NTR Arts, Yuvasudha Arts, Dharma Productions and AA Films’ Devara Part 1 (dubbed from the Telugu film of the same name; UA) is an action film.
Devara (Jr. NTR) is the chief of one of the four villages near the sea, and is part of the group which smuggles goods for Muruga (Murali Sharma) from the merchant ships. Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan) is the chief of another neighbouring village, and he also belongs to the group of smugglers. But one day, Devara has a change of heart and decides that villagers of all the four villages should stop smuggling because the goods they smuggle (for Muruga) are used to kill people including their own. This doesn’t sit well with Bhaira who instigates his people to continue smuggling. However, Devara successfully stops the next smuggling mission and kills Bhaira’s men. He then vanishes, promising to protect the sea from becoming a place for smuggling.
For some years now, the inhabitants of all the four villages depend upon fishing for their livelihood. Although Devara doesn’t return, his mother (Zarina Wahab), wife (Shruti Marathe) and daughter (Mansi Verma) pray and hope that he’ll return while son Vara (Jr. NTR) is convinced, he won’t. Vara, a spitting image of his father, turns out to be meek, unlike his brave father. One day, Bhaira tricks Vara into joining him and his men on a smuggling mission. Bhaira’s plan is to kill Devara who, he is sure, would surface when he’d see son Vara in the smuggling group.
Does Vara join Bhaira and his men? Does Devara surface? Is Devara killed by Bhaira? Or does Devara kill everyone? What happens to Vara?
Koratala Siva has written a story which has so many gaping holes that it keeps throwing up questions which remain unanswered. Siva would like the viewers to believe that although Devara, Bhaira and their men are involved in smuggling to avoid the goods from being confiscated by the coast guards, they never knew that what they were smuggling could be illegal stuff. Devara has a change of heart only when one coast guard tells him so. This is just one hole in the script. Koratala Siva’s screenplay is long-winding and boring. Like the story, the screenplay is also devoid of novelty except, perhaps, that a good part of the action takes place in the sea. The reason for Devara’s disappearance is not explained and, therefore, irritates the audience. When the reason is revealed in the end (there’s an element of suspense), the viewers feel like scoffing at it if only because the one who forced him to remain away may have had his reasons but what would’ve happened if he (the one who forced Devara to disappear) had turned out to be looking different after some years? After all, nobody can predict how one would look after, say, three or five years. In this case, the looks are very important. (This weak point in the screenplay is being explained a bit hazily so as not to reveal the climax.) Even otherwise, the screenplay is weak as it treads the beaten path. Except for good versus evil, there is nothing else to keep the audience invested in the drama.
Kausar Munir’s dialogues are below the mark. Her use of chaste Hindi and, oftentimes, flowery language only serve to come in the way of the audience understanding the proceedings completely. As it is, there are too many characters with typically South Indian names and played by faces not recognisable by the Hindi film-going audience, to confuse them.
Jr. NTR looks charming and does extremely well in both the roles (Devara and Vara). He breathes fire in action sequences, acts very well and dances gracefully. Saif Ali Khan performs ably as Bhaira, but the significance of his character, especially post-interval, diminishes. Janhvi Kapoor looks sensuous in a tiny role as Thangam. Her confused character (she doesn’t know whether she loves Vara or not) is irritating. Her dance is sexy. Prakash Raj is wasted in the role of Singappa as he does nothing worthwhile. Srikanth has his moments as Rayappa. Kalaiarasan makes his mark as Kunjara. Shine Tom Chacko leaves a fine impression as Kora. Murali Sharma is okay as Muruga. Abhimanyu Singh is alright as the corrupt police officer. Zarina Wahab lends fine support as Devara’s mother. Shruti Marathe is adequate as Devara’s wife. Mansi Verma makes her presence felt in the role of Devara’s daughter. Narain, Ajay and the others provide nice support.
Koratala Siva’s direction is limited by the weak and hackneyed script. Although the form of the film is good, the soul is missing. Anirudh Ravichander’s music is fairly nice but the absence of hit songs is felt. The romantic song (picturised on Jr. NTR and Janhvi Kapoor) is the best. Kausar Munir and Manoj Muntashir’s lyrics are weighty. Song picturisations (by Raju Sundaram, Ganesh Acharya, Sekhar and Bosco Martis) are eye-filling. Anirudh Ravichander’s background music is nice but it should’ve been more impactful. Ratnavelu’s cinematography is fabulous. However, since a lot of scenes have been shot in the dark, it gets irritating for the viewers. Action scenes (choreographed by Peter Heins, Anal Arasu, King Solomon, Venkat, Dragon Prakash and Kenny Bates) are thrilling and will be loved by the masses. Sabu Cyril’s production designing is of a very good standard. A. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is fairly sharp but should’ve been tighter. Dubbing is excellent.
On the whole, Devara Part 1 is too ordinary and routine to click at the Hindi box-office. It will do disappointing business. Of course, Jr. NTR’s superstardom will ensure that the box-office results of the original Telugu version are different.
Released on 27-9-’24 at Inox (daily 7 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by AA Films. Publicity: so-so. Opening: below the mark. …….Also released all over. Opening was not impressive.