Devru Movie Review – Goddamn it!

Movie Review By Raju Shanbhag

Well, even God wouldn’t believe us if we say there is anything remotely refreshing in Vijay’s new film Devru. And even we wouldn’t believe in God if this film helps Vijay’s booming career in any way. For god’s sake, we have seen these types of films since the time immemorial and we are bored to death watching such movies week after week.

God promise!

God knows no boundaries of language: Because Devru is a remake of Tamil film Thalai Nagaram, which came three years ago and was allegedly successful. The film is remade in Kannada with our own black cobra and the result is spectacularly ungodly.

God is ancient: They say God is there since the beginning of the world. Director Sadhu Kokila presents a story which came before God himself. Vijay is a punter in the Bangalore underworld who has a heart of gold when it comes to the women and the helpless. One fine morning, after his close friend is killed, he decides it’s time to reform him and surrenders himself to the police. But Ashish Vidhyarthi (playing an ACP in the film), who comes to the party after the interval wants to get Vijay back into the underworld and stretches the film for another 1.5 hours.

God has many forms: The only different thing about this film is you can see Vijay in different Avatars; a bald Viji, a bold Viji, and a bloody Viji manifest on the screen at different times, confronting the audience and confusing the narration. None of these Avatars make an impression.

God is everywhere: Viji lands up in different places magically to fight the goons; to romance his lady love and to threaten north Indian Sethus in his free time. He is the reincarnation of Ugra Narasimha at one moment, and the very next moment he is the epitome of love and affection to the female characters in the film. Again no real impression scored; neither with the audience, nor with those female characters!

God repeats himself: Right from the introductory scene of Rockline Venkatesh as a police inspector (lifted straight from Ab Tak Chappan) you feel that you are watching the amalgamation of many scenes of films from various languages. Sadhu Kokila’s direction is not the culprit here, but the story and screenplay are.

God is kind on actors: Should this film be a success, it will only be because of Vijay. Although others like Ravi Kale and Shobhraj have done their bit neatly, its Viji who lifts this film as much as he can with his acrobatic stunts and reasonably good acting. Prajna just looks too happy to get a chance to be on celluloid.

God can be given a miss! And this time, even the god wouldn’t complain!

Also See

• Devru Movie Stills