Deva was recently released on Netflix. Adapted from a screenplay by Bobby Sanjay, Deva introduces us to a brooding, volatile cop with a flair for style and destruction. Think Kabir Singh in uniform — if he joined the police force instead of medical school.
A Cop With Daddy Issues and Dangerous Charm
Deva, played by Shahid Kapoor, is the textbook “angry hero” — explosive, emotionally stunted, s*xually active, and deeply scarred by paternal trauma. His colleagues fear him, women fall for him, and he exudes that magnetic “main character energy.” At his sister’s wedding, he makes everyone dance to a song named after himself. Need I say more?
An Attempt at a Thriller—That Forgets The Thrills
Deva aspires to be a mystery-thriller, one that explores police corruption, brutality, and class divides. But despite these weighty themes, the film hesitates to go all in. Instead, we get undercooked ideas, dodgy green-screen CGI, and a plot that’s less of a slow burn and more of a sputtering engine.
The movie Deva kicks off with Dev on a motorcycle, revealing a killer’s name over the phone — until he’s suddenly run off the road. This sets up a flashback, and now we’re dealing with Dev A (pre-crash, pre-memory-loss) solving a case where everyone is a suspect. Unfortunately, the plot never builds enough intrigue to keep you guessing. The whodunit gets lost in weak storytelling and overcrowded writing (yes, six writers!).
Flat Characters and Flatter Twists
The cast is filled with potentially interesting characters who never quite come to life. Pravesh Rana as a DCP might be corrupt… or just have a bad mustache. Kubbra Sait’s Dipti, a cop, gets mentioned by name just once. Pooja Hegde plays a journalist — reduced to a collection of clichés and glamorous dance numbers. Could she be the killer? Maybe. Do we care? Not really.
The problem isn’t that there are too many suspects. It’s that none of them are written with enough depth to be compelling. The film tries to play Cluedo but forgets to hand us any clues worth following.
Shahid Kapoor Saves the Day (Barely)
If there’s a saving grace, it’s Shahid Kapoor. He fully embodies Dev A and Dev B — two versions of the same man, separated by memory loss. Dev A is swaggering and relentless; Dev B is unsure and disoriented. Kapoor switches between them seamlessly, showing just how skilled an actor he is.
Two standout moments: Dev B’s uncomfortable chat with a sniper who fetishizes weapons, and Dev A’s confrontation with his privileged cop bestie. Both scenes hint at a more complex movie hiding inside this flashy mess.
Style Overload: Swag, Swag, and More Swag
Here’s where the movie becomes exhausting. Every action — from pointing a gun to getting beaten in jail — is drenched in slow-mo swagger. Even getting out of bed is a style statement. The film mistakes personality for presence, never letting Dev grow beyond the broody poster boy he starts out as.
Sound Effects, Dance Numbers, and Narrative Chaos
Foley artists get to shine with every crack, punch, and crunch. Watermelons were clearly harmed in the making of this film. But while the soundscape is over-the-top, the narrative is undercooked. Subplots meander. Motivations change on a whim. Characters vanish and reappear. The film tries to be layered, but it’s mostly noise.
And let’s not forget the out-of-nowhere dance numbers. Just when the plot might pick up momentum — boom — Pooja Hegde appears for an item song, pushing the story back into the background.
What About Social Commentary?
There is an attempt at commentary — on police violence, systemic corruption, and class — but it’s so surface-level, it barely registers. Heavy music scores and moody lighting can’t cover for the film’s lack of real insight.
Watch Deva for Shahid, Not for the Story
Deva is a missed opportunity. With a tighter script and fewer detours, it could’ve been a smart, gripping thriller. Instead, it becomes a flashy showcase for Shahid Kapoor’s undeniable charisma. He gives it everything — but the film around him gives very little.
If you’re looking for a thriller with brains and tension, skip this and wait for Squid Game Season 2.
