Devaraya Review

Behind the Movie Devaraya: Hero Srikanth has a family image. He is running behind success from a very long time. This time his own Meka Media has got associated with new director Nani Krishna to make this socio fanatsy on Vijayanagar Emperor. Let us see, how grandeur and royal is this?

In the Movie Devaraya: Story begins in present day with an Aghora performing pooja to Lord Shiva in Tripura Devi temple of Amalapuram village for the re-birth of Devaraya. In the same village lives Dorababu (Srikanth) and his tapori batch (Jeeva, MS Narayana, Raghu, Kondavalasa and others). Born in Devaraya Amsha, this Dora Babu is a perfect playboy who spends life in enjoying to the fullest. However, he falls in love with Swapna (Vidisha), grand daughter of historian (Ranganath). 

In parallel, Archaeologist (Shivaji Raja) finds the histrocial evidences of Devanagari scripts dating back to 15th Century Sri Krishna Devaraya in Godavari delta region. He approaches Ranganath to decipher the script. In the same village lives villain (Jayaprakash Reddy) planning to build a Cement factor by demolishing the Tripura Devi temple. All of sudden, Devaraya's soul enters into Dorababu to save this ancient temple.             

How is Devaraya of Vijayanagara Empire linked to Amalapuram temple? How is Amalapuram dancer Sunanda (Meenakshi Dikshit) related to Devaraya? Why Vijayanagara Empire lost glory after Devaraya period? How Devraya used the body of Dorababu to fulfill his promise? 

Values & Out of the Movie Devaraya: Strictly speaking except the Konaseema mass comedy bits in between the Tapori batch of Dorababu, there is nothing you can rejoice. Entire script is rotten and Nani Krishna seems to be a big copy master who just re-wrote the scenes of 'Allari Mogudu, Yuganiki Okkadu, Arundhathi, Magadheera, Chandramukhi' etc. Direction is also absolutely pathetic. Dialogues by Veerababu Baasina are most inconsitent. Cinematography of Poorna Kandru is just okay and editing is again the worst. Music by Chakri is completely obsolete. Production values of Kiran Jakkamsetti and Nani Gadi Cinema are also a waste.     

Performance wise, Srikanth seems to have lost his originality. For the first half, he imitated Chiranjeevi and second half, he just followed the mannerisms of NTR and Balayya. Alover, he alone took the movie forward. Vidisha is hot while Menakshi limited to offering some erotic expressions. Ranganath, Jayaprakash Reddy, Balayya and Shivajiraja were brief. Comedy of Jeeva, MS Narayana, Raghu, Kondavalasa and others was filthy. 

One big doubt I would express is how did a senior actor like Srikanth (who completed century) accepted this kind of a script and even invested on it? Neither there is any conviction in narration nor there is a really good or novel concept. Every episode is a rehash from old movies. Except some inspirational dialogues on Telugu language, this is totally a scrap. Every pie risked on this project can be considered as foolishness of producers. Nani Krishna and Srikanth's confident discussion shown as voice over in the beginng scenes hasn't got any justification in their treatment. I wish that, this could be the first and last time the historical name of Sri Krishna Devaraya will be used in wrong commercial sense. Finally, this is one of the excellent dud movies in recent times.

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Devaraya: Strictly Not Recommended.

                                                                                          Reviewed by Srivaas