Why Netflix’s Deva Is a Must-Watch for John Wick and Memento Fans

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If you’re a fan of action movies on Netflix and haven’t explored their collection of Bollywood films yet, you’re missing out on some truly exciting, yet underappreciated in the U.S., releases in this genre. For instance, the 2025 Hindi-language film, Deva, is a prime example of the adrenaline-pumping cinema that India has to offer.

Lately, I ventured into watching a fresh take on director Rosshan Andrrews’ 2013 drama, “Mumbai Police”, without any preconceived ideas. Surprisingly, it reminded me of an unusual fusion of films that I cherish – the “John Wick” series and the remarkable movie from the 2000s, “Memento”. If you’re a devotee of either, then I’d recommend “Deva”, but there are additional compelling reasons to explore one of the best action movies that might have slipped under your radar.

Deva’s Title Hero Is A Total Badass

Shahid Kapoor, renowned from Amazon Prime’s “Farzi” (a series fans of “The Gentlemen” might enjoy), heads the cast as Dev Ambre in “Deva.” This character is a detective whose intelligence takes a backseat only to his rebellious nature. He’s a policeman who bends the rules like Mumbai’s version of Dirty Harry, yet if Clint Eastwood’s movie hero also possessed electrifying dance skills – which he showcases in an unexpectedly captivating musical scene early in the movie.

In terms of dealing with crime, I find his methods more akin to Keanu Reeves’ silent assassin character from the highly acclaimed John Wick film series – in my opinion, the greatest action movie franchise ever made. The fight scenes are exquisite, more graceful than the latest spin-off, Ballerina, and yet they retain a raw brutality that underscores Dev as someone best not to provoke. Even when his rash actions overstep boundaries, his charm is captivating. However, it was when he endured his accident that I truly began to empathize with him.

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Dev’s Amnesia Thickens The Plot

The story begins as Dev finds himself in a motorcycle crash with no recollection of his identity. To add to his troubles, moments before the accident, he had informed his superior, Farhan Khan (played by Pravessh Rana, remarkably resembling Narcos star Wagner Moura), that he had solved the murder of their comrade Rohan D’Silva (portrayed by Pavail Gulati). Now, with his amnesia hidden, Dev must delve back into the investigation of Rohan’s case.

The tale unfolds in an unconventional manner, moving between the life of Dev before his amnesia, identified as “Dev A,” and his current self, referred to as “Dev B.” This narrative style bears a resemblance to the 2000 movie “Memento.” However, I’m not implying that “Deva” is on par with the groundbreaking, thought-provoking masterpiece that “Memento” is often hailed as. Instead, it offers an engaging mystery centered around a protagonist whose memory issues add intrigue to his deeply personal quest.

Deva Ends With A Mind-Blowing Twist

Similarly to Memento, the conclusion of Deva delivers an unexpected and jaw-dropping plot twist. Frankly, I must admit that I never anticipated the identity of Rohan’s killer being unveiled at all.

Frankly speaking, while the plot twist isn’t exceptionally original, it was skillfully executed in a way that kept me guessing right up until the climax. I must admit, I was genuinely surprised when the truth unfolded. If you want to experience this for yourself, you should definitely watch “Deva” on Netflix.

Fun fact, the very first Indian film I ever watched was “Ghajini” from 2005. It’s a revenge story centered around a man with memory loss issues, and it shares some similarities with the movie “Memento”. Now, isn’t it quite intriguing that my recent re-immersion into Bollywood seems to follow a similar pattern?

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2025-06-12 12:07