Deva Film Evaluation & Score: A bunch of cops in Mumbai monitor down the killer of a fellow officer, opening up a number of cans of worms. That, roughly, was what the Roshhan Andrrews-directed Mumbai Police (2013), headlined by Prithviraj Sukumaran, was about.
One other bunch of cops in Mumbai do the identical, broadly, within the 2025 ‘Deva’, additionally by the identical director. From what I bear in mind of the unique, there appear to be a number of scenes that are precise replicas, however for some purpose greatest recognized to themselves, the filmmakers have taken nice pains to forestall themselves, in addition to anybody else, dubbing the Shahid Kapoor starrer a remake.
Kapoor performs Dev Ambre, a hot-headed cop who is consistently on the boil. A drunk-on-power neta (Girish Kulkarni) who doesn’t abide by the principles? Wade into stated neta’s goons, and shout him down. A colleague (Pavail Gulatie) who’s being too comfortable on the politician? Give him a lecture on good cops who must do their responsibility. Feminine colleague (Kubbra Sait) daring to inform him that she could know extra a couple of locality? Scoff at her.
Mainly, Dev aka Deva comes off as a cross between Zanjeer’s Vijay — a number of scenes have been helpfully shot in opposition to a Mumbai wall with Amitabh Bachchan’s visage plastered throughout it — and Soiled Harry, with a vigorous dance sequence involving various crotch thrusts thrown in, as a differentiator.
Kapoor’s close-shaved head on this one could remind you of his look in ‘Haider’, which was his final placing efficiency. He provides in a cocked-to-a-side head, collar open sufficient to indicate off chain in opposition to buffed, gleaming chest, dangling cigarettes, and a slo-mo stride to match.
The look is an efficient match for a badass film cop. However Shahid Kapoor can’t get previous that, getting caught in a flat, stylised supply, for probably the most half. Naming a movie after a titular character skews the script: every little thing flows from hero Shahid Kapoor’s actions and reactions, whereas a ‘Mumbai Police’ retains our consideration on everybody in it, even when Sukumaran is clearly within the lead.
ALSO READ | Deva Film Twitter Evaluation: Shahid Kapoor-starrer a ‘rollercoaster trip you can’t miss’, say followers
Story continues beneath this advert
Main woman Pooja Hegde, who returns to the display screen after a niche, leaves an impression in her transient function. Much less can, as a rule, be extra.
There are a minimum of a few situations when Shahid Kapoor does come alive, reminding us of the actor that he might be. Each are scenes by which he permits his character to be susceptible, and you want there have been extra of those, fairly than the unfastened threads and the lengthy slack-blah stretches which make you are feeling each minute of its almost two-and-a-half hour size.
Deva film solid: Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulatie, Pravessh Rana, Girish Kulkarni, Kubbra Sait
Deva film director: Rosshan Andrrews
Deva film ranking: 1.5 stars
