Devaki Nandana Vasudeva Review: The Ashok Galla starrer is a loud action drama that has most of the cast as misfit.
Last Updated: 06.20 PM, Nov 22, 2024
Kansa Raju (Devadatta Nage) is a ruthless man feared by everyone. If he demands something, be it land or life, he must be obeyed. Anyone who dares to complain is brutally killed. During a visit to Kashi, a Shiva sage foretells that Kansa Raju's life will be endangered by the third child born to his younger sister. Enraged, Kansa Raju mercilessly kills his sister’s husband, even though she is pregnant. The murder prompts the victim’s brother to file a police complaint, leading to Kansa Raju’s arrest. On the same day, his sister Devayani gives birth to a baby girl, Satya (Manasa Varanasi). Years later, Krishna (Ashok Galla) falls in love with Satya after seeing her at a wedding. Upon his release from prison, Kansa Raju is saved by Krishna during an attack and gradually forms a bond with him. Does Kansa Raju find out about Satya and Krishna's love? What secret did his sister hide from him? How does Krishna react after learning the full truth about Satya's family? And how does the story conclude? To find out, one must watch the film.
Devaki Nandana Vasudeva is the second film of Mahesh Babu's nephew, Ashok Galla. After debuting with a romantic comedy, Ashok has chosen a mass commercial drama, presenting himself in a new avatar. A notable aspect of Devaki Nandana Vasudeva is that HanuMan director Prasanth Varma penned the story. While the concept is decent, Arjun Jandhyala's execution leaves much to be desired. He manages to showcase the hero well in the action sequences, but the rest of the film falls apart.
The film's twists may have sounded good on paper, but their on-screen execution is underwhelming. One of the biggest drawbacks is that Ashok Galla doesn't suit the action-oriented backdrop. Despite working hard on his diction, he looks miscast in the entire setup. The first fifteen minutes are enough to predict the film's trajectory.
Recently, several Telugu films have incorporated mythology into modern narratives, and Devaki Nandana Vasudeva attempts the same. However, the projection is poorly handled and lacks coherence. Director Arjun Jandhyala, a former assistant to Boyapati Sreenu, shows potential only in the action sequences. The rest of the film’s emotional moments are overly dramatic and lack authenticity. The narrative lacks seriousness, and most scenes feel forced.
Ashok Galla's miscasting significantly affects the film, and the rest of the proceedings are unimpressive. In terms of performance, Ashok tries hard to make an impact. However, the poor choice of script by his family works against him. Opting for an action film at this stage of his career to establish himself was a miscalculated decision.
Miss India Manasa Varanasi makes her debut, but her role and performance are underwhelming. She appears out of place and fails to leave an impression. Devadatta Nage (Adipurush fame) is passable in his role, while Jhansi delivers a solid performance. The rest of the cast doesn’t contribute significantly.
The production team spared no expense, which is evident in the action sequences, cinematography, and production design—all of which are commendable. However, the film falters in its narration, editing, and screenplay, which are dull and uninspiring. There are no impactful moments, and whatever attempts are made feel contrived.
Overall, Devaki Nandana Vasudeva is a poorly executed action drama that fails to impress on any level. The story lacks focus, and the film struggles to engage the audience from the start. If Ashok Galla aspires to carve a niche in the industry, he must steer clear of projects like Devaki Nandana Vasudeva.
On the whole, Devaki Nandana Vasudeva is an action drama gone wrong. Right from the casting to the narration, nothing works, and makes us look at the exit door all the time.