Devara – Part 1 Story: Four villages on the Andhra-Telangana border in Ratnagiri, called Erra Samudram (Red Sea), are notorious for their pirate operations against passing cargo ships. Devara (Jr. NTR) and Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan), the heads of two villages, turn against each other when Devara finds out that they have been smuggling deadly weapons. When Devara becomes aware of the dangers, he decides to put an end to the illegal operations, which leads to a real rivalry between the two factions. What did Devara do to instill fear in the four villages? And what role did his son Vara (Jr. NTR) play in carrying forward his legacy?

Devara – Part 1 Review: Director Koratala Siva's Devara: Part 1, starring Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, offers a visually gorgeous and action-packed experience but leaves something to be desired in terms of narrative depth and character development. Jr NTR, who returns to the screen after the success of RRR, shines in his dual portrayal of Devara and Vara and delivers intense, commendable performances that take the film to a new level – especially in the action sequences, his ability to convey emotions and his effortless dancing skills. His commanding presence, powerful dialogue and seamless dance moves stand out, even though the story itself doesn't offer the same level of intrigue or tension.

While the first half is gripping and Koratala Siva effectively builds the world of Erra Samudram (Red Sea) and sets up the conflict, the second half suffers from pacing issues and predictable plot developments. Saif Ali Khan is convincing in his Telugu debut as the vengeful Bhaira, but his dynamic is underutilized, leaving his character lacking the depth to really make the antagonist stand out. Janhvi Kapoor is given a limited role as Thangam and appears in a few songs, which is a disappointment. Her character's childhood presence in the first half could have been better integrated into the second half.

The supporting cast – Prakash Raj as Singappa, Srikanth as Narappa, Kalaiyarasan as Kunjara, Shruti Marathe as Devara's wife, Murali Sharma as Muruga, Abhimanyu Singh as Tulasi and Ajay as a police officer – deliver competent performances.

Technically the film is excellent. Rathnavelu's cinematography is particularly strong, with standout moments like the Ayudha Pooja fight scene being visually stunning. Another highlight is the background music by Anirudh Ravichander, which adds intensity to the action scenes and breathes life into otherwise dull moments. Although the visual effects and CGI are well integrated, there is still room for improvement.

The cliffhanger, meant to build anticipation for Devara: Part 2, feels forced and lacks the impact seen in other major cinema sagas. The scene brings back memories of the iconic moment in Baahubali: Part 1 and leaves the audience wondering, 'Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?' However, in Devara, this moment is not as strong, even though it tries to convey a similar sense of intrigue to leave behind.

Overall, Devara: Part 1 is visually impressive but narratively disappointing. Jr NTR's solid performance combined with high production values ​​and Anirudh's score make it worth watching. However, the predictable plot in the second half might disappoint those expecting a more exciting cinematic experience.