'Devil - The British Secret Agent', is produced by Abhishek Pictures. The spy thriller hit the cinemas today. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Plot:
Agent Devil (Nandamuri Kalyanram) is a sharp-witted detective who has been asked by General Kenneth, a British lord, to investigate the midnight murder of Vijaya (Ammu Abhirami). The audience assume that the murder is a high-profile one because Vijaya is the daughter of a Zamindar. But is it her identity that makes her killing an issue for the British? Or, is there more than what meets the eye? What is Operation Tiger-Hunt and why does the General want Agent Devil to helm it? Who is Trivarna, the supposed right-hand man of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose? How is Gandhian Manimekala (Malavika Nair) thrown into the mix?
Performances:
Kalyanram is stoic in some scenes. A minus is that his character barely looks vulnerable, making him feel like an omniscient detective. But he looks dignified throughout and that's why his character doesn't seem creepy even when he treats every female suspect with a flirtatious gaze.
Samyuktha Menon of 'Virupaksha' and 'Bheemla Nayak' fame is understated. Malvika Nair, actress Elnaaz Norouzi, Seetha, Satya, Srikanth Iyengar, Ajay, and Shafi fit into the larger scheme of things.
Technical aspects:
Harshavardhan Rameshwar's music, Gandhi Nadikudikar's production design, S Soundar Rajan's cinematography and the VFX, in that order, do their bit in making this period film look like a period film. Of these, the VFX is not even serviceable.
The action scenes are not ambitious. A lot of them are shorn of a big canvas. Yet, they are excusable because of the hype and hoopla surrounding Operation Tiger-Hunt, emotional patriotism and the clash between Titans. Some action set pieces (for example, the pirates' action scene in the first half) needed vision.
Post-Mortem:
The film's trailer said, "A chronicle of events that change the course of history." Srikanth Vissa's story, screenplay and dialogue, however, could have come with more plot intensity (rather than density) to live up to the description. An array of fictional characters (fictional British officers and fictional freedom fighters) exist around the unseen real-life figure - Bose. It is a good idea but not a novel one.
The Rasapadu investigation track is not Adivi Sesh-esque, but some elements keep up our interest. There is a forbidden area in the mansion where the investigation is on. There are scenes where the hero deciphers this and that like in old-school detective movies. They are not fabulous discoveries by the standards of today's cinema. From code interception and code encryption to incomplete codes keeping the wily British on their toes, a lot of elements somehow manage to make 'Devil' look earnest.
Samyuktha's character knows something the cops don't. Kalyanram's character looks like he is against emotional involvement. He is raw and rigid like Ram Charan's character in 'RRR' in that respect. He appears to have a weakness for women, but he is not a weakling. He has a penchant for threatening the suspects. He shows swag while talking with beautiful women. Director Abhishek Nama (or director Naveen Medaram. Whoever you believe has helmed this film) gives him sudden slow-emotion entries as well.
The fairly impressive first half gives way to a somewhat weary second half. Some plot points are convenient. It is not like the second half meanders, but the plot-heavy and dialogue-heavy nature starts to somewhat suffocate the audience.
Closing Remarks:
'Devil' would have been entirely refreshing had some plot points been inventive. A good first half and a not-so-engaging second half make it a watchable movie on balance.
