The Devil Movie Review: Darshan Hits and Misses in a Star-Test Film

In Prakash Veer’s ‘The Devil’, Darshan pulls double duty in a story packed with political drama, romance, and a classic good vs. evil showdown. The first half keeps things lively, but as the plot thickens, it struggles to keep the energy up

In the entire first half of The Devil, director-writer Prakash Veer walks on a thin rope and manages to stay balanced. It’s a film with the hero playing dual roles and set against a political backdrop. Add the good-vs-evil trope, and you get three overused themes of commercial cinema. Yet the film is an easy watch if not strikingly unique before the writing gets tied up in a knot.

When a rogue is naturally unfit to replace his father, Rajashekhar (Mahesh Manjrekar) — who is facing corruption charges — as the chief minister, you get a look-alike of the crooked son to fit the big role. The plan is hatched by Rajshekhar’s personal advisor, Nambiar (Achyuth Kumar), who has vested interests.

One good thing about The Devil is that it doesn’t make the mistake of treating itself as a serious thriller with a predictable plot. What holds the film afloat is the self-aware writing (which fails to go the next level in the final act), which has ready answers to cinematic liberties and logical issues.

How does a father not recognise his son? Must be a case of brain fade as even Dhritarashtra could recognise Duryodhana despite having 101 sons, as Nambiar points out. Why doesn’t Krishna (Darshan), an aspiring actor, go out looking for chances? “I believe in waiting for that one big opportunity,” he often says. Why does Dhanush, who calls himself “The Devil”, have no political aspirations like his father? Because he sees only money as a powerful tool. Are the people naive enough to believe a leader who lays out typical election promises? “We might still have to struggle, but at least a good leader will show a way out,” a poor woman tells her husband.

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