Title – The Devil | Production – Sri Jaimatha Combines | Direction – Prakash Veer | Music – Ajanish Lokanath | Cinematography – Sudhakar S Raj |
Cast – Darshan, Achyuth Kumar, Rachana Rai, Mahesh Manjrekar, Tulasi, Srinivasaprabhu, Huli Karthik, Vinay Gowda, Roger Narayan, Sharmiela Mandre, Shobaraj, Yuvaraj, Sonia and others.
This film is a sumptuous treat for fans of Challenging Star Darshan. He doesn’t appear in just one role but in two—Dhanush “The Devil” and Krishna. The highlight of the film is director Prakash Veer’s intelligent screenplay. As Dhanush, he presents Darshan in a fresh and striking avatar, while the Krishna character plays to Darshan’s proven strengths as the box-office sultan of Kannada cinema.
The film suggests that the devil exists in everyone at some point in life. That darker side, and its impact on society, is explored powerfully here. The Devil’s ideological counterpart is Nambiar, and the way this character is written and performed is remarkable. Achyuth Kumar, in particular, steals hearts with a stellar performance.
The film’s release coinciding with the superstar’s personal crisis—Darshan being behind bars—may be hard to digest for fans. Darshan has always been a crowd-puller, and today’s allegations against him cast a shadow on his real life. But in the film, his Devil avatar is deadly and dynamic, while as Krishna he conveys that sometimes one must turn to crime to fight injustice.
The film boasts powerful making, superstar swagger, political potboiler elements, emotional depth, and diverse shades of Darshan—all contributing to a grand cinematic canvas. Prakash Veer’s vision and his understanding of what a superstar like Darshan can deliver are evident. How that translates into audience reaction is the big question.
Dhanush (Darshan) lives a wealthy, reckless life in Europe—surrounded by women and liquor, the spoilt son of Chief Minister Rajashekhar (Mahesh Manjrekar). As Rajashekhar loses credibility ahead of elections, his trusted aide Nambiar (Achyuth Kumar) hatches a plan to bring Dhanush back and groom him as the CM candidate. But when Dhanush refuses, Nambiar replaces him with Krishna (also Darshan), a lookalike aspiring actor who dreams of seeing his cut-out outside theatres. Tempted by Nambiar’s offer, Krishna agrees to impersonate Dhanush.
As elections near, the real Dhanush suddenly appears at interval, upending Nambiar’s calculations. Matters escalate further when Dhanush develops feelings for Rukmini, Krishna’s fiancée.
How Nambiar manages the chaos between Dhanush and Krishna to retain power keeps the audience hooked. Darshan shines in both roles. His dialogue delivery as the grey-shaded Dhanush is superb. The costumes for this character are excellent, enhancing his swag, walk, and dialogue modulation—showing a fresh facet of the actor. As Krishna, the performance is effortless and endearing.
When the female lead says, “I am not able to understand you in the right way,” it perfectly captures Krishna’s evolving shades. Rachana Rai makes a strong debut and shows immense potential.
Achyuth Kumar is flawless. His portrayal of a kingmaker brimming with strategy and ambition deserves awards. Mahesh Manjrekar impresses, though his dubbing falls short. Roger Narayan and Vinay Gowda deliver solid performances, while Tulasi and Srinivasa Prabhu have well-written roles.
Ram–Lakshman’s stunt choreography is intense and stylish, offering new action dimensions for Darshan. Sudhakar Raj’s cinematography is excellent, skillfully using light and shadow. Ajaneesh Lokanath excels more in background score than songs. The duet is beautiful, while “Ratatarara…” and the opening track cater perfectly to Darshan’s mass image.
Kantharaj’s dialogues are impactful: Long, Loyalty and Money; Kalthiro Baashe, Kottiro Baashe; Onde Ondu Avakasha Karnataka Prakasha; Madras Eye and Chennai; Tsunami and Suntaragali combination; Rule Mado Varegu Retire Agolla; Thatte alliro oota inda kaiguna tiliyolla—several lines stand out.
Costumes for both Dhanush and Rachana Rai are stylish and impressive. The Devil is a mass entertainer and definitely worth your money!