Devara Part 1

Hits:

1. VFX Surprise: Despite initial concerns, the movie's visuals (locations and VFX) impressed on the big screen, delivering a realistic and immersive experience.

2. Action Masterclass: The film excels in capturing the intensity of mass action sequences. The ambush scene at the interval, with its blood-soaked waves and Devara's defiant face, is a prime example.

3. NTR's Duality: NTR shines, portraying the duality of the courageous Devara and the timid Vara with remarkable balance.

Misses:

1. Second-Half Fumble: The movie's biggest weakness lies in its second half. Weak writing filled with immature jokes, illogical scene transitions, and a rushed plot significantly dampens the experience.

2. Janhvi Kapoor Misfire: Kapoor's scenes were poorly received, highlighting some shortcomings in Indian cinema's portrayal of female characters.

3. Music Overload: While the editing is good, Anirudh Ravichander's music feels overused, detracting from the narrative flow. The score dominates the film when a well-placed soundtrack would have been more impactful.

4. Weak Dialogue: The dialogues themselves are forgettable, saved only by NTR's strong delivery.

Uneven Pacing: The first half meticulously builds the world, while the second half rushes through the plot, leading to a forced and unsatisfying climax/cliffhanger. It feels like the director struggled with the ending, leaving it open for a sequel.

Overall: A strong first half full of action and NTR's performance can't redeem a poorly executed second half. This film had the potential to be an epic action spectacle but ultimately falls short.

At last, the widely discussed Rajamouli curse myth has been shattered. While not the greatest feat, it's still a major victory considering the curse's track record and the film's stars' previous box office mishaps. Believe me, a 6-star rating is not to be underestimated, and "Devara" is certain to entertain and impress in parts and certain aspects!

Devara is one of the much-hyped films of this year. From the commanding "Man of Masses" title card to the chilling stone inscription written in blood during the interval, the movie is a non-stop barrage of a killer background score. Anirudh's innovative use of the "All hail the tiger" motif in various moods is mesmerizing.

I expected a decent commercial outing with the formulaic narrative to interval bang and pre-climax setup with a few high moments. The first half delivers on this expectation, offering a satisfying blend of cheesy crowd-pleasing moments and commercial masala tropes. It's like the slice you always reach for first.

Unfortunately, the second half of the film doesn't live up to the promise of the first. It feels like a rerun of some old masala films, and the jokes are a bit of a miss. The comedy serves as overkill, and the female characters humor is like trying to laugh at a Nirmala Seetharaman's problem. The actress, well, let's just say she's of no use. You could take her out, and nobody would even notice.

On the positive side, Anirudh Ravichandar's background score elevates many generic scenes. The cinematography in the first half is also a boon to the film. The climax twist adds an unexpected element to the otherwise generic narrative. And don't forget the long but decently staged action sequences, reminiscent of the ocean itself.

And NTR? He is an absolute sea monster of acting talent. He shoulders the film throughout and manages to save it from completely sinking.

To wrap it up, Devara is totally worth checking out if you're in the mood for a fun, mindless action-packed flick. It's got a killer soundtrack, amazing visuals, and JR NTR absolutely killing it.

Koratala Siva returns to the director's chair with Devara Part 1, marking his second collaboration with NTR after the successful Janatha Garage. While Siva's direction is commendable, especially after the lackluster performance of his previous film, Acharya, he manages to deliver a solid narrative this time around.

NTR shines in a dual role as father and son, showcasing his versatility and emotional depth. His performances are a highlight, effectively capturing the nuances of both characters. Saif Ali Khan also stands out, adding gravitas to the film and elevating the overall impact.

Visually, the film excels in its VFX, particularly in the depiction of the sea, which is meticulously crafted. However, some sequences in the second half feel less polished, which detracts from the overall experience.

One of the film's weaker aspects is Jhanvi Kapoor's character. Her role feels underdeveloped and unnecessary; trimming her scenes wouldn't significantly affect the story, which makes her presence feel superfluous.

The first half of Devara is engaging and exciting, filled with strong storytelling and captivating twists. However, the momentum falters in the second half, which tends to drag and lose some of the initial thrill.

Musically, Anirudh's work is impressive, particularly with the well-crafted Ayudha Pooja song, which fits seamlessly into the film's rhythm and enhances its emotional beats.

Overall, Devara Part 1 offers a mixed experience. While it excels in direction, performances, and visual effects, it suffers from pacing issues and an underutilized character. I would rate this film a 6/10-enjoyable for NTR fans, but it leaves room for improvement in the sequel.

A short movie review: Devara part 1 screening in cinema halls near you!! Hindi dubbed version is available!!

A decently made Telugu masala action film which plays to the gallery !! It will ride on Jr. NTRs screen presence and mass appeal for sure . Saif Ali Khan is decent .. loved his look with the curly locks when he ages rather than in the first half. Jahnvi Kapoor.. a blink and miss role unfortunately.

The film will be a blockbuster for sure with its over the top action scenes & emotional quotient, just like the audience wants it.

For me it was a decent one-time watch . Nothing different to offer from the content perspective. I'm sure that I'm in a minority here 😁.

One line review.. high on entertainment..avg content.. some grt performances.. well directed film with grt cinematography 😊👍👍 3/5 from me .... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #DevaraPart1 #devarareview #Devara #jrntr #SaifAliKhan.

Devara is a pirate living in a fictional(?) village called Ratnagiri along the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu along with other pirates Bhaira, played by Saif Ali Khan, and others. During one of their pirate escapades things go south between Devara and Bhaira setting off a rivalry. Rest of the movie is about what happens to them and their rivalry and what role does Devara's son Vara plays in their relationship.

The movie is all out NTR's movie. He carried the movie on shoulders despite being an insipid and predictable storyline. Screenplay by Koratala Siva suffers terribly in establishing the conflict and elevating the emotion to the right level. Action choreography and some important sequences leading up to the action end up being duds thereby rendering the entire action dull and boring and without a purpose. The movie reads like a 3 hour long exposition as narrated by Singappa, played by Prakash Raj, with bits of action set pieces thrown in for good measure.

Cinematography by Ratnavelu is jarring sometimes even disrespecting basic shot rules in preserving the line of sight of the characters making it tedious to watch on the big screen. Anirudh's background music while decent, fails to deliver the emotional impact that the story demands. The presence of Jhanvi Kapoor is to deliver some "eye candy" and her only job is to seduce the young Vara and marry him. This is 2024 and I cannot believe big actors like NTR who got wide recognition for his role in RRR okay'd a script with cheap objectification of women.

Writer and Director Koratala Siva failed to tell a compelling story of a leader and has the audacity to tell us to wait for part-2. Will it get made now is anybody's guess. If not for NTR, this movies would've been an utter disaster in all possible ways.

--@CinephileIndia2023.