Hi, No offence but except the single man and two females in center, nothing is common. Two major differences I see,
1. Kovlan was married and later got attracted to another woman. Why he did this is not very much known, or at least to the best of my information. Devdas loved a girl but she got married with someone else. He go attracted to Paro probably to find solace. A clear distinction between the two stories. 2. Kovlan came back to his wife, due to various issues, I assume financial issue was one of them. And then he tried to continue with her rejecting the pleas from his mistress. There is no such instance seen in Devdas. Again a remarkable difference.
There are many such theme in Indian literature where we see two females and one male in center. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's Urvashi is also the on same theme where Pururava though married got attracted to Urvashi and even did a secret marriage however later he had to return to his wife only. One thing I would like to say, if you are interested to read Sharat Chandra, in all my readings of various Hindi, Bangla etc literature, he is the best author who had portrayed the female characters in exemplary manner, no one can beat him when it comes to women portrayal in novels.
Please permit me to place my view points on this comparison of Kovalan and Devdas. Both literatures are unique, of their times, but comparison is impossible as felt by Saurab and Sankar. 1.
ar 1. Marriage of KaNNaki and Kovalan was agreed and arranged between two rich families 2.
De2.Devdas and the village girl wre sincere lovers.
3. KaNNaki and Madhavi are both earnest and honest women.
4.
Ko4. Kovalan was a selfish debauchee and an average mah of weak character. 5. D ev5. Devdas, his love and the devadasi-woman are good in charedter, but victims of the social curse evil mindset. Devdas was crazy but not dishobest.