Shahid Kapoor’s Deva Movie Inside Theaters
Deva has been released in theaters, and I was excited for it because the teaser and trailer looked great. Shahid Kapoor was playing a rather unhinged police officer, and it seemed like something different. After watching the whole movie, I have mixed feelings, which I will explain gradually.
In Deva, we follow the main character, Dev Amre, a Mumbai Police officer who is exceptionally skilled at his job, but his methods are often questionable. There is a rage within him, and you never know when it will explode. In the first half, he is trying to catch a notorious gangster who keeps slipping away because someone in his department is a traitor. His first goal is to catch the gangster, the second is to find the traitor, and after a tragedy strikes, the entire film turns into an investigation.
A Movie of Two Halves
The movie can be divided into two clear halves. The first one-and-a-half hours deliver exactly what the teaser and trailer promised. Dev Amre has a close friend, and even if a gangster-politician insults him, he won’t react by shouting in rage. Instead, he will give silent stares, pausing just enough to make the audience feel that something dangerous is about to happen. You just can’t mess with him.
Though he is just a police officer, he fears no one—not even ministers. He will walk straight into their houses. Shahid Kapoor’s performance in this role deserves all the praise. It’s not just his eyes; his entire facial expression and body language are enough to intimidate both characters and the audience. His screen presence is truly powerful.
There’s a whole sequence where he enters a gangster’s area, and while he doesn’t go on a full-fledged rampage, his actions are enough to send shockwaves through the entire place. From a well-composed, intimidating officer to an outright badass, this spectrum of his character is one of the film’s biggest highlights.
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Right at the start, the remix of Arey Deewano Mujhe Pehchano (Don) plays, which was an instant delight. Growing up, I have heard this song at every festival, especially during Ganpati celebrations. However, I was surprised to learn that people outside Maharashtra aren’t as familiar with it. Hopefully, this movie will change that.
The Character and Shahid Kapoor’s Transformation
We’ve seen Shahid’s look—his physique, the way he drives his car, and how frequently he smokes. Maybe that’s why the makers put such a huge disclaimer at the beginning of the movie, constantly reminding us that smoking is injurious to health and helmets should be worn while riding.
If the entire movie had been about this intense and unhinged character, I would have openly recommended it. However, the second half takes a completely different turn. Everything that was promised in the teaser and trailer mostly disappears, and the movie shifts into full-on investigation mode.
A Tonal Shift That Affects Impact
Because of this shift, many people might feel like they are watching two completely different movies. If I place the first half here, the second half definitely loses its impact. The investigation part is decent, but it’s not as engaging.
The twist at the end—who did what and why—sounds brilliant on paper, but within the film, it didn’t hit as hard for me. It does leave you thinking even after the movie ends, but it lacks that needle-drop, hard-hitting moment like Drishyam or Maharaja.
The Execution Could Have Been Stronger
The story definitely had potential, but the execution fell short in places. Additionally, Deva has quite a few shots where the green screen effect is too obvious.
Despite this, I wouldn’t call it a bad movie because there are many aspects that work. For instance, the action scenes. When Deva snaps and starts attacking people, the background music—especially the Deva theme—is quite impactful.
Shahid Kapoor overshadowed everyone else in the film. His performance was so dominant that no excessive PR was needed to highlight other actors.
Before its release, there were online rumors and accusations that this was a remake of Mumbai Police (2013), a Malayalam film directed by the same person. I haven’t watched that film, but after seeing Deva and reading about the original, the similarities are quite obvious. I don’t know if the makers have officially acknowledged it as a remake—let me know in the comments.
Final Verdict
If you were interested in Deva based on its promotional material, you can give it a try. But keep in mind that everything changes in the second half. While the investigation isn’t completely bad and does keep you hooked, it’s not as strong as the first half.
For the most part, this can be considered a family-friendly movie, except for a kissing scene at the start of the second half.
If you’re someone who prefers originals, you can check out Mumbai Police. Look up where it’s available.
