‘Devara’ Review: N. T. Rama Rao Jr.’s ‘RRR’ Follow-Up Turns Out to Be a Taxing Watch

As a lifelong cinephile who’s seen more films than I care to remember, I must confess that “Devara: Part 1” left me feeling like I’d been shipwrecked on an island of mediocrity. Now, I’ve sailed through the vast oceans of Hollywood and Bollywood, but this Telugu action offering, despite its glossy production values, left me high and dry.

Initially billed as “Devara: Part 1,” this recent Telugu action production starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr., or Junior NTR, is both prolonged and lacking in cohesion. The film heavily depends on the star’s charm, even going so far as to cast him in dual roles. However, director Koratala Siva fails to infuse the pirate village narrative with the necessary weight to support the actor’s elegance and image. Consequently, the production turns out to be a disjointed and frequently painful assortment of macho stereotypes that overlooks its inherent themes and rarely manages to achieve any semblance of life, even on its own merits.

Following the trend set by popular films like “Dune” and “Spider-Verse” from Hollywood, modern Indian cinema is grappling with an influx of half-completed movies and initial installments that offer more setup than fulfillment. In Tollywood, for instance, “Devara” joins the ranks of “Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire” and “Kalki 2898 AD,” both of which seem more focused on elaborating a broader narrative instead of allowing it to unfold dramatically. Interestingly, “Salaar” and “Kalki” chose to confine their convoluted elements to the second half of their films, whereas “Devara,” written and directed by Siva, initiates with a 20-minute prologue set in 1996, where lengthy discussions about a terror plot linked to the upcoming Cricket World Cup take place among authorities. However, these discussions have no bearing on the actual storyline of the film. Instead, it appears that this extensive introduction is intended to set up a potential sequel, as a police officer is eventually led to an elderly man reminiscing by the sea, who then proceeds to narrate the main story in flashbacks.

After removing unnecessary details, the movie begins in earnest, presenting a narrative that unfolds 12 years ago (with occasional glimpses of events from centuries past), focusing on an isolated island community. The community’s unofficial leader, Devara (played by NTR), and his men conduct nighttime attacks on shipping vessels at the request of wealthy smugglers who prefer to illegally import their goods into India without facing authorities.

In this tale, much like many South Indian action legends, Devara boasts tremendous power and ability, matched almost by his friend Bhaira, the Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. Yet, they share ideological differences. Their culture reveres blades and weapons, a belief that Devara defends as tools for protection rather than aggression; however, Bhaira is swift to resort to attack. This clash results in an entertaining, thought-provoking, and visually thrilling fight sequence, where Bhaira, along with many village warriors, tries to eliminate members of the Indian Coast Guard who apprehend them during a heist. But just when it seems like a bloodbath is imminent, Devara steps in to halt further violence.

Despite the initial excitement of the tug-of-war, it quickly fades. The remaining action, beautifully illuminated, seems devoid of tangible impact. It doesn’t take long before Devara finds himself in a brutal cycle of violence against his own people, which the film fails to portray as such. Intriguingly, the movie avoids delving into Bhaira’s motivations or those of his followers. Is their resistance to Devara’s decree solely ideological, or does it also stem from economic concerns, considering this was their means of livelihood? Are they now suffering from hunger, or are they well-provided for? The movie leaves these questions unanswered.

Their island may be the visual center of the film, but it has no real thematic or emotional presence. Their rituals are distinctly “Black Panther”-esque, with succession determined through hand-to-hand combat between rival villages, but there’s no real sense of how their kingdom relates to the outside world, the rest of the country or even its own people. Visually and narratively, “Devara” is all noise with little meaning.

The film features only a single energetic dance number and one captivating unique scene throughout its action. NTR performs brilliantly in the roles of both the powerful Devara and his less capable son Vara in the latter half of the movie set in the ’90s. Regrettably, the romantic subplot involving Vara and the overly enthusiastic villager Thanga (Janhvi Kapoor) is problematic and leads nowhere. In contrast, Khan exhibits a level of intensity and stature rarely seen in his recent Hindi roles. However, adjusting to the dubbing by his deep-voiced Telugu actor P. Ravi Shankar may be disconcerting, as Khan’s voice is typically cheerful and high-pitched.

The strengths of “Devara” are temporary, often failing to offset its extended three-hour setup leading to a climactic cliffhanger. This setup suggests that the movie could have been more engaging throughout if it had revealed its key points earlier. Instead, it holds back crucial information and drags on aimlessly, with “Devara” frequently disappearing for extended periods, leaving behind any charm or appeal.

2024-09-27 23:16

‘Devara’ Review: N. T. Rama Rao Jr.’s ‘RRR’ Follow-Up Turns Out to Be a Taxing Watch

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