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Tuesday, April 23, 2024
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TELUGU DEVARAYA
EDITOR'S PICK
`Devaraya`:
lifeless socio-fantasy drama (Telugu Movie Review)
Rating: *
"Devaraya" follows the footsteps of films that attempted to marry
socio-fantasy with modern day drama, only to produce a lifeless output.
Spearheaded by Srikant, who also happens to be the saving grace, this film
neither inspires nor entertains.
Srikant plays Dorababu, a happy-go-lucky villager who lives life to the fullest
and believes in spreading happiness. He falls head over heels for Swapna, played
by Vidisha. She is also smitten by his well mannered nature and loves him back.
Meanwhile, an archaeologist, played by Sivaji Raja, unearths some items
belonging to the Sri Krishnadevaraya era in the Godavari delta. Further
examination into the matter reveals startling secrets, which claim that Dorababu
has some connection with the late emperor.
According to the discovery, the emperor has some unfulfilled promises, and for
the same to be fulfilled, Dorababu should sacrifice himself.
What are the promises and how Dorababu is connected to emperor Krishnadevaraya
forms the rest of the story?
The film, which was touted to be Srikant`s first socio-fantasy dream project,
fumbles in almost all departments. The plot is inundated with several potholes
and the sub-plots were left hanging without sensible explanation. The first half
is boring while the second half that introduces the socio-fantasy part into the
film attempts to impress but falls short of anything noteworthy.
The flashback sequence is poorly executed. While Srikant shined in the role of
the emperor, but sadly lot of detailing that was required in the role was
missing. Scenes in the flashback keep shifting back and forth with present day,
without making any sense whatsoever.
Srikant delivered his best in both roles, and especially in the role of the
famous emperor. The actresses, besides being glamorous, didn`t have any meaty
part to play. The rest of the cast which includes Jayaprakash Reddy, M.S
Narayana and others attempt to make a few laughs but didn`t quite succeed in the
process.
Nani Krishna, at the helm of the project, should have ideally anticipated what
he was getting into and its consequences. It was promised to be an avant-garde
socio-fantasy film, but sadly graduates as a brainless attempt and mockery of
the genre.
Instead of including badly executed graphical scenes, given the low budget of
the film, the makers should have done away with the graphics part. To add to the
woes, climax is the most stupid part of the film, and you wish you hadn`t sat
through it.
"Devaraya" is an experience not worth discussing.
Devaraya Movie Audio Launch Stills