Movies directed by Nandamuri Kalyan Ram have been more successful since “Bimbisara” became a smash hit. The trailer for “Devil” was intriguing because of its majestic appearance, but this was the main reason it first caught the attention of movie buffs.
Here we have Devil, a British espionage agent (Kalyan Ram), sent to Rasapadu in 1945 to look into the death of a Zamindar’s daughter.
British General Kenneth orders the Devil to discover who Trivarna is and how the Jamindar’s home communicates with INA chief Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
Nyshada, portrayed by Samyuktha, is the niece of Jamindar’s wife and is believed to be involved in clandestine INA operations. As part of his plot to frame Nyashada for murder, Devil uses his manipulative skills to gain her trust and make her believe that he loves her.
Do you think Devil can figure out who Trivarna is? Why does the Devil choose to serve the British? Is Nyashada going to put her faith in the Devil?
The artists’ performances are spot on; for example, in his role as a British spy, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram looks exactly like one. He gives it his all to embody the role, adapting his acting style to fit the story’s and genre’s specifications.
It’s intriguing how Samyuktha portrays a female working under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s radar.
The character Malvika Nair portrays another INA independence fighter, which is brief yet significant.
Shafi, Ajay, and Satya all do respectable jobs in their parts.
Superb production design and a massive scale set the stage for technical excellence in this picture, faithfully recreating the style of 1945.
The clothing adds to the film’s technical assets, while Soundarajan’s cinematography accurately portrays the era. However, there are spots where the soundtrack doesn’t work.
Analysis:
In light of the previous bombs in this genre, it is particularly daunting for Telugu directors to present a spy thriller engagingly. Period spy thrillers are even more difficult to manage. This murder mystery by Srikanth Vissa deftly blends elements of a spy thriller with a British setting.
Srikanth Vissa has the makings of a fascinating historical espionage thriller with his basic plot. The film does get off to an intriguing start. Despite its lack of excitement, the story’s opening inquiry, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, sets the scene and builds suspense for what’s to come. The film also makes a smooth shift into a spy thriller.
This spy thriller manages to inspire patriotism only by depicting Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indians who secretly helped him during his presidency of Madras. But these feelings can only emerge from a well-narrated story. Regardless of the plot, “Devil” falls flat in this regard.
Despite having potential, the story’s narration and execution fell flat. You can see right through the Trojan that the British sent as a mole. His character’s twist is easily predicted because he is the film’s protagonist.
A few patriotic scenes emerge as the story of a small band of liberation warriors clandestinely supporting Netaji Subash Chandra Bose unfolds in the second half. Yet, they are also not used nearly enough.
Towards the conclusion of the film, things happen at a breakneck pace, in stark contrast to the slow pace of the first half. Consequently, it doesn’t have much engaging vibe, even though both halves have some interesting episodes.
“Devil” has some redeeming qualities, such as Kalyan Ram’s good looks, genuine performance, and outstanding production design, but the movie falls short due to its uninteresting plot and inept direction.
Assigned to investigate the death of a Zamindar’s daughter in Rasapadu in 1945, British espionage Devil (Kalyan Ram) is on the case.
British General Kenneth orders the Devil to discover who Trivarna is and how the Jamindar’s home communicates with INA chief Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
Nyshada, portrayed by Samyuktha, is the niece of Jamindar’s wife and is believed to be involved in clandestine INA operations. As part of his plot to frame Nyashada for murder, Devil uses his manipulative skills to gain her trust and make her believe that he loves her.
Highlights in performance:
The clothes and general appearance that Nandamuri Kalyan Ram wears while playing a British agent are spot on. He gives it his all to embody the role, adapting his acting style to fit the story’s and genre’s specifications.
It’s intriguing how Samyuktha portrays a female working under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s radar.
The character Malvika Nair portrays another INA independence fighter, which is brief yet significant.
Shafi, Ajay, and Satya all do respectable jobs in their parts.
The production design is top-notch, and the film’s massive scale helps it capture the aesthetic of 1945.
The clothing adds to the film’s technical assets, while Soundarajan’s cinematography accurately portrays the era. However, there are spots where the soundtrack doesn’t work.
Critical Evaluation of Film:
In light of the previous bombs in this genre, it is particularly daunting for Telugu directors to present a spy thriller engagingly. Period spy thrillers are even more difficult to manage. This murder mystery by Srikanth Vissa deftly blends elements of a spy thriller with a British setting.
Srikanth Vissa has the makings of a fascinating historical espionage thriller with his basic plot. The film does get off to an intriguing start. Despite its lack of excitement, the story’s opening inquiry, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, sets the scene and builds suspense for what’s to come. The film also makes a smooth shift into a spy thriller.
This spy thriller manages to inspire patriotism only by depicting Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indians who secretly helped him during his presidency of Madras. But these feelings can only emerge from a well-narrated story. Regardless of the plot, “Devil” falls flat in this regard.
Despite having potential, the story’s narration and execution fell flat. You can see right through the Trojan that the British sent as a mole. His character’s twist is easily predicted because he is the film’s protagonist.
A few patriotic scenes emerge as the story of a small band of liberation warriors clandestinely supporting Netaji Subash Chandra Bose unfolds in the second half. Yet, they are also not used nearly enough.
Towards the conclusion of the film, things happen at a breakneck pace, in stark contrast to the slow pace of the first half. Consequently, it doesn’t have much engaging vibe, even though both halves have some interesting episodes.
“Devil” has some redeeming qualities, such as Kalyan Ram’s good looks, genuine performance, and outstanding production design, but the movie falls short due to its uninteresting plot and inept direction.
Movie: Devil
ibomma Rating: 2.25/5
Cast: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Samyuktha, Malvika Nair, Shafi, Ajay, Satya and others
Story, Screenplay & Dialogues: Srikanth Vissa
Music: Harshavardhan Rameshwar
DOP: Soundar Rajan S
Production Designer: Gandhi Nadikudikar
Editor: Tammiraju
Produced and Directed by Abhishek Nama
Release Date: Dec 29, 2023