Mumbai: Ahead of Valentine’s Day, cinema lovers are set to revisit some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable love stories on the big screen. Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan; Tere Naam, starring Salman Khan; Yuva, a political film directed by Mani Ratnam are all set to be released in theatres in this month.
The re releases are being rolled out by PVR Cinemas which explained the collection as a celebration of the various hues of love, the intense passion and longing, the sacrifice and emotional turmoil. All three films were originally released more than two decades ago and continue to enjoy cult status among audiences.
As per the schedule, Devdas will return to theatres on February 6. Yuva is set to re release on February 20, followed by Tere Naam on February 27.
Devdas
Released in 2002, Devdas is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and is based on the classic Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The movie is about Shah Rukh Khan, a prosperous or rather a rich man, Devdas Mukherjee, who comes back to India after his studies in London. He reunites with childhood love Paro which is portrayed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Despite their strong emotional bond, Devdas and Paro are separated due to social class differences and family opposition. Paro gets married into a different family, Devdas cannot handle the loss thus becoming an alcoholic and self-destructive. Madhuri Dixit also stars as Chandramukhi, a courtesan who falls in love with Devdas and supports him throughout his emotional downfall.
Known for its opulent sets, striking visuals and classical music by Ismail Darbar, Devdas featured iconic songs such as Dola Re Dola, Maar Daala and Bairi Piya. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film festival and achieved the status of the biggest grossing Hindi movies of the year 2002. The performance of Shah Rukh Khan is among the most discussed parts of tragic romance in Bollywood.
Tere Naam
Released in 2003, Tere Naam stars Salman Khan in one of the most intense roles of his career. The movie directed by Satish Kaushik is based on true to life events and centers around a short tempered yet emotionally sensitive man, Radhe Mohan. Salman Khan’s character falls deeply in love with Nirjara, played by Bhoomika Chawla.
The misunderstanding and the violent situation tear the lovers apart and the story has a tragic twist. Radhe is unable to sustain his mental health, and he lives his life of loneliness and sufferings, yet Nirjara waits on him. The film explores obsessive love, emotional breakdown and the consequences of uncontrolled anger.
Tere Naam became widely popular for its emotional depth and its memorable music composed by Himesh Reshammiya and Sajid Wajid. Other hit songs such as Tere Naam, Tumse Milna and Kyun Kisi Ko are still popular among fans. The hairstyle and acting of Salman Khan turned in to culture talk, and the film became cult film over the years.
Yuva
Directed by Mani Ratnam, Yuva was released in 2004 and presented a powerful blend of romance, politics and youth driven storytelling. This movie has an ensemble cast, which includes Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Rani Mukerji and Esha Deol.
Set against the political backdrop of Kolkata, Yuva follows the lives of three young men whose paths intersect on a single day. Ajay Devgn acts as a local strongman, feared, Abhishek Bachan acts as an ambitious politician, and Vivek Oberoi as a young idealist who believes in change. The love songs in the movie address the role of love in their individual lives.
With music composed by A R Rahman, Yuva featured popular tracks like Kabhi Neem Neem and Dol Dol. The movie was critically acclaimed in terms of narrative style and acting, especially the breakthrough of the role of Abhishek Bachchan, who won many awards.
A Nostalgic Valentine’s Month for Movie Lovers
The re release of Devdas, Tere Naam and Yuva offers audiences a chance to relive some of the most emotionally powerful films of the early 2000s in theatres. Tragic romance and strong love stories are replaced by more complex political drama, but the line up recreates a period when storytelling and emotion became the main focus.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, these classics promise a cinematic trip down memory lane for longtime fans and a fresh big screen experience for younger viewers.
