A film with ambition, grandeur and spectacle – but not in ways you anticipate. Devara – Part 1 is your quintessential commercial masala potboiler with moments aplenty to accentuate your leading man – in this case, NTR Jr. But to be doing it in a novel setting like this – that itself is a feat.
It is a tricky situation where the film’s canvas doesn’t allow you much scope to work with given it is entirely set in perhaps two locations – the land this set of characters live on, and the sea where the madness happens.
But even with that limitation, director Koratala Siva and his team have managed to create a visually grand spectacle that makes sure to do ample fan service with the leading man.
Devara – Part 1 works best when it stays raw and rustic – the brawls between the characters, the underwater sequences that spill action and the overall setting aid the world-building of Devara – and enough to have you feel that you’re a part of that world which feels so isolated yet so chaotic.
A film that has Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist hardly goes wrong with that casting choice. Khan, despite his limited range to prove as Bhaira, a friend-turned-foe does enough to be looking vicious and formidable.
Janhvi Kapoor doesn’t have enough screentime when she arrives in the second half but perhaps for the best; because her arrival brings a much-needed spunk and humor just when you have endured the first half that doesn’t give you moments to relax. Her playfulness adds to the fun that is brief but essential.
In the end, it relies on the Man of Masses himself, NTR Jr. and he is entirely in his element as you would expect him to be. His heroic entries land mainly due to the aura that he exhibits. Playing a double role, he can just not be the man of the masses that people know him to be but exhibit acting chops as you buy it and feel the difference between Vara and Devara.
The production design and sound design assist the madness to a huge extent and add to that, the banger background score of Anirudh Ravichander.
Devara – Part 1 does falter with its execution of the screenplay as it loses direction in the second half and ultimately towards the climax. The big reveal doesn’t seem that surprising and the set-up for Chapter 2 seems a tad forced.
But in the end, Devara – Part 1 does enough to be a near-three hour ride of land, water, blood and possibly, revenge.