Deva movie (2025) – Complete Film Analysis
Description
Deva movie (2025) – Complete Film Analysis
📅 Date of Writing
This blog is written on 27 June 2025.
🎬 1. What is Deva movie (2025)?
Deva is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action-crime thriller. It is directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur under Roy Kapur Films, with Zee Studios distributing it. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, and Pavail Gulati, this film is a remake of Andrrews’s 2013 Malayalam film Mumbai Police, but with a different climax.
📜 2. Plot Summary of Deva movie
Deva, played by Shahid Kapoor, is a brilliant but defiant police officer. He investigates a high-profile murder within the force.
- Opening: Deva encounters corruption and loses memory after an accident.
- Middle: He retraces the events of his friend Rohan’s murder.
- Climax: A shocking twist reveals unexpected betrayal, with a new ending unlike the original Malayalam version.
🧑💼 3. Cast & Characters
- Shahid Kapoor as Dev Ambre, the lead cop known for his rage and intelligence.
- Pooja Hegde as Diya Sathaye, a journalist and Deva’s love interest.
- Pavail Gulati as ACP Rohan D’Silva, Deva’s close colleague whose murder sparks the plot.
- Pravesh Rana, Girish Kulkarni, and Kubbra Sait in supporting roles.
🎥 4. Production Details of Deva movie
Announcements & Filming
- Announced in May 2023.
- Shot in Mumbai from October 2023 to September 2024.
Crew
- Cinematography: Amit Roy.
- Editing: A. Sreekar Prasad.
- Screenplay: Bobby–Sanjay, Abbas & Hussain Dalal, Arshad Syed, Sumit Arora.
🎵 5. Music & Soundtrack
Composed by Jakes Bejoy (background and two songs) and Vishal Mishra (one song).
- Singles Released:
- “Bhasad Macha” – energy-filled track (Jan 11, 2025).
- “Marji Cha Maalik” – Marathi rap (Jan 24, 2025).
The full album launched on 12 February 2025.
🎬 6. Style & Visuals of Deva movie
The film runs for 156 minutes. It uses gritty, realistic cinematography to capture Mumbai’s darker side. Action sequences feature raw hand-to-hand combat.
🎭 7. Performances & Acting
- Shahid Kapoor delivers a layered performance. His raw energy was praised by fans.
- Pooja Hegde brings emotional depth, though some felt her role could have been larger.
- Pavail Gulati stands out in pivotal scenes.
- Supporting cast including Kubbra Sait and Girish Kulkarni receive positive mentions.
✍️ 8. Writing & Screenplay
Adapted screenplay from the Malayalam original (Mumbai Police) with a reimagined climax.
Critics said:
- The first half is gripping.
- Second half feels predictable and slow.
- Some praised its pacing; others noted a few clichés.
🗓️ 9. Release & Promotion of Deva movie
- Theatrical Release: 31 January 2025, originally planned for Dussehra 2024, then moved to February 2025.
- Trailer/Teaser: Released early January 2025. Teaser highlighted a “Kabir Singh”-style intensity.
- OTT Release: Streamed on Netflix from 28 March 2025.
📈 10. Box Office & Reception of Deva movie
Box Office
- Decent start: ₹5.5 crore (Day 1), ₹6.4 crore (Day 2), ₹7.25 crore (Day 3).
- Fell to ₹2.5 crore on Day 4.
- Ultimately, it struggled to recover its approx. ₹50 crore budget.
Ratings
- IMDb: 6.7/10.
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 46% critics, 70% audience score.
Critic Highlights
- “Well-acted, but generic story.”
- “Strong acting, weak writing (1.5/5).”
- “Shahid’s energy stands out despite flimsy plot (2/5).”
Audience Response to Deva movie
“A well-made thriller that could’ve benefited from better screenplay.”
“It stands tall thanks to its actors’ performances.”
✅ Summary of Sections 1–10
| Aspect | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Concept | Hindi remake of Thriller Mumbai Police |
| Lead | Shahid Kapoor in gritty cop role |
| Filming | Shot in Mumbai over one year |
| Music | Debut Hindi score by Jakes Bejoy |
| Style | Dark, intense visuals |
| Acting | Strong lead, but mixed support |
| Writing | Solid first half, weaker second half |
| Box Office | Underwhelming returns |
💰 11. Box Office Performance & Budget
Deva reportedly had a production budget between ₹50–80 crore. It opened weakly with ₹5.5 crore on day one, followed by ₹6.4 crore and ₹7.25 crore over the weekend. Weekday collections dropped sharply (∼₹2.4 crore on day 5).
Trade analysts labeled Deva a “flop” at around ₹39.1 crore in India. The global gross reached ₹52–60 crore, failing to break even theatrically.
📺 12. Streaming Release & Viewership
Deva debuted on Netflix on 28 March 2025. In its first week, it was among the top 10 non-English films globally, ranking #1 in 7 countries including India. The film logged 2.8 million views and 7.2 million viewing hours—Netflix’s 3rd-best Hindi debut for 2025.
📝 13. Critical and Audience Reception
Critics to Deva movie :
- “Forgettable remake” (Firstpost).
- “Hero-worshiping film with loose threads” (1.5/5, Indian Express).
- “Shahid’s earnest performance but clichéd screenplay” (Hollywood Reporter India).
Audience:
Consensus: strong acting and intent, but weak screenplay and pace issues.
⚠️ 14. Controversies & Criticisms
Climax Rewrite
The original Malayalam version featured a protagonist with a gay reveal. Deva removed this, opting for a “hero-centric” twist, which critics saw as removing the heart of the original.
Premiere Hype
Only ~18,000 tickets sold pre-release. Poor marketing hampered its theatrical run.
🌍 15. Cultural and Industry Impact
Deva sparked debate about Bollywood’s remake trend. Critics said remaking a celebrated Malayalam film for stardom diluted its themes. Mainstream viewers appreciated its depiction of Mumbai and raw action.
🎬 16. Behind-the-Scenes Highlights
- Director Rosshan Andrrews adapted his own film, removing LGBTQ plotline for Bollywood.
- Shahid Kapoor prepared intensively for a darker cop persona.
- Pooja Hegde’s role was considered underwritten.
🎞️ 17. Scene-by-Scene Breakdown
Opening of Deva movie
A gritty chase and memory loss setup.
Mid-section
Well-paced investigation into Rohan’s murder.
Climax of Deva movie
Unexpected but simplified twist—hero as mole.
🎭 18. Themes & Symbolism
- Identity Crisis: Loss of memory mirrors loss of self.
- Moral Ambiguity: Deva is hero and villain.
- City as Character: Mumbai’s underbelly plays central role.
🎥 19. Comparison with Mumbai Police
Unlike its critically acclaimed Malayalam original, Deva struggled to justify its existence without core themes. Critics noted Bollywood’s “remake curse”.
📝 20. Conclusion & Final Thoughts of Deva movie
Deva is a mixed bag. It boasts strong performances and gritty visuals but stumbles in screenplay and thematic depth. The film underperformed at the box office yet found streaming success. Worth watching for Shahid Kapoor’s performance, but doesn’t outshine Mumbai Police.
for more inside out of bollywood movie visit now Chhaava movie (2025) Filming Locations, Historical Facts, and Complete Movie Breakdown
