Part 1 of Devara Narrative: Four villages in Ratnagiri, known as Erra Samudram (Red Sea), on the border of Andhra and Telangana, are well-known for their pirate activities, which involve attacking cargo ships that pass by. The leaders of two villages, Devara (Jr. NTR) and Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan), turn against one another after Devara finds out that they have been smuggling lethal weapons. When Devara decides to stop the illegal operations after realizing the risks, it sparks a full-fledged rivalry between the two factions. What had Devara done to make the four villages fearful? And how did Vara (Jr. NTR), his son, carry on his legacy?
Review of Part 1 of Devara: Devara: Part 1, directed by Koratala Siva and starring Janhvi Kapoor, Jr. NTR, and Saif Ali Khan, is an action-packed, visually stunning film, but it lacks character and narrative depth. Jr. NTR makes a triumphant comeback to the big screen following the triumph of RRR. He excels in his dual role of Devara and Vara, giving powerful and admirable performances that lift the movie, especially during the action scenes. He also possesses effortless dancing skills. Although the story itself doesn't offer the same level of intrigue or excitement, his commanding presence, potent dialogue delivery, and flawless dancing moves stand out.
The second half is paced poorly and has predictable plot developments, but the first half is captivating as Koratala Siva skillfully establishes the world of Erra Samudram (Red Sea) and sets up the conflict. In his Telugu debut, Saif Ali Khan plays the resentful Bhaira convincingly, but his dynamism is underutilized, giving the antagonist not enough depth to make him truly stand out. It's disappointing that Janhvi Kapoor, who plays Thangam, only has a small part and appears in a few songs. It would have been better to incorporate her character's early years from the first half into the second.
The supporting cast, which includes Ajay as a police officer, Murali Sharma as Muruga, Prakash Raj as Singappa, Srikanth as Narappa, Kalaiyarasan as Kunjara, Shruti Marathe as Devara's wife, and Abhimanyu Singh as Tulasi, all give creditable performances.
Devara: Part 1 is aesthetically spectacular overall, but the story is unimpressive. It's worth watching because of Jr. NTR's strong performance, the excellent production values, and Anirudh's soundtrack. However, those hoping for a more exciting cinematic experience might be let down by the second half's predictable plot.
Rating 3.0/5
