Director: Sriram Adittya
Cast: Nani, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Aakanksha Singh, Kunal Kapoor
Composer: Mani Sharma
Devadas explores the many possibilities that arise when a man whose nature and profession make him something of a pacifist, meets his polar opposite. In Indian cinema, this is usually fodder for romance and a couple of song sequences. But, what happens when the polar opposite is a man?
And what happens when that man is Nagarjuna?
You expect director Sriram Adittya to have eyes only for Nagarjuna. Sure, there are slo-mo shots and action sequences aplenty. But, there’s another mainstream star in this film – the charming Nani who knows when to show up to the party and when to retreat into the background. And in this star, Devadas finds its anchor.
While Nagarjuna is in his element here (Sriram lets him do what he does best – charm the audience), it is up to Nani to balance things out with his turn as the methodical doctor who doesn’t quite know when to loosen up. Both stars are effective in their roles – their sole purpose is to present a crackling chemistry in this bromance about two very different souls who find each other.
Director T Sriram Adittya milks every possible instance of hilarity that would arise from such an unusual relationship. There are plenty of scenes that play up the core differences between Nani’s bespectacled Dr Das, and Nagarjuna’s Deva, a don. Eventually this relationship evolves into a mentorship. Deva tutors Das in the finer aspects of romance, while Das, in his own way, begins to nudge Deva away from his life of crime.
Meanwhile, Shamdut Sainudeen’s cinematography bathes all these stars in glorious lights and neons. It is a flattering look for Nagarjuna – when necessary, a halo forms over his head. And you get it, Nagarjuna is the big deal here.
Mani Sharma’s upbeat musical score (‘Vaaru Veeru‘ is a delight to listen and watch) perfectly complements the proceedings onscreen. The vibrant Aakanksha Singh makes her presence felt in this song sequence, and in many of the scenes she has in the film.
Recommended
With much of Sriram’s interest relegated to the lead stars, Rashmika Mandanna and Aakanksha Singh are saddled with underwritten roles that don’t require much from them. They do their best. Aakanksha, in particular, is a vibrant onscreen presence, matching Nagarjuna step for step in what could have easily been the sort of ‘menacing don – docile heroine’ equation.
Devadas also has sub plots (including one with Kunal Kapoor) that meander, romantic sequences that weigh it down. So much so that one begins to look for the next Deva -Das scene to wash away the aftertaste. If not for this lead pair and their amazing onscreen chemistry, Devadas would have been brought down by its ambitions to evolve into a larger landscape – a compelling urge to feature just too many people and things.
*****
The Devadas review is a Silverscreen original article. It was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the movie. Silverscreen.in and its writers do not have any commercial relationship with movies that are reviewed on the site.