Story: Dev Ambre (Shahid Kapoor) is consumed by vengeance and simply wants justice for his friend-colleague’s death. His ideology and manner of working are evidently apart from the rest of the police department. But the rebellious police officer cares little to none about his perceived reputation. Deva, a remake of the Rosshan Andrrews-directed 2013 Malayalam film Mumbai Police, marks his Hindi directorial debut. Well, it’s another year, and we have yet another Bollywood remake! But does it do the work for the audience? Let’s find out…
Review: The opening credit scene of the film – with its gritty, high-contrast, and desaturated colour palette – suddenly brings back the memories of Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007). Apart from an evident colour scheme, the prologue sequence exhibits a particular sector of Mumbai city that includes crowded chawls, narrow lanes full of small shops, deserted skyscrapers, and rain.
The movie begins with a major road accident. The first-ever stunt sequence in the film is precisely directed by Rosshan and very adroitly choreographed by the stunt directors – Supreme Sundar, Abbas Ali Moghul, Anl Arasu, Parvez Shaikh, and Vikram Dahiya. The said moment looks so real that you gasp after the actor’s head hits the ground. Cut to Shahid’s dhamaakedar entry via the hit number ‘main hoon don’ from the 1978 blockbuster Don. Soon after that, the actor-dancer appears tapping his feet alongside Pooja Hegde at his sister’s wedding.
From the first peppy track, Bhasad Macha – by Mika Singh, Vishal Mishra, and Jyotica Tangri – to the synth-heavy background scores amid the ongoing action and investigating sequences by Jakes Bejoy, the movie’s music is infectious and fun to vibe on. It makes the high-octane scenes even more entertaining to watch.
Rosshan’s mindfully crafted story is undoubtedly entertaining from head to toe. Bobby-Sanjay, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal, Arshad Syed, and Sumit Arora follow the director’s vision perfectly and present a skilful screenplay. Meanwhile, the Dalal brothers also impress with fantastic dialogues in the film. While everything works together smoothly for the story, the unpredictable yet unimpressive climax seems like a betrayal. Especially, for the ones who love a good mystery thriller.
Shahid serves as the central link in the film, connecting key incidents and characters across different events. This hot-headed cop is not an ideal man due to his illegitimate affairs and constant smoking habits. But somehow, he seems likeable with the kind of dynamics he shares with his fellow cops Pavail Gulati and Pravesh Rana or the way he handles his mission with his team as a responsible and understanding senior. The charismatic actor leaves no stone unturned to embody his complex character as Dev Ambre.
From his expressions to his body language and dancing skills, he exudes charm on the screen. In a couple of instances, the aggression of his Haider and Kabir Singh characters also appear on screen via his expressions. Overall, it’s a Shahid Kapoor show and you are up for a roller-coaster ride of fun, entertainment and thrill.
Furthermore, Pavail showcases an honest police officer, who is torn between ethics and friendship. You feel sad for him, but you still like him for his unconventional choice. Pravesh appears to be made for the role. His well-built stature and commanding tone also come in handy. Apart from Shahid, the other two actors also win hearts with their fine performance. Their approach to the characters as cops seems quite natural and easy.
Kubbra Sait – previously seen as Kuckoo in Sacred Games and Phara Keaen in Foundation – plays a junior-level officer in Shahid’s team in Deva. She is feisty and takes responsibility when needed. That said, she has been provided with very little scope in the film for someone of her potential. On the other hand, Pooja makes frequent appearances. But that’s about it. Meanwhile, Girish Kulkarni, Manish Wadhwa, and Aditi Sharma also make significant contributions to the film.
Verdict: The ending of the movie is unpredictable, but is it good enough? Well! That is debatable. The climax of the film shifts your perspective upside down and turns you into a thinker. For a few, it can be a mind-blowing conclusion. However, for someone who is hooked on mystery thrillers like me, it simply doesn’t work. That being said, Deva still gains marks for its infectious music, high-octane action sequences, applaud-worthy performances and engaging vibe throughout the film. The movie is out in the theatres now.
