Devkhel review: This Marathi series shows potential but gets lost in translation

Devkhel, featuring Ankush Chaudhari in the lead role, is a Marathi series that could be executed better.

Devkhel poster

Devkhel

Devkhel Story:

15 serial murders take place within 15 days. Now the otherwise calm Inspector Vishwas has to solve the case keeping his personal feelings aside.

Devkhel Review:

Devkhel (God's Play) is a tricky world. Mired in stereotypes almost throughout the series, there is little that the show has to offer. Even the leading actor Ankush Chaudhari, despite his hardwork, tends to barely leave an impression despite some powerful moments.

Devkhel sets the tone as a light-hearted story with Ankush Chaudhari as Inspector Vishwas Saranjame getting to hear, "Tu maajhi daadhi karto aahes? Lagna kar! (You are shaving my beard? Get married instead!)" He is shown as anything but serious, till it gets to business.

The series is a sterotypical Marathi show - where power starts within a gully - and ends up in a crime. Now, the chilled out Vishwas has to solve a crime involving serial murders. There's also the stereotypical graph of women trying to be taken for granted and domestic abuse by drunk husband being an everyday situation in a remote village. The scene, like most in the series, could be impactful but ends up just being an addition.

While Ankush impresses as a chilled out officer, he's at his best when he loses his calm. He is especially at his finest when it comes to giving unexpected reactions. The first episode, which is mostly about his introduction, itself gives you a clue about how rushed the series really is. The screenplay is where this series falls weak, even if the story could be gripping enough.

Also Read: Devkhel OTT release date: Here's when and where you can stream Marathi psychological crime thriller series

There's Asur reference in the series, after which you witness Shankasur come to life. The second episode leaves you hanging with the very mystery. In fact, this is where the series' real turning point is. As you move ahead, the references to the title do get clearer. The show's slow pace gets to you after a point, even if the story does get slightly interesting from time-to-time. As for novelty, there isn't a lot that the series offers.

Yatin Karyekar, often associated with powerful performances, lacks the powerful entry required in the series. Nonetheless, he definitely is a surprise. Veena Jamkar's entry, on the other hand, leaves you wanting to know more. Unfortunately, there isn't much to it. He tends to appear in other scenes but is severely underutilized in the series which focuses on Ankush instead.

Prajakta Mali's entry as a depressed soul Sarika trapped in darkness hides a secret - one that comes out with the unexpected meeting. The scene is powerful one, since eyes do most of the talking. The scene is also impactful because one phone call changes a whole lot. Skip to the last scene, which can be described as cinema itself. Despite that, the show is just average.

Also Read: From Dashavatar to Baai Tujhyapayi: Top 5 Marathi projects you need to watch ahead of Devkhel’s OTT release

The last episode tends to make more noise than actually leave an impact. This is about background noise (shank, most of the time). The mystery unfolding around this noise, thus, leaves lesser impact (not that it offered much, since the story has been told before and in a better manner). Thus, Devkhel can be tagged as one-time watch.

Devkhel Verdict:

The Chandrakant Lata Gaikwad directorial Devkhel had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it is underutilized for the most parts. The series tends to grip you in parts, but for most bits, it is not anything novel. You can watch this once in case there's nothing else to do over the weekend.

Devkhel FAQs:

Q: When is the Devkhel OTT release date?

A: The Marathi original series Devkhel is set to premiere on January 30, 2026. It will be available for streaming exclusively on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

Q: Who is in the cast of Devkhel?

A: Devkhel features a star-studded Marathi cast, including Ankush Chaudhari as Inspector Vishwas Saranjame; Prajakta Mali as Sarika Nimkar; Arun Nalawade as Balkrushna Saranjame; Yatin Karyekar as Vishwanath Nimkar; Mangesh Desai as SP Rangane; and Veena Jamkar as Lakshmi.

Q: In which language will Devkhel be available?

A: Devkhel is pri marily a Marathi language series. However, ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) often provides subtitles in multiple languages, including Hindi and English, to cater to a global audience.

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