Deva Movie Review: A Stylish Thriller Falling Short of Potential

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Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, Deva is one of the action-packed thrillers. It attempts to blend psychological mystery intensity with a larger-than-the-life Bollywood swag.

Starring Shahid Kapoor, Deva is a movie that adapts Mumbai Police (2013), a Malayalam blockbuster. While the electrifying performance of Kapoor is well-highlighted within the movie, the film struggles due to underdeveloped characters, convoluted narrative and the lackluster climax, thereby failing to live up to the gripping potential of the originally created source material.

Deva Movie Review: Plot is A Fragmented Narrative

Getting deeper within the Deva Movie review, the story of the film revolves around the character Dev Ambre, the hot-headed, fierce police officer. Who is well-known for his aggressive style of giving justice. The movie begins with Dev being a part of the high-stakes investigation, just as he is about to reveal a murder case’s major breakthrough. However, before he discloses the murderer’s identity. He gets involved in the brutal accident, causing him to have a memory loss. Right from this point, the movie unfolds like a mystery as Dev pierces through the past in fragments while he navigates the world wherein all around him seem to be the potential suspect.

While the complete premise seems to be intriguing, the detective who’s trying to solve the case has already cracked, leaving execution much to be desired. As for the screenplay, it credits the 6 writers, while it overindulges the unwanted buildup and continues to spend very little time crafting compelling characters, thereby making it very difficult for the audience to remain invested in the mystery.

Deva Movie Review: A Film is Carried on Shahid Kapoor’s Shoulder

If there would be 1 reason to watch the movie, it is Shahid Kapoor. Fulfilling the role of Dev Ambre, he brought within the story. A brooding and intense charm that made the performances of his within Haider and Kabir Singh such a memorable one. Moreover, the film serves essentially as the showcase of Shahid’s versatility, whether he is the ruthless officer who exudes confidence or just the vulnerable man who struggles with amnesia. Either way, Shahid did seamlessly transition between Dev’s 2 versions.

A standout moment of the movie was the character’s confrontation with his best friend. The role has been played by Pavail Gulati. At this moment, the weight of power dynamics and betrayal has been explored. Another highlight of the movie was Shahid’s interaction with Upendra Limaye’s character, the sharpshooter, who very disturbingly romanticized the violence. All such moments hint at a much more nuanced narrative, a deep one, too. However, it’s unfortunate that the movie never did fully commit to flesh him out.

Deva Movie Supporting Character Roles are Underwhelming

Despite the stronger supporting cast, which featured Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Parvesh Rana and Kubbra Sait, the movie failed to give the characters the needed depth it deserved.

The role of Hegde was a journalist or rather a fiery journalist whose character ultimately got reduced to the predictable love interest with very little narrative significance. Even though she did deliver a very commendable performance, the character writing did not give her much to work and to continue with.

Parvesh Rana’s character in the movie had the potential to add more layers to the commentary on police corruption. However, it got lost within the vague subplot about power and loyalty. As for Kubbra Sait in the lady cop role, she is barely given much screen time. It makes it difficult to even remember the name of her character within the movie.

The movie, which aspires to become the Cluedo-styled murder mystery, offers very little consideration of depth, which ultimately diminishes the audience engagement.

Deva Valued Style Over the Substance

Deva’s storyline, well, you can also call it a swag over better storytelling. Right from the time the movie began, it was seen prioritizing the style. The cinematography by Amit Roy it is visually arresting, with some slow-motion action shots, high-intensity chase scenes and neon-lit sequences that together amplify the cinematic appeal of the movie. As for the production design done by Sandeep Ravade, it effectively captures Mumbai’s crime world’s gritty underbelly.

However, one would find a lot of swag overuse in the movie. It is actually exhausting. Whether Dev continues to fight, walk or even get beaten up, each of the moments has been stylized to the point that it completely overshadows the emotional stake. Even one of the prison scenes evokes a sense of desperation; it feels like an attempt to make Kapoor look effortlessly cool.

Deva Sound Design and Action Are a Feast

If you are someone who enjoys the bone-crunching extreme action sequences, the movie will deliver you right. The foley artists herein deserve a lot of credit for making all punches and the gunshots sound brutal. However, there were many times when the movie was much more focused on the incredible action sequences instead of simply progressing its story meaningfully.

Jack Bejoy’s background score, too, in the film, is effective in elevating the tension. However, occasionally, it overpowers the scenes, thereby making the dramatic moments much more exaggerated.

Deva’s Mixed Opportunities or Weak Social Commentary?

The movie hints at varied themes, including,

Police brutality
Corruption, and
Class divides

However, the movie was not able to fully commit to exploring these themes. There were moments when the movie seemed to make the statement, like when Dev started dancing within the wedding procession. Thereby remarking that he did dance for both sides, showcasing a thin line between the criminals and cops. However, all these moments are fleeting. Ultimately, they serve as surface-level embellishments instead of meaningful commentary.

Deva and its Disappointing Climax

The movie’s most prominent led down is the climax. While the movie Mumbai Police, the Malayalam film, was able to deliver an emotional and shocking, resonant finale, Deva, which takes reference from it, diluted the impact. As it stretched the middle portion and watered down the final revelation. Even the resolution therein lacked the punch needed to justify the movie’s buildup, leaving the audience completely underwhelmed.

Deva Movie Review Final Verdict: To Watch or To Not Watch?

Deva is a movie that has all the ingredients of a gripping action thriller. From the proven storyline to the strong lead character and the high production value. But the reluctance of the movie to completely embrace the darker themes, along with the over-reliance of it on the style and the spectacle. All prevent the film from becoming one memorable experience. So, if you ask us, we will just rate it 2.5 out of 5. We would also say watch the movie to see an electrifying performance by Shahid Kapoor. But skip it if you are expecting a very well-tightened and well-written film.