any other man.
This humanization is especially prevalent in the character Farhaan. The death of his father, a nonviolent activist, at the hands of the Indian police, spurs his radicalization. Through the dark face of terrorism, we see that although his intentions may be evil, the man himself is not. The fact that the crimes he planned on commiting were terrible must not be ignored. Yet the acknowledgment of his humanity is equally important to recognize.
On the other side of the coin is Dev, a Hindu police officer caught up in the retribution fueled violence of terrorists and "crime fighters" alike. Not an innocent man by any means (he murdered a Muslim activist in cold blood) he has also experienced the loss of his son at the hands of extremists.
This is where the story begins to take a turn. A Muslim youth who has lost his father to Hindus. A Hindu father who has lost his son to Muslim religious extremists. Both motivated to kill. For each man, failure has led to a reawakening. The recognition of the human rights of all men
The closer we see these men become, the more we see their superiors asserting the justice of their respective causes. Blood must be answered with blood they say. And the cycle continues.
In my opinion the most interesting relationship which develops in this film is the father son bond which grows between Farhaan and Dev. Even more incredible, after experiencing such a fit of radicalism, Farhaan is able to forgive and embrace the man in command of the Indian police on the day of his father's death. Dev is able to forgive a man whose goal was to kill civilians, innocent civilians simply going about their day to day lives. People as innocent as his own son.
In each others moderation, Dev and Farhaan find themselves united against their own radical authorities. Farhaan's wife no longer shows complacency when dealing with Muslim leader Latif. She turns in the men responsible for allowing her friend to be slaughtered, against Latif's direct orders. Dev effectively declares rebellion against the Indian police hierarchy by defying their orders and attempting to save the innocent Muslims trapped in the buildings set on fire by Hindu extremists.
The climax of this adopted father/son relationship is when Dev calls Farhaan his deceased son's name. One man a Muslim. The other a Hindu. Both former extremists. Both united against the same extremism that has detroyed their respective way of life. Farhaan sees his new father killed at the hands of Dev's own best friend. A man with the blood of civilians on his hands as much as any terrorist. His evil ways aside, he is no monster. He is simply a man pushed to the brink of his own humanity. He is tired of seeing his countrymen die. And for that he is willing to murder. The man is Tej. And he is more like the terrorists he wishes to detroy than he would like to admit.
That is the ultimate theme of this movie. It compares us not only in our innocence, but in our capacity to do evil. Terrorists blowing themselves up in the name of God. Policemen killing innocent men, women, and children in the name of the law. That is the ultimate tragedy of this film. We all are human. Regardless of our beliefs, we all can die, and we all can be motivated to kill just as easily as those we profess to hate. It is something I believe lost on the authorities of religion and state throughout the world
Dev
Surprisingly, Bollywood presents an accurate depiction of the current state of affairs in India. Although taken place in a country ruled primarily by social structure, Dev courageously glorifies the independent actions of a woman in present-day India. The film concludes with encouraging the harmonious interaction between Muslims and Hindus. I had incorrectly predicted the film to be a complete concoction of an idealistic society produced by the Indian government.
The film starts by illustrating the constant struggle between the Hindu majority and Muslim minority. The political system, obviously comprised of Hindus, operates very traditionally. Traditional in the sense that law enforcement is dictated by a select few administrators. Whereas, in the United States law enforcement is conducted in a generally non-bias and fair manner. Throughout the film, regardless of the level of the acts of violence directed towards the minority, the police did nothing other than standing back and watching. Eventually Dev realized that as a senior officer, he was sworn to uphold justice for every citizen no matter what religion. It was his own moral struggle that metaphorically portrayed the real conflict within the country. As a senior officer of Hindu affiliation he had previously maintained an air of superiority and no desire to prevent any acts of violence against Muslims. However, over the course of the film the anti-minority acts continued to increase in their severity and frequency. Farhaan, a leader of a Muslim activist group, ultimately makes a lasting impression on Dev and helps him to realize that justice for all citizens is more important than justice for only the majority. His friendship with Farhaan is a symbol of India’s idealistic future. In theory, Hindus and Muslims should coexist, each with as much autonomy and access to justice as the other.
The role of women in the Middle East is currently a heavily debated topic in the West. They are treated poorly and have little or no legal rights. The film makes another significant symbolic argument in regards to the role of women in India. This symbolism is shown through Aaliya, a young woman, who begins the film as a stereotypical woman in the Middle East. However, over the course of the film acts courageously and independently. During one particularly cruel raid on her village, she slain several men to protect herself. The citizens of her village, in response to this attack, were told they were not to make formal complaints of the aggressors. Aaliya demanded justice and boldly marched up to Dev and pointed out several important senior officers who were involved in the attacks. Dev, through Aaliya’s triumphant audacity, insinuates a call for a women’s independence movement. If women recognize the ability they have to make a difference, even if only slight, by acting independently the country as a whole would benefit.
Bollywood, although a decade behind Hollywood, paints an accurate picture of life in India and at the same time provokes reform. Dev, like its characters, deviate from the social norms to set into motion movements toward molding a modern India. If viewers of the Middle East read between the lines and understand the advantages of a peaceful Hindu and Muslim existence, as well as the advancement of women in society, India will be well on its way to become a powerful superpower on the world stage.
"Dev" is my first experience with a feature-length Bollywood production, and I really had no idea what to expect from the film. In the end, however, "Dev" proved to be a solid dramatic representation of the struggle between Hindus and Muslims in India. The film does a powerful but entertaining job exploring not only the religious and political tension between the two groups, but the pervasive corruption of India’s government and ultimately the power of morality.
Because of my limited knowledge of Bollywood filmmaking, I was expecting unspectacular acting, and flat, underdeveloped, and generally unbelievable characters. I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was solid and convincing, and the characters were both interesting and dynamic.
The changing relationship between the title character, Dev, a high ranking police officer and member of the Hindu majority, and Farhaan Ali, a young law student and member of the Muslim minority, is the heart of the film, and shows how two individuals that initially appear to have such significant ideological differences can ultimately understand each other and become friends.
Equally important to the story are Dev’s wife, Bharati, and Farhaan’s girlfriend, Aaliyah. Though one might expect the female characters to be passive and submissive, both women were presented as strong and passionate characters.
"Dev" is a powerful film about prejudice, politics, and governmental corruption, and expressively addresses many broad issues related to those topics. This film, however, is also the interpersonal tale of a growing relationship between two individuals that learn to overcome their prejudices and politics and find friendship instead. Powerful acting, powerful characters, and a powerful message make "Dev" recommended viewing.
Matthew Shalk
November 30, 2005
To me, what was most amazing about Dev, beyond the fact that it was a premier Bollywood production without a single dance number, was its ability to incorporate a diverse array of current and serious issues. Present were conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, divergence in leadership between those seeking change with force and those who preferred peaceful resistance, the suspect abuse of power clashing with a strict adherence to law, and not to be forgotten, issues surrounding the use of terrorist tactics and the appropriate (and inappropriate responses).
Truly, Dev is an Indian social commentary with broad aspirations that has the ability (thanks to an exhausting length) to successfully address and evaluate each issue it touches upon. However, watching Dev, I wasn’t drawing comparisons of the terrorist actions in the film to situations in India. Rather, I was immediately drawn to comparisons between the film’s Indian government response to violence to America’s actual response to terrorist violence in recent years.
Though the character Dev, a high-ranking, “by-the-book” police officer, carries the film’s namesake, it is the conflicted Muslim Farhaan that steals the show and represents the plight and fury of his people. Farhaan could be any Muslim man, from India or anywhere in today’s world; young, educated, disrespected, and angry at a world that has belittled his people for the last century. What is most intriguing are the polarized responses Farhaan’s actions receive from the film’s authority figures, Dev and his powerful friend Tej. Dev, who lives to uphold the law exactly as it is written, and who has in his heart the ability to forgive and look to the future, reaches his hand out to Farhaan and uses reason and sense to pursue peace. Tej, whose personal experiences have led him to a hardline stance on terrorism, chooses to encourage violent and immediate response to any terrorist actions, condones brutality towards innocents, and accepts collateral damages. It is this response to terrorist actions that seems most like America’s.
Charging forward after September 11th, the United States found quick success in Afghanistan and assumed the same for Iraq. Just like Tej, America has found only an increase in Muslim violence and anger since its opening strikes against Iraq. Perhaps it is here that the film conveys its most powerful message. Terrorism cannot be fought with fire. Instead, it must be attacked from its base, the disenfranchisement of an entire generation of Muslims who are growing up in a world that resents and fears them. Dev, representing the compassionate response to terrorism, takes the initiative to seek an understanding with Farhaan, and in turn changes from the target of assassination into a father figure and friend. Perhaps the United States can learn a lesson from Dev’s actions by reaching a hand out towards the Muslim world instead of a fist.
sorry, forgot...
mike gnoffo
12/1
Before seeing this film, I was unaware of the extent of India’s contemporary civil unrest and political deterioration; so much of what I saw came as a shock to me. “Dev” paints an eye-opening portrait of Indian political culture, exposing the overwhelmingly religiously biased government and addressing the frustrating escalation of the Muslim-Hindu struggle.
It seems that almost every character, with the exception of Dev, is blinded by his own misguided cause. Dev is one of the very few political leaders who always sees the protection of justice and freedom as the government’s first priority. Even though he lost his own son to Muslim extremists, he never holds a grudge nor uses his power in a discriminatory way. All of the most powerful and trusted leaders are the roots of political corruption. The C.M., Tej, and Mangal Rao completely disregard their duties as high-ranking government officials in order to advance their own beliefs. When the Hindu riot breaks out, Mangal Rao leads the rioters in slaughtering innocent Muslims. The C.M. gives the orders to Tej not to make any move to put a stop the massacre. Tej, who blames the Muslims for everything that is wrong in India, happily complies with the C.M.’s request and passes the orders on to Dev.
On the other end of the scale, Latif, the prominent Muslim political figure, is equally crooked. Latif manipulates his loyal followers into adopting his own radical opinions, and then uses their loyalty to coerce them into performing violent terrorist acts. Farhaan, for example, who is blinded by his burning desire to avenge his father’s death, is a prime target for Latif. Latif easily persuades Farhaan to carry out his every command. It is not until Farhaan is nearly killed by the motorcycle bomb that he becomes truly aware of Latif’s insanity.
The actor who plays Farhaan does a wonderful job of conveying his character’s transformation over the course of the film. Little by little, he realizes how corrupt and misguided both sides of the conflict have become, and he sees that Dev’s integrity and undying loyalty to India as a beacon of hope. Farhaan evolves from a hot-headed Muslim fundamentalist into a more perceptive individual who finally realizes the value of his father’s Gandhian ideals and the futility of the religious civil war. He, who had once blamed Dev for his father’s death and wished to retaliate, became a believer in Dev’s ideals and symbolically replaced Dev’s lost son.
"Dev" is built around the theme of breaking free from the vicious cycle of escalating retaliation. The message conveyed in the end is that India can only break free if its people can force themselves to look past their differing religious convictions and unite for the benefit of national progress. Dev’s character stresses the importance of upholding one’s duty to his country above everything else. He loses friends, respect, and eventually his own life in his effort to stand by what is best for his country. The fact that all Indians share a common land should take precedence over their conflicting religious beliefs. The past must be forgiven so that India can move forward and continue to evolve into a strengthened, unified nation-state.
Langley Bowers 12/1
I thought Dev was an extremely moving film, and also very educational (for me at least). I never knew that any of that kind of brutality ever happened in India.
Farhaan's part was very integral to the movie I thought. His character showed how easily powerful religious leaders as well as those in official positions can influence the behaviors and beliefs of others who may not have done those things on their own.
Farhaan plays a young son who has just returned home from law school to see his father (a muslim) who believes in peaceful action, not violence. Farhaan, up until this point has always followed in those footsteps. Seeing all of the tensity between between Muslims and Hindus that is around him, he begins to feel a burning inside him: a belief that there will never be a brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims. During a march to protest the polices' murder of suspected terrorist that is supposed to remain peaceful, Muslim protestors turn violent and Farhaan's father (Ali Saheb) is killed. Afterwards, Latif, a spokesman for Muslims, convinces Farhaan that Dev is against Muslims and Farhaan becomes part of plan to assassinate Dev. After the attempt is foiled, the police are given order to use whatever means necessary to combat the terrorists.
Afterwards, Latif then sends Farhaan to a small Hindu village with a bomb. The bomb kills 30 people and injures 70 others (including women and children). The bombinb encites rioting between the Hindus and Muslims. No one is left safe and everything is burned. This is when Farhaan starts to realize that something is not right. As Dev and his crew of police watch, Tej never sends the order to break it up and Dev is made to do himself: too little too late. In the midst of the riots, Aaliya and her friend are sent into a rioting lane by two police men and are consequently both raped while Aaliya's family as well as her friend and her friend's family are all killed.
After the riots, the Muslims are threatened to not make any complaints against rioters or to point out anyone responsible, but Aaliya speaks up and Dev listens. He suspends the two officers that sent her in the wrong direction and arrests Mongal Roa who is later released by Tej.
As followers of Mongal Roa burn an entire village and its people, Tej stands back and watches. Dev files a complaint but the Chief Minister tells Tej that he can do whatever he needs to in order to make Dev withdraw his statement. He does not and is murdered on his way to court.
This film shows that even though countries like India are moving closer to modernity and globalization, there is still an everpresent intolerance for different religious beliefs. Aaliyas part in this movie also shows that, even though women are making strides to become more equal, some people still disregard them (in the case of the two officers). "Dev" was very insightful into the fact that religion might always be a point of conflict within middle easter countries.
Amanda Pidcock
I must admit that I was surprised at the level of sophistication of the movie Dev. When I had heard about Bollywood films and how they were traditionally low-budget, high-cheesiness musicals, I was prepared for something along the lines of an Indian version of Grease. However, much to the contrary, Dev took me totally by surprise with its unfiltered, seemingly un-censored portrayal of such ugly contentious topics in India today. The film portrays quite accurately the issues of corruption, politics, and the impact of religious movements and leaders in India; it was a movie not about song and dance, but about religious intolerance in India and the devastating ramifications of corrupt politicians when allowed to exploit these intolerances.
In the scene where Dev implores the women of the Muslim faith to come forward and verify Aliyah's accusation of Hindi atrocities against Muslims, the film paints a fascinating, albeit controversial, picture of women asserting their rights. One by one, nearly every woman defies the cultural expectation of complacency and steps forward to confirm the identity of the Hindi instigator of the atrocities, Mangal Rao. What is important is the action these Muslim women take to do what is right; consequently while defying the wish of their corrupt leader/most influential male in their community. These women exercised their capacity to not simply allow themselves to be mindless sheep always following the heard; an ideal that many Indian men of both religions seek to maintain. While the film’s main focus is not that of the plea of oppressed women in India, it takes an important moment to show the importance of women’s rights; as muslim women step forward in defiance, they are also essentially stepping beyond the traditional boundaries and roles normally reserved for women in India.
The other main focus of the movie Dev is on the potentially (and at times actually) explosive relationship between Indian Hindus and Muslims both within and without the physical borders of India. The film wastes no time setting the undertone of religious intolerance with the first scene of the movie portraying one of the Muslim protagonists, Farhan, being harassed by Indian soldiers about his Muslim name and background on his train home to India. The film goes on to expose how extremism embeds itself into both sides and how radical views towards each the other religion are reinforced and imposed upon the otherwise peace-loving population and how the abuse of power by the majority has far-reaching consequences for both Muslims and Hindis.
Many of the hardliners within the Hindi police force harbor extreme distrust and resentment for Muslims, even those who do not endorse violence and hold no ill will towards the Hindi majority. This general feeling of bitterness within the police force is embodied in the character of Tej, Dev’s superior and the Special Commissioner of the Police. Dev’s loathing for Muslims is bottled up for years until he is presented with the opportunity to aide and support a massacre of Muslims; conducted under the carefully staged veil of a riot that “got out of hand.”
The film exposes an ugly side of religious tension between Muslims and Hindis, and exemplifies with frightening realism the ease with which corrupt leaders of both sides keep the tension and distrust alive. The film of course ends on a somewhat hopeful note that one day the pacifists will gain their victory and that perhaps the corrupt and instigating leaders will pay the price; that one day cooler heads may prevail.
The Movie Dev is a Bollywood masterpiece showcasing the ideas of Justice and acceptance. At the center of the plot is the conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Farhaan and Dev come from different backgrounds and at the developing relationship between is used to illustrate the status of Hindu Muslim relations.
Dev, a police officer in the Hindu government, completes a journey of understanding and insight throughout the film. At the start he is a highly respected officer who views the Muslim minority in the same way as his close friend Tej and most of the government.
Farhaan, a Muslim, is an idealistic young student ignited to hatred and activism by the death of his father. Ali Saheb is a peaceful man shot dead at a protest that had gotten out of control. Farhaan sees the death of his father as an unjust act of aggression by an unjust government and vows to bring the man responsible for his father’s death, Dev, to justice. He joins with an extreme activist group in an assassination attempt on Dev.
Mangol Rao is an extremist Muslim leader who wields control over many of the people. He assists Farhaan in his vendetta against Dev but turns against him when he fails to complete the job. Rao is a catalyst for much of the change that Dev and Farhaan go through in their relationship. He sends Farhaan and a young friend on an errand with a bomb planted in their motor bike. The bomb is detonated outside of a Hindu temple killing Farhaan’s friend, but Farhaan himself escapes.
The bombing incites riots in the streets and in an act of severe corruption, the police are ordered to stand by and not interfere. Horrible atrocities are committed on both sides and Aaliya, Farhaan’s girlfriend, is a victim of both rioters and corrupt police. She and her friend are trying desperately to reach their home where they would be out of danger, but two police officers intentionally point them in the direction of the Hindu rioters. They reach the house but so do the rioters and Aaliya is only survivor.
Dev, angry about the order not to interfere, calls a public inquisition and invites anyone with complaint to come forward. Mangol Rao convinces most of the Muslim population that it is a scam and an insult and they should not file complaint, he privately orders Aaliya not to file complaint, but she defies his orders and valiantly files complaint against the officers and also informs Dev that she saw Mangol Rao participating in the riots. Her courage inspires the other survivors to stand up and admit that they also saw Rao at the riots. Aaliya is a powerful female lead who stands up for what she knows is right in a society that does not reward acts of bravery and Justices. She knows it puts her life in danger, but files her complaint anyway because she knows it is justice and hopes it will be an example to others not to let fear of persecution control their behavior and contribute to the oppression they had endured for years.
By this point Dev recognizes the corruption of the system and refuses to drop the charges against the officers and Rao. Knowing that he will most likely die, Dev courageously walks the steps of the courthouse and is shot dead.
Farhaan, who once hated Dev for his father’s death, had grown close to the officer who boldly stood up for the under-represented Muslim population and aided Aaliya when she was in danger for her public complaints.
It truly speaks to India’s emerging democracy that this movie was even made, so closely resembling actual political figures. A film such as this would be difficult to make in most other societies across the world.
The relationship illustrated through Dev and Farhaan shows that compassion and cooperation are possible even in the most diverse of societies. Corruption can exist in the highest offices and the smallest rebel groups, it can exist in governments that claim to support equal rights for all and hold themselves to the highest standard of democracy. This movie shows that it is possible for one person to make a difference in the world and change corrupt systems. Dev is a powerful figure and a role model to follow. He knew he would most likely die, but fought for what he believed in because he knew it was the right thing to do.
Forgot: Sarah Cochran 12/1/05
Dev is a powerful film. It opened my eyes to many aspects of the Indian culture. I did not realize the extent of the clash in India between the Hindu majority and Muslim minority. Nor did I realize the amount of corruption within the predominantly Hindu government of India.
The corruption of the Indian government, as portrayed in the film, was shocking. It was scary how much power these Hindu government officials were given and how many lives were lost because of their discrimination of Muslims. They saw Muslims as a threat to India. As a consequence, Tej allowed people to be burned to death inside their homes in the Muslim community of Noor Manzil. Mangal Rao participated in the Hindu riots against Muslims. And the Chief Minister did not stop any of this destruction.
In the film, Dev was really the only trustworthy and honest government official. He vowed to protect all Indian citizens, both Muslim and Hindu. He was the only police officer who actually performed his duty. Only Dev wanted to stop the Hindus from rioting. Only Dev wanted to prevent Tej from allowing the people to burn to death. He seemed to be the only government figure with a conscious. All of the other government officials were portrayed as very corrupt. In addition to Dev, I think Farhaan’s father, Ali Sareb, was also very wise and righteous. He realized that violence is not the answer to the problems between Hindus and Muslims. Nothing can be gained by killing. Ali Sareb stated that “the real battle is between our social wisdom and communal madness”.
In one poignant scene, I thought it was incredibly brave for Aliyah, especially as a woman, to defy Latif’s orders and come forward to file a report with Dev of what she experienced during the riots. It was equally astonishing, considering the lack of trust they had in the government, that many Muslims raised their hands when Dev asked them if they had also witnessed Mangal Rao rioting as Aliyah had claimed. It was nice to see that the film showed Muslims taking a stance against government corruption in a non-violent manner. This was a good example of how a democracy should work. After viewing this film, I realize that India’s “democratic” government needs much improvement. India’s government needs more ethical officials like Dev.
I thought that the song played during the opening credits of Dev sent an important message. Its lyrics stated, “What good is it reading the Gita? What good is it reading the Koran? It’s love that teaches us about Him.” The fact that there is so much hatred between Hindus and Muslims is ironic because the basis of both of their religions, and of most religions, is love. At their foundation, Hindus and Muslims have much more in common than they realize. Dev and Farhaan realized this. Though Farhaan was Muslim and Dev was Hindu, they shared more of the same beliefs than Tej and Dev, both Hindu men. The relationship between Farhaan and Dev gives hope that Muslims and Hindus can get along.
Overall, I found Dev to be wonderfully acted, highly entertaining, and educational as well. I would definitely recommend Dev to anyone willing to see the world from a new perspective.
Steph Scholl 12/1/05
In the Bollywood movie Dev, the struggle within Indian culture is revealed. The religious battle between the Hindus and the Muslims is shown within a political system. In this movie, the heads of the police are all Hindus, and they tend to carry out their beliefs in an illegal manner through a legal system. The state of India is basically just a state dived against itself. A country in this state cannot properly function to further its own well-being when the two halves cannot combine to form a people of one nation as opposed to two peoples of separate religions.
In the very beginning of the movie, a riot is shown at a university where one student in particular is speaking out against the government and the police. Joint Chief of Police Dev is at the scene of this riot and decides to shoot the leader of the riot. Now, in the United States, Dev would have been put away for life, but in India, he walked free of any charges. The fact that an officer of the law is able to commit murder is appalling to me. The scene of the movie switches to Farhann, a young man, coming back to see his family after law school. Shortly after he returns, there is an assault by the police on a family and a child is killed in the process. In response, Farhann’s father, at the request of another Muslim, Latif, who is playing the system, leads a “non-violent” march on the police headquarters to submit a petition in protest to the actions of the authorities. The group then decides to throw rocks and flaming, exploding bottles. At this point the officers begin shooting, and of course, Farhann’s father, one of the few innocent men, dies. Farhann then decides he will train to kill JCP Dev. He fails in his attempt and is eventually arrested. Tej, Dev’s superior and longtime friend, is the one to question him or in this case, try to beat the truth out of him. Again, the police are abusing their power in order to further their own religion. We soon learn that Tej has a personal vendetta against the Muslim people because they killed the child that Dev and his wife had for him. Dev was once in the same state of mind as Tej is, but Farhann allows him to see that the inflicting the pain he feels on to the Muslims does not help him in any manner whatsoever. Dev sees his son in Farhann, for he readily calls him by the name of his son towards the end of the movie. Soon after, Latif attempts to sabotage Farhann in a motorcycle bombing but really just starts a small religious war. In response to this “terrorist” attack on the Hindus, Mangal Rao, a political leader, at the command of the C.M., leads an attack on Farhann’s town killing every Muslim they saw and destroying the property. When Dev arrived, he was instructed to do nothing and he was able to obey for a while, but every man has his breaking point of what can be witnessed. He stops the rioting and proceeds to take legal action against Mangal Rao for what he did, but he is overturned. The politicians are too powerful.
This movie is a microcosm of the life in India. They cannot mesh together to form one society of people of a nation. There is so much hate and violence between the citizens of a common country that there is no possible way that success will in the near future. Religion is causing the second largest nation in the world to be torn apart. There cannot be a working and fair government without the agreement between the two religions, which will probably never come.
In the film Dev, Bollywood presents a gritty and accurate portrayal of life in India and of conflicts between the Hindus and Muslims. The film centers on several relationships, one of the central ones being between police officers Dev and Tej. Dev and Tej are longtime friends at odds with each other over several political and personal issues, mainly the Indian state’s policies and treatment of Muslims. Throughout the movie, Dev struggles with the reality of the state’s treatment of Muslims, and also with the reality that his friend Tej is willing to overlook these facts and focus on what he may gain by obeying orders from above. A second key relationship to the film is that between Dev and young lawyer Farhaan. Farhaan is a Muslim struggling with the death of his father at the hands of the police. Farhaan’s father was attempting to engage in a peaceful protest, however those with him began acting violently and throwing stones at the police, Dev an officer among them. Against orders, several of the police shot into the crowd, killing Farhaan’s father, causing Farhaan to vow revenge upon Dev. Eventually, Farhaan finds himself turning to Dev for shelter and support as he realizes that Dev is trying to help peace between Muslims and Hindus. Dev was a cinematically beautiful film, with the pivotal riot scenes appearing realistic and moving. Surprising to me, however, was the undisguised comments against the Indian government as I was unaware of the extent of the freedom of speech awarded in these films. Although Dev was a very moving film, I felt that at times it seemed to move a bit slow, and for a film lasting approximately 3 hours, I felt that some of the personal relationships, such as the one between Dev and Farhaan, could have been developed further.
I found the movie Dev to be very captivating. It certainly kept my attention and interest thoughout the film. Of the themes I found most interesting where those of government corruption, the power of hate, misconceptions, and the strength and integrity of women. This movie showed another example of how easy it is to blind people with hate and how irrational people can become when their own situtaion appears overwheleming and hopeless. This is not the first time that a young, paassionate, and eloquent leader led a group of misguided indviduals into a battle that seemed to be for thier own good and benefit, only to benefit the personal interests of the leader. It is not the first time that young people have been indoctrinated with hate and led into a fight with no real idea of what they were doing. This movie showed what dangerous and disgusting acts can a rise from hate and self-interest. The fighting scences reminidng me of the movie Hotel Rwanda and the senseless and shcoking killings that occured there. It really makes you wonder where that kind of hate and corruption come from and how it can be solved. How do you solve an illogical problem?
Tarilyn Little
While it is would be easy to blame the atrocities in “Dev” on the Hindu-Muslim conflict in the film or the Jihadist beliefs of Latif’s followers; these are really just symptoms of the undermined legitimacy of the system of justice for that region. The issue is clarified by having a clear hero (Dev Pratap Singh) and villain (Tejinder Khosla) within the system. While Dev tries only to uphold the law his friend of thirty years Tej tries to cater to the politicians as well as administer justice.
The erosion of the legitimacy of the system of justice began with the belief by the followers of Latif that the police force had been brutalizing and oppressing the Muslim people with no cause other than prejudice. Farhaan, who quickly becomes a pawn in this political game after his father’s death, speaks about houses being burned and “his people” being beaten when he talks about his disillusionment with the study of law. The death of Farhaan’s father also is a signal of the degradation of police legitimacy because he was killed while trying to us legitimate channels to convey concern to the political leader; his death symbolized the death of that legitimate channel. Once the perception is there that the police are violating basic human rights for a particular group to that group all police action will seem illegitimate.
The legitimacy of the police force becomes further degraded once Tej aligns himself with the Chief Minister and his henchman Rao, thus publicly showing the bias of the newly appointed “Special Officer”. What Tej has done is broken the neutrality of the law and further damaged its ability to maintain its legitimacy, although this allegiance would provide further damage once the riots began. The two officers intentional misdirection of Aaliya leading her into the violence of the riots rather than to safety is a further reflection of this bias brought about by Tej. Then the inaction of the police due to the political implications of the distribution of casualties, Muslim or Hindi, shows that the police then became subordinate to the political desires of the leaders.
Dev himself acts as an acid test for the corruption of the institution of law within the state, because he stayed to the law as it was constitutionally outlined. His moral fortitude and subsequent suffering under pressure from political bodies to act against the law and further the rejection of his report due to political implications showed the corruption of the system for what it was.
A strong and neutral system of justice is essential to the health of any state, as was clearly illustrated by the atrocities committed against the citizenry in “Dev”. A strong and neural system could have suppressed the riots, tried those responsible, and sought to create mediation between the conflicting factions. There will always be conflicting interests within a state and the ability of that state to resolve issues that arise between factions of the citizenry with opposing interests will determine the ability of that state to survive and prosper; this film demonstrates with out question that justice is the only way.
I really enjoyed watching Dev especially since I’m a big Bollywood fan! This movie was a bit different than the usual musicals that Bollywood films usually are- it actually had a point! The film primarily focused on depicting the corruption of the Indian government and the hostility between Muslims and Hindus in the country. It was very interesting to note that a lot of the situations are based on reality.
Much of "Dev" dealt with the religious tension currently taking place in India. Farhan is a young man who is forced to face this first hand. He is a young blooded youth who gets riled up very easily to defend the Muslim name. Farhan’s father warns Farhan of the danger of violent actions at the expense of social wisdom. As violence spirals out of control in "Dev" it is soon learned that only peace contributions from both sides that can solve the problem.
The main protagonists are the religious leaders in "Dev" . The climax of the movie was very powerful and moving, almost lead me into tears. The horrible riot between the Hindus and Muslims showed the reality of brutality and unfairness. It was a riot sparked by the bombing of a Hindu temple. The mastermind of the attack is the Muslim politician Latif. He was very conniving and two-faced. His Hindu counter part is Mangal Rao. Both religious leaders manipulate religious tension to serve their own desires for political power. Farhan becomes radicalized following his father's death during a protest gone wrong. He begins to defy all his father’s teachings. The object of his hate is the police officer Dev, whom he blames for his fathers death. Latif takes full advantage of this hatred to have Dev work for him. But in the end Farhaan is brought back to normal when he realizes the kindness of Dev. In Dev's home he explains to Farhan common sense and constitutional reasoning. This seems to be the primary point of the film. Dev tried to explain that law has nothing to do with religion, but more so with the safety of the nation. One of the main enemies of Dev's message is his friend and fellow police officer Tej. Tej is entirely against Muslims, calling them traitors, and has an inner hatred against them that is seen throughout the film.
Tej and Dev spend much time debating each other. While Dev is a rather moderate man, Tej is quite opposite. Tej's beliefs lead him to kill Dev and himself.
I loved the role of Dev’s “lover”, Aaliyah. She was a very strong woman that was very inspirational. I can’t imagine how she went through all that she had; seeing her friends and family killed and raped can be detrimental. She always tried to look out for Farhan and the love between the two was very cute. She was portrayed as a very strong woman who always questioned Latif and wasn’t scared of stating her opinions. I know that being a woman in that society is hard. To go against a predominantly man-ruled region is risky and puts your life in danger.
All in all, Dev was fun to watch and very moving. It definitely makes you realize that there are problems out there that need to be addressed.
Kathryn McKenna's movie review:
Before watching Dev, I had never seen a film made in Bollywood, so this was an experience. Not only did the film act as a window for me into Indian culture (language, dress, religion, and way of life), but also as a commentary on the relationship that politics and religion have with each other and in society.
Dev is the story of Farhaan, a Muslim law student who has returned home to find his neighborhood torn apart between the Hindus and the Muslims. He returns to his father, who later dies in what he thought to be a peaceful protest, and Aliya, his childhood friend. Farhaan believes that Hindus and Muslims can not live in peace and starts to fight alongside the Muslim community leader Latif. He works for him until a package he was supposed to deliver blew up and he then resolved to follow his father’s footsteps and work for peace. At the same time, we see Dev and Tej, two Hindu policemen who are in charge of dealing with the riots in the streets. Tej orders the officers to do nothing until it calms down on its own, but Dev can not allow it to continue. When Dev steps in to help Aliya and Farhaan, he puts a serious damper on his friendship with Tej. In the end, Dev is shot while trying to save Farhaan’s life and Tej takes his own life after realizing what exactly he has done.
The movie Dev, directed by Govind Nihalani, portrays Indian political culture because it depicts relations between Hindus and Muslims, and it also depicts the corruption seen in the police department, some religious figures, and political figures. The movie has scenes of violence between Hindu police and Muslim citizens; prejudice on the train between the riders and police; and violence on the street between neighbors of differing religions. It also shows the corruption in many areas of life. The police were corrupt when they allowed violence to continue just because the victims were of a different religion than the police and perpetrators. Corruption among religious and community leaders was seen when Latif, one of the Muslim leaders made arrangements with Mangal Rao to ensure that his people would vote for Mangal Rao in return for a political position for himself. He became a danger to the community when he tells them not to report the violence to the police.
This movie hides nothing from the viewers; we see violence, hatred, anger, murder, but also love. It is a good portrayal of an aspect of Indian life and it was an interesting movie to see.
Kathryn McKenna 12/16
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