The first thing that comes to your mind after watching a tedious drama like Devaru is whether an ordinary Tamil film like Thalainagaram (2006) (which itself was the remake of the Malayalam film, Abhimanyu) deserved to be remade in Kannada.
The film's director Sadhu Kokila has better credentials and talent than the debutant Suraj who had directed the Tamil film.
The original Malayalam film with Mohanlal in the lead and directed by Priyadarshan was set in Mumbai while the Tamil film centred around the underworld activities of North Chennai. The Kannada version is a copy of the Tamil film without even a mention of the Bangalore underworld activities.
Since the film had a cliched plot, Sadhu could have tried to infuse some interest in the film through an innovative treatment. But Sadhu, who made such an entertaining film like Suntaragaali, chose to be faithful to the Tamil remake and makes only cosmetic changes like having a railway station as the backdrop for the climax (as Bangalore does not have a harbour). He retains the same crudeness that was there in the Tamil film too.
Half an hour into the film, the pace begins to drag and this continues till the beginning of the climax.
Devaru could have ended as a lifeless boring drama, but for some good fights and a neat performance by Vijay who underplays his role well in the second half. The songs which could have provided some relief to the proceedings lacks colour.
Devaru dwells upon a gang of kind-hearted henchmen who face several troubles after they decide to reform. Lingadevaru is a loyal henchman of the underworld don Rami Reddy, who is also helping a crooked cabinet minister of the state. Devaru has a falling out with Rami Reddy after Reddy's supporters kill his trusted friend Nandi. Devaru decides to reform on the advice of his friend Nandi. But the newly transferred cunning police officer wants him to re-enter the criminal scene. Finally Devaru vanquishes all the villains, but becomes the victim of a frame up.
Vijay has performed his role with ease. His fights are brilliant. Pragna is good in her role too. She certainly has the necessary oomph and dances well. Sadhu Kokila acts in the role of a lover who tries to impress the film's heroine Pragna. His dialogue delivery and scenes with another director Om Prakash Rao are hilarious. Other veteran artists like Ravi Kale, Ashish Vidyarthi, Shobharaj and P N Sathya have given neat performances.
Surprisingly Sadhu's music comes as a dampener. J G Krishna scores well in his camera work. Like many other remakes, Devaru follows the original and ends up as an ordinary fare.
Rediff Rating: 
