Based on Saratchandra Chatterjee’s literary classic of the same name, Devdas has been brought to the screen in as many as nine different incarnations. Of these, the 1955 version has become the most warmly treasured in India thanks to an affecting performance by Dilip Kumar as the tragic title character. A boy from a wealthy family falls for Paro, the poor girl-next-door. While he goes away to university in Calcutta, her family arranges for her to be married to an even wealthier older suitor. Upon hearing the news, Devdas becomes a desperate alcoholic and takes refuge in the arms of prostitute. A heartbreaking turn of events seals the fate of Devdas, a character who so strongly affected actor Kumar that he had to seek counseling in order to recover from the stress of the performance.