Devara Review: When the Part 2 Seduction Goes Too Far!

After six long years, Jr NTR finally returns in a solo film in Devara: Part 1, so naturally, the anticipation was through the roof. While Koratala Siva’s directorial style has never really clicked with me, I went in with an open mind, hoping to be surprised. However, despite all the build-up and expectations, I found myself underwhelmed by the end. The storytelling didn’t resonate with me, and overall, the film left me feeling unimpressed, which was disappointing given the hype.

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To start, the story didn’t really pull me in from the beginning. I’ll get into the script and characters later, but the main plot just feels like something we’ve all seen before—a bit too familiar. It’s so thin that it even circles back and repeats itself in the second half. What really puzzles me is how they (Koratala and team) plan to stretch such a weak storyline into a sequel.

More than the storyline, the overall energy is incredibly low. The storytelling feels dry and lacks any real momentum. Most scenes fall flat, missing that punch or the “oomph” factor that keeps you hooked. While the action sequences were decent, and the Ayudha Pooja sequence, in particular, looked visually stunning, especially in full IMAX ratio, it just didn’t have the intrigue you expect from a massy action-drama.

Moreover, the characters and their relationships felt flat, so it was tough to actually care about them from beginning to end. There was no real depth, and the connections between them just didn’t hit emotionally. Honestly, dragging the story out into a second part seemed pointless—it didn’t bring anything new or meaningful. It was supposed to be a one-off, and that’s how it should’ve stayed. Now, with a seque, the whole thing feels stretched too far, and it lost whatever charm it had, turning into something pretty dull.

The performances, to be honest, were underwhelming, and I believe that’s largely due to the lack of depth in both the writing and the characters. Jr NTR delivered a one-note performance, and Saif Ali Khan wasn’t any better. Janhvi Kapoor’s role seemed to exist only to showcase her glamour, with a character written like an incel-teen’s fantasy, where women’s sole purpose is thinking about men and marriage. The supporting cast had very little to work with, giving them almost nothing substantial to act on or leave any lasting impact.

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Anirudh Ravichander’s music is undoubtedly one of the film’s strengths, but it could’ve been even more impactful if the scenes’ emotions matched the intensity of the score. R. Ratnavelu’s cinematography and Sabu Cyril’s production design were grand and suited the film’s theme perfectly. Watching it on an IMAX screen allowed me to appreciate the scale of the visuals. However, some of the night sequences felt overly artificial and ended up being more distracting than immersive.

Overall, aside from a few standout scenes and the impressive scale, Devara: Part 1 falls flat and lacks engagement. The main issue lies in director Koratala Siva’s uninspired story and dull storytelling approach. I honestly can’t fathom how they plan to stretch this already thin plot into a second part, and at this point, I’m simply not interested.

‘Devara: Part 1’ Rating – 2.5/5