BOTTOM LINE
Superb Action, Underwhelming Drama
RATING
2.75/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 57m
What Is the Film About?
Devara (NTR) becomes the fear for his men who don’t know fear, but in the process, his identity becomes suspicious and secretive; no one knows where he is. His son Vara (NTR) lacks the fearless quality of his father, Devara. Why Devara had to inject fear into his own men and how Vara brings it to a conclusion is the core storyline of Devara.
Performances
Devara is another film completely carried by NTR on his shoulders. While he is terrific in the action sequences, there is very little for him to showcase on the dramatic side.
When we compare the looks of both Devara and Vara, Vara is a better fit for NTR than Devara. This is largely due to the costume design and camera work; the Devara character does not appear particularly threatening. The good thing is that it is not disappointing either; it falls somewhere in between.
Saif Ali Khan does well as Bhaira and complements NTR perfectly when they share the screen, with no major complaints. But does his character leave a lasting impact? Definitely not. While his performance is good, this should have been a memorable film for him — and it won’t be.
Janhvi Kapoor, as Thangam, brings a breath of fresh air to the visuals, and the song “Chuttamalle” showcases her true potential as a perfect choice for a big star commercial film. However, her character design is as ordinary as it gets. While she may benefit indirectly from the film, there isn’t much to say about her character or performance—and it’s not her fault.
Analysis
Devara is directed by Koratala Siva, marking his big-ticket entry into the current pan-India trend. He takes a simple plot centered around ‘fear’ and tries to build his drama around it.
The film starts strong, grabbing attention with a long action sequence set on water, which feels fresh and engaging. While not groundbreaking, it provides the perfect kickstart for the film.
However, what follows is a mix of enjoyable action sequences but less impactful drama and character development, which applies to all the key actors.
Surprisingly, even Devara’s character lacks the menacing presence or grand design needed to convincingly portray fear. The good thing is that it doesn’t fail, but it doesn’t fully succeed either.
For instance, there’s a scene where Devara dances at a wedding. With stronger dramatic buildup, this sequence could have been a standout moment, but here it still works because of NTR’s dance.
Still, the wild, kick-ass action sequence at the interval block and the writing, though scattered, hold the film together and make for a decent first half.
Devara’s second half starts with a lighter feel with Vara and Thangam entering the film. Though eventually, Thangam’s character, played by Janhvi Kapoor, feels poorly designed, in the initial stages, it works to ease the film from a serious tone.
Although the second half slows down significantly, the superb action sequences stand out again. For instance, the scene where the weak Vara decides to participate in the Ayudha Pooja ritual features an impressive fight sequence, making it a treat for action lovers.
Other elements, like Bhaira’s army of young fighters emerging from the water, visually appear fresh and add to the overall impact.
Koratala succeeds in maintaining the suspense factor until the climax, but it feels utterly unnecessary to introduce a sequel, which dilutes the film’s impact as one exits the theater.
Setting aside other flaws, the biggest issue Koratala failed to see is that Devara’s character does not come across as threatening or powerful enough for the film. As a result, Devara relies on technical aspects like grand visuals, background music, and action—this is what happens here. However, we can’t say Devara’s character failed entirely; it simply lacks the massive design needed to justify the ‘fear’ factor central to the story.
Overall, Devara offers a one-time theatrical watch for its scale and superbly designed action sequences. On the flip side, it lacks impact through genuine drama and adds an unnecessary sequel hook.
Performances by Others Actors
Koratala utterly wasted several characters, and the first to mention is the talented Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko. It’s disappointing to see him play such an ordinary role, one that could have been given to any unknown Telugu actor.
Srikanth makes little impact, though he delivers his usual performance without complaints. The character designs for Prakash Raj and Murali Sharma reflect the half-hearted writing behind them.
Others, like Shruti Marathe, also fall into this category. Overall, no supporting cast member leaves a strong impression—not due to their performances, but because the direction and writing are to blame.
Music and Other Departments?
Anirudh Ravichander composed the music for Devara, but the songs received a lukewarm response, mainly due to a lack of originality. As for Anirudh’s much-hyped background score, it’s satisfactory, with a couple of standout pieces, but overall, it remains average. If one expects his work to match the level of Jailer or his other popular Tamil films, it falls short.
Rathnavelu’s cinematography is pretty good, and he successfully delivers visuals on a grand scale, except for a few water shots that may not feel impressive. Overall, his work is good and makes the film visually appealing.
Editing by Sreekar Prasad could have been tighter. A film like Devara with a regular runtime might have made a stronger impact, but it’s clear that the pacing follows the director’s narrative style.
The production values from Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts are impressive, giving the film the feel of a large-scale production.
Highlights?
NTR
Interval sequence
Standout action episodes
Fresh visual appeal
Drawbacks?
Devara’s character design lacks depth to effectively portray fear
No supporting cast makes an impact
Lacks emotional depth
Forced sequel hook
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for the action design and visual freshness
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, as a one-time watch.
Devara Movie Review by M9
Final Report:
Devara is sure a one-time theater watch for its terrific action design and backdrop. However, the character design of Devar isn’t menacing enough, which could have taken it to a whole new level. Still, the movie offers enough for a theatrical experience. Go for it!
— Vara’s participation in the Ayudha Pooja ritual fight is superbly designed and executed.
First Half Report:
Devara first half is ‘Decent’ with a refreshing backdrop and Koratala mark dialogues. Anirudh does a satisfactory job so far, but a lot more is expected. However, the real impact or ‘high,’ is only felt during the intense massacre interval block, which is absolutely wild and bonkers.
— Ayudha Pooja dance choreography is refreshing, not just for the dance itself but also for the facial expressions that perfectly match the tune.
Devara starts with a 1996 backdrop, and Anirudh seems to be on the job right from the get-go. Stay tuned for the the first half report.
Devara Show Time: The theater atmosphere is a repeat of the recent biggie Kalki’s premiere day—the same euphoria, massive pre-sales, and electrifying crowds, as people take off from work to watch the movie on a weekday in the U.S.
Stay tuned for Devara Review, USA Premiere Report.
Devara is a fresh pan-India star vehicle from the Telugu industry. Devara is extremely critical for NTR to make a statement with a big bang success in Telugu markets to display his star power, and solid word of mouth will ensure opening the ticket counters in Hindi markets. Stay tuned for the Devara movie review and U.S. premiere report.
Cast: NTR, Saif Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Srikanth, Shine Tom Chacko
Producers: Sudhakar Mikkilineni – Kosaraju Harikrishna
Banners: Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
DOP: Rathnavelu ISC
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Production Designer : Sabu Cyril
VFX Supervisor : Yugandhar T
DI & Sound Mix : Annapurna Studios
U.S. Distributor: Hamsini Entertainment, Prathyangira Cinemas
