Review: Devara - Antha Ledu Ra

 

Movie: Devara: Part 1
Rating: 2.5/5

Cast: Jr NTR, Jahnvi Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Srikanth, Prakash Raj, , Kalaiyarasan,  Shruthi Marathe, Zarina Wahab, Shine Tom Chacko and Others

Director: Koratala Siva

Produced By: NTR Arts, Yuvasudha Arts

Release Date: September 27, 2024

Story:

The film tells the story of Devara (NTR), the man who instills fear in the men of his village who are otherwise unacquainted with crimes and go to any extent to make crime and violence their living style. Because of Devara's controlling behavior, his near ones betray him, and his whereabouts remain unknown after an attack on him. Vara (NTR), the son of Devara, does not possess the exact fearless nature as his father, and he likes to be treated on his own. The rest of the story is about how Vara faces the people who want Devara's name to be erased from everyone's mind and continue the crime lifestyle they enjoy.

 

Performances:

NTR plays two roles in the film: one is Devara, and the other one is Vara. Devara is a standard larger-than-life character, and NTR delivers what is needed in a few crucial sequences. Vara has an interesting characterization, but it does not get the right end. Saif Ali Khan was as good as Bhaira and tried to take some scenes to the next level with his acting. Srikanth, Prakash Raj, and Kalaiyarasan were fine, while Janhvi Kapoor was limited to a few scenes and one song. Shruthi Marathe and Zarina Wahab have little scope to perform, while Shine Tom Chacko is wasted in an insignificant role.

What worked for the film:

The film's basic plot is intriguing. Though it might have been tried many times in many films, it still has the potential to bring a gripping cinematic experience. After the initial buildup to the Erra Samudram, the episode where Devara realizes the effects of his/his men's crimes worked well for the film. The following episode of container blast, the fear song taking, and the interval episode also rightly infuse the intrigue. The effect is good in the scene where Rayappa explains Vara's strengths to Bhaira. The buildup to the pre-climax twist was also good.

What did not work for the film:

Devara suffers from a lethargic pace at times. The required intensity is missing in the thefts/crimes that the people of Erra Samudram commit. The second half looks like a completely new film with a tonal shift. The attempt to give Vara's character the touch of Lord Hanuman was exciting. Still, the following scenes do not justify the buildup, and one loses interest in the proceedings as there isn't much happening on the screen despite the intriguing premise. Jahnvi's scenes downgrade the film a bit. Moreover, the last 20 minutes, where the actual essence of the film lies, come across as underwhelming, and the climax twist/cliffhanger looks silly.

Devara: Part 1 Review and Verdict:

Devara had a great premise, but it lacked the required solid impact. The first half had some exciting episodes, but the second half could not continue the flow and got dragged as it progressed. The last 20 minutes, which could have turned the tables, ruined the film in reverse.