'Devil - The British Secret Agent', is produced by Abhishek Pictures. The spy thriller hit the screens today (December 29). What is the film like? Here we tell you:
Plot:
The story takes place in Rasapadu in the 1940s. Agent Devil (Nandamuri Kalyanram) is a special police officer from Madras pressed into action to investigate the murder of Vijaya (Ammu Abhirami), the daughter of a Zamindar. Devil starts suspecting everyone, including Nyshada (Samyuktha Menon), a relative of the murdered person. A Patwari (Ajay) and a few others are also suspects. A twist arrives and he must embark on a mission that involves the fate of the INA, freedom fighter Bose and Trivarna, a mysterious freedom fighter in whom Bose has reposed complete faith.
Performances:
Nandamuri Kalyanram gets his screen presence and dialogue delivery right. This one is his second-best performance after 'Bimbisara'. His look, costumes and slang elevate his character.
Samyuktha Menon of 'Virupaksha' fame is good in most of the scenes, although she could have been intense in some. Malvika Nair as a Gandhian freedom fighter named Manimekala reveals herself as a secret revolutionary quite early on. Actress Elnaaz Norouzi, Seetha, comedian Satya, Srikanth Iyengar (as a cop), Ajay, Shafi, Achanta Mahesh and several others dot the film. Every one of them has serious parts except Satya.
Technical Departments:
Harshavardhan Rameshwar's background music may not be the best that has come out this year, but it works. In some places it is loud. Overall, it is effective.
The Sound Design by Vijay Rathinam is far from being a banger, but it is sufficient. Tammiraju's editing is economical; the brevity doesn't compromise on the impact anywhere. Gandhi Nadikudikar's production design adheres to the Britsh-India era, complementing the minimalism innate to the script. S Soundar Rajan's cinematography is inventive in a few respects. It could have been breathtaking in a few scenes where the staging demanded a larger-than-life feel.
Merits:
1. The interval block comes with a heroic build-up. It is also emotionally satisfying because of a reveal about a key character.
2. Building intrigue around Netaji's lieutenant Trivarna. The mythification of the fictional freedom fighter is excellent.
3. Using Vijaya's investigation track as a red herring.
4. A powerful episode involving Kalyanram and a major female character in the second half.
5. The patriotic fervour shown by some characters.
6. The involvement of Agent Trojan and Morse Code in the second half.
Demerits:
1. Some clichéd arcs concerning the many suspects.
2. Portrayal of the British in a regular fashion.
3. The plot is somewhat dense if not convoluted.
Vox Verdict:
'Devil' is a good spy thriller set in the British-India era. Its screenplay and story, written by Srikanth Vissa, are well-etched. Kalyanram's performance is solid.
Rating: 3 / 5
