[icernet] The Devdas archetype

[Arul Selvan]

  When Sarat Chandra wrote his Devdas in 1917, he made an impression not 
just on the Bengalis but on the entire nation. Ever since, the novel has 
lent itself to 12 official screen adaptations, starting with the 1928 
Naresh Mitter silent version.

Going by the belief that an audience had to leave the theatre in a happy 
state of mind, early filmmakers ensured that their films concluded on a 
light-hearted note. Devdas is therefore probably the first Indian film 
which went against this convention.

Source:
http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEF20030125042020