Deva review: A fierce Shahid Kapoor in a middling action masala entertainer!

Rosshan Andrrews' Bollywood directorial debut, Deva, bears striking similarities to his film Mumbai Police, with the key difference being an unhinged Shahid Kapoor on Jakes Bejoy pulpy music!

There was a time when Hindi cinema's portrayal of police officers as heroes offered audiences a vision of justice that was often lacking in real life. These characters embodied righteousness, fighting wrongs in a world that craved moral clarity. However, in today's climate, where the scales of justice aren't black or white and discussions of police brutality dominate, rooting for a hero-cop with a skewed sense of right and wrong feels problematic. This machismo-laden attitude of bending the rules at will reeks of irony and hypocrisy. This is where Deva attempts to bring a fresh perspective. The film introduces an unhinged cop who operates by his own rules, defiantly clashing with the system, only to face the repercussions of his actions. But while the premise seems novel, there's an unsettling familiarity as if the promising originality is echoing a film from the past where the story rather than breaking new ground, is retracing old steps disguised as innovation.

There has been significant buzz and speculation about Deva being a remake of Mumbai Police, especially given that the same director, Rosshan Andrrews, and the writing duo Bobby-Sanjay, are behind both films. Despite this, the makers have chosen to distance themselves from remake claims, insisting that such rumors are mere speculation. This film centers on Dev Ambre (Shahid Kapoor), a rogue, maniacal cop tasked with solving the murder of his colleague. Things take a turn when Dev meets with an accident, resulting in memory loss. He is then forced to retrace an investigation he had already solved, only to uncover a twisted culprit by the end. Sounds familiar? Anyone who's seen the 2013 Malayalam film will recognize the narrative beats instantly. So, it's only a wonder why the filmmakers and cast are so adamant about refuting the connection when the similarities are undeniable and hard to ignore!

The film attempts to carve out its own space by tailoring the story to suit the tastes of a Hindi audience, one that gravitates towards larger-than-life heroes who are rooted in emotions. It's no surprise, then that Rosshan draws inspiration from a film he deeply admires - Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda. Set in the dense Mumbai's criminal underworld, Parinda's themes of ideological clash between two brothers and the complexities of revenge, echo in Deva too. Though Rosshan's ode is most apparent in how his film treats Mumbai as more than just a setting! The gritty beauty of the city with it's chaotic lanes, bustling with life, chawls, and endless chatter, are captured with an authenticity rarely seen in mass commercial cinema today. It's refreshing to see Mumbai in its raw form, without relying on over-the-top special effects.

And while placing a star like Shahid Kapoor in the middle of a busy Crawford Market might seem improbable, Rosshan pulls it off. Amit Roy's cinematography with sweeping overhead drone shots balanced by close, intimate frames that give the city a tangible presence knows how to capture cinematic effect rooted in realism. Even all the stylised action sequences find its footing in storytelling where the hero effect of Kapoor seems to be extending part of the plot rather than being curated and choreographed for him to have his hero moment.  

Also Read: You’re Cordially Invited review: All stars, no spark!

Despite this, the film lacks the shock value of revelations and twists that are essential to an investigative drama, even for audiences unfamiliar with Mumbai Police. As Dev uncovers clues to piece together the- who, what and why of the sniper shootout - its ties to a gangster, a minister, and ultimately to himself, the film offers a surface-level exploration of his investigation and character. It's a spoon fed, easy watch, leaving the audience with a middling experience; there's nothing egregiously wrong to rant about but nothing exceptional to rave about either. 

This is where Shahid Kapoor's dedication to his role comes into play, elevating the viewing experience. Post-Kabir Singh, it's hard to disassociate Kapoor from that intense character, and in this film, he channels a similar deranged anger as Dev-A (the film's title is derived from here), the pre-memory loss cop. He's a reckless, vengeful cigarette smoking man who would insult a local minister to show him his place just to avenge a friend, or stick a gun in a woman's mouth to silence her. Yet, as Dev-B, the cop after memory loss, Kapoor taps into the confused innocence he once displayed in earlier roles like in Haider, portraying a man who still has the muscle memory of fighting but begins to understand the consequences of his thoughtless actions and seeks redemption. Imagine Kabir Singh as a Mumbai cop, only one who tends to grow a conscience!

One intriguing element is how the film subtly suggests that Dev's toxic machismo stems from the absence of a positive father figure. Unfortunately, the narrative doesn't give enough space to these moments to have the depth they deserve, sidelining even emotional weight of the film. In the wake of that, even the supporting cast - Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Kubra Sait, Pravesh Rana, and others serve as useful complements to Kapoor's performance but nothing more. But what is even more disappointing is that the film's attempts to deliver a compelling commentary on the blurred lines between good cop and bad cop, both embodied in one man rather than two separate figures falls into the trap of pandering to the audience's desire for a typical masala action flick. This becomes most evident in the divided climax, where the commendable thematic exploration is overshadowed by a need to satisfy conventional tropes.

Ultimately, Deva plays it too safe to signal a triumphant return of Bollywood's classic masala cinema, where wild ideas like memory loss and dual identities once thrived. Moreover, it serves as a sobering reminder that Bollywood's struggles are more self-inflicted because if a celebrated Malayalam director like Andrrews fails to recapture the magic of his original film, it's more concerning than we realize.

Deva is currently running in theatres near you!

For more reviews, follow us on @socialketchupbinge.