A massy film by the Man of the Masses Cast: Jr. NTR, Saif Ali Khan, Jahnvi Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Srikanth, Murli Sharma, Abhimanyu Singh, Z...
A massy film by the Man of the Masses
Cast: Jr. NTR, Saif
Ali Khan, Jahnvi Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Srikanth, Murli Sharma, Abhimanyu Singh,
Zarina Wahab, Rameshwari Talluri, Narain
Rating:3*
Director Koratala Siva makes a visually grand film and also makes Jr. NTR play to the gallery. He makes a full massy film with clapworthy action scenes that should be lapped up by the masses. The story also by Siva is simple and looks promising (waiting for the culmination in part 2) but the second half goes out of the window. The effectiveness of the first half is spoiled completely by the second half. All credit to Jr. NTR (in a double role) for rising above the below-par script and completely owning the film. He also dances like a dream. Although he is weak as Vara, he is superb as Devara. What lets the film down is the romantic track between Vara and Thangam (Janhvi Kapoor who is hardly there).
The year 1984. A brave sea warrior Devara (Jr NTR) lives on an island called Ratnagiri on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. He is involved in illegal activities through the sea by way of smuggling as his ancestors who had fought bravely during the British Raj had been subject to neglect post-independence. He is helped by Bhaira (a strong Saif Ali Khan) and four other villages on the island. But Devara because of his immense popularity and good nature has many enemies and one of them is Bhaira. During one of the smuggling episodes, Devara and his gang are caught by the coast guards. A fight ensues and Devara saves the life of the coast guard officer Irfan (Narain) who makes him realize that the smuggled goods were actually weapons and explosives that were being used to cause mayhem in the country and thus invokes the wrath of the other members of the gang. But Muruga (a good Murli Sharma) gives them a solid offer. Bhaira and others refuse to heed Devara's advice, but Devara single-handedly defeats the villagers who protest against him. They have no choice but to accept his offer. Bhaira doesn't show his resentment but on the inside, he is enraged. They all hatch a plan to secretly kill Devara.
Jahnvi Kapoor is there for a mere 10 minutes in the film. But she looks glamorous in the song 'Dheere dheere'. Prakash Raj as the village head Singappa is quite dependable while Srikanth as Rayappa has nothing much to show. Abhimanyu Singh as DSP Tulasi is okay. Good to see yesteryear's leading lady Rameshwari. Zarina Wahab as Devara's mother is good.
The climax is more or less like Baahubali Part 1, so the question is supposed to be answered in Devara Part 2. VFX is another plus and the cinematography by Rathnavelu is very impressive.
The film, despite being let down by a shoddy second half and a predictable story, is still worth a watch because of the 'Man of the Masses' Jr. NTR.
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