---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the…"
description: "\"My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the mainstream masters, from Mehboob Khan, K. Asif, and V. Shantaram to Raj Kapoor. I am not saying critics shouldn't ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/sanjay-leela-bhansali-5108_bollywood_my-devdas-was-a-tribute-to-all-the-mains_767320.jpg"
---

#  My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the mainstream masters…

![“My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the mainstream masters, from Mehboob Khan, K. Asif, and V. Shantaram to Raj Kapoor. I am not saying critics shouldn't have criticised my film. But they should have judged the film within the genre and format that I had chosen.” quote by Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/sanjay-leela-bhansali-5108_bollywood_my-devdas-was-a-tribute-to-all-the-mains_767320.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/sanjay-leela-bhansali-5108_bollywood_my-devdas-was-a-tribute-to-all-the-mains_767320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/sanjay-leela-bhansali-5108_bollywood_my-devdas-was-a-tribute-to-all-the-mains_767320.jpg)

> “My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the mainstream masters, from Mehboob Khan, K. Asif, and V. Shantaram to Raj Kapoor. I am not saying critics shouldn't have criticised my film. But they should have judged the film within the genre and format that I had chosen.”

[Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-leela-bhansali/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The director argues that his film should be evaluated within its chosen genre and style, not by external standards.

**In simple terms:** Judge art by its own rules.

Key Takeaway

Assess works in context.

Themes

film criticism genre artistic intent

Mood

reflective defensive

Type

analytical defensive

When to use this quote

- movie reviews
- film festivals
- academic analysis

Key Concepts

cinema aesthetic judgment genre conventions

Questions to Reflect On

- How does genre shape your expectations?
- Can a film be both mainstream and artistic?

A Different Perspective

Genre expectations may limit broader appreciation.

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Nayantara

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