The trailer for Devara: Part 1 has finally arrived, and with the intense anticipation surrounding this Telugu action drama, expectations were undeniably high. Boasting a heavily talked-about chemistry between its lead stars Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor, along with some thrilling action, fans were keen to see what this film had in store. But does this trailer live up to expectations?
Let’s get into the good, the bad, and all that has made this preview so anticipated.
Well, let’s just say the trailer introduces a 2-minute-40-second intro to Devara intrepid leader who plunges into dangerous waters to protect his people. The story then flows back to his son, Vara, who is introduced as a meek and mild character with the least of intentions to plunge into the danger that surrounds him. Moving on, the trailer has Vara growing into a strong warrior determined to carry on the name of his father.
The transition from Devara to Vara feels very abrupt. One minute we see the nemesis plotting the takedown of Devara; then, without much context or too much of a connected feel, we are introduced to Vara. I know that not all of the information could be given in a trailer, but it might have helped establish the relationship between the two characters more fluidly.
Saif Ali Khan plays Bhaira, the villain of Devara, and from the trailer, he doesn’t come off as menacing enough. Having always done power roles, Saif’s Bhaira seems pretty subdued and lacks the depth that would have made him much stronger as a villain. This may be a conscious call to keep the limelight on Jr NTR’s character, but it does beg the question as to how fleshed Bhaira’s role is in the film.
Another thing that is underutilized in the trailer is Janhvi Kapoor as Thangam, Vara’s love interest. It is very prominent in the film’s promotional material, but she finds a place in the trailer for a very short time. Going by the build-up the character has received, this appears to be a missed opportunity to showcase her role in the movie.
The action sequences in the trailer could have been its strong point. The final shot, showing Jr NTR riding a dolphin, promises the coming of a hero, but it has yet to create the expected visual magic. Considering the ₹150 crore budget of the film, the VFX for this scene is very average, and that leaves us questioning whether the final product would rise to its tall promises.
Furthermore, the trailer promises a land vs. sea battle but the story doesn’t explain who is going to be the lead antagonist. It is left to be guessed and may be intentionally done in order not to mislead people. However, this may get the audience confused instead of curious. Jr NTR’s Hindi dubbing sounds pretty artificial, too, which will be a problem when the movie is released in non-Telugu-speaking states.
Well, notwithstanding these reservations, the trailer got a massive response: it gathered 551K views and more than 4,000 comments within the first hour of release. The opening day of this film is sure to be an event in itself, with bookings in North America already showing very healthy interest.
To hit the big screen on September 27, all eyes are on Jr NTR, Janhvi Kapoor, and Saif Ali Khan to see if they can pull off this big-ticket action drama. The trailer for Devara: Part 1 missed a few beats, but it remains too early to knock the film out completely. With such a talented cast, hope still exists that this movie will live up to its promise and deliver an action experience fans have been looking forward to.
