Story
In Devara, NTR plays a sea pirate ruling over an imaginative coastal region, living atop a cliff. He also serves as the leader of the locals from four neighboring villages. During a clash with coastal guards, Devara realizes that his piracy is inadvertently aiding criminals in harming innocent lives. Determined to change, he urges his people to abandon piracy and strive for an honest livelihood. However, Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan), the head of one of four villages, opposes this. A fierce conflict ensues. The rest of the story explores what happens to Devara and how his timid son, Vara (also played by NTR), ultimately makes a difference.

Artists Performance

NTR delivers a stellar performance in Devara, commanding the screen with his portrayal of the character. His intense presence creates an aura of fear, especially in action sequences, where he excels. NTR masterfully differentiates between the characters of Devara and Vara, showcasing his impressive versatility. Saif Ali Khan, as the antagonist and former friend-turned-foe, delivers a solid performance. Janhvi Kapoor, despite limited screen time, leaves an impression with her glamorous appearance. Prakash Raj is impactful as the storyteller, and Srikanth stands out with a strong performance. However, Shine Tom Chacko's talent feels underutilized in the film. Getup Srinu is good as a friend of Vara. Ajay and Abhimanyu Singh make their presence felt.

Story - screenplay - direction: Koratala Siva crafts a commercial story with a unique backdrop, designing the character of Devara with immense power. The first half effectively blends emotions, action, and impactful scenes, focusing on Devara's story. However, the second half slows down significantly, dragging until the climax as Vara's story is told in a more subdued manner. The romance between Vara and Thangam feels underdeveloped. While the climax revelation is strong, the screenplay could have been improved by swapping the focus, placing Vara’s story in the first half and Devara’s in the second. A stronger second half is crucial for leaving audiences with a sense of excitement. The film also suffers from limited locations and repetitive costumes, and lacks strong female characters. The introduction (investigation officer thread) isn’t particularly engaging, and some plot points, like the skeletons in the seabed, remain unexplained. The villain's character lacks the ruthlessness needed to rival the hero's strength. Had the writer set the timeline in the 1940s-50s, around the pre- and post-independence era, Devara's character - engaging in piracy to serve the country - would have appeared more noble. The conflict between Devara and Bhaira would have felt more organic if Devara aimed to pursue legal work, like fishing, while Bhaira insisted on continuing piracy even after India's independence. A few tweaks in the screenplay could have elevated the overall impact of the film.

Other departments: Technically, this movie is excellent in all departments. However, the work of Anirudh Ravichander has dominated all other departments so much that he is the hero in technical departments. He has given a new kind of background score and proved how an effective background score can elevate a scene in cinemas. Cinematography by R. Rathnavelu is excellent as he made sure that blue, green and orangish shades are beautifully used for sea, village (day) and village (night) respectively. His work in the film is seamless. Sabu Cyril’s production design is world class. The weapons used are very interesting. Action choreography is very effective and gives a great excitement to the crowds. Visual effects are very good. Editing by A Sreekar Prasad is smooth. Production values by Yuvasudha Arts & NTR Arts are grand.

Analysis: The first half of Devara Part One is engaging and delivers exactly what audiences expect from a theatrical experience, with its fast-paced action sequences, strong songs, and excellent character development of Devara. However, the second half slows down due to the passive portrayal of Vara, making the pacing sluggish. While the climax is intriguing, a stronger second half is expected from a film of this scale. Nevertheless, NTR’s stellar performance and commanding screen presence, along with Anirudh’s powerful background score, keep viewers invested. It remains to be seen how general audiences will respond to these elements.