Kannada cinema’s Challenging Star Darshan returns with The Devil, released on 11 December 2025. The film mixes political conspiracy, revenge, and a tale of love into a dramatic narrative. Darshan plays two contrasting characters — Krishna, an ordinary young man, and the ruthless Danush Rajasekhar, the spoilt son of a Chief Minister. Directed by Prakash Veer, the movie promises a mass-action spectacle, although several screenplay flaws become visible along the way.
Story and Screenplay
The film opens with a political setup. After the Chief Minister is arrested, his trusted advisor Nambiar (Mahesh Manjrekar) sets out to find Danush, who has been living a lavish life in London.
Parallelly, we meet Krishna, a simple mess owner who dreams of becoming an actor. He turns out to be Danush’s lookalike, and this similarity drags him into a dangerous political game where love, jealousy, and betrayal clash.
The first half feels slow and somewhat directionless, while the second half picks up pace with twists and confrontations. However, uneven editing and poorly placed flashbacks weaken the narrative flow and disrupt the emotional impact.
Acting Performances
Darshan’s double role is undoubtedly the biggest strength of the movie. From Krishna’s innocence and simplicity to the fierce and intimidating personality of the Devil, his screen presence remains magnetic.
Rachana Rai performs well as Rukku, bringing genuine emotion to her character. Achyuth Kumar’s grounded acting adds maturity and depth to the plot.
Mahesh Manjrekar and Sharmiela Mandre handle their supporting characters decently, though some roles feel underwritten. On social media, fans praised Darshan heavily, especially for the intense Krishna vs Devil confrontation scenes.
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Action, Music and Technical Aspects
The action sequences are mounted on a grand scale, particularly the climax battle, which has been widely appreciated.
B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score stands out as one of the strongest technical elements. The song “Idre Nemdiyagi Irbeku” has already crossed 13 million views, while tracks like “Onde Ondu Saala” offer strong mass appeal.
Cinematography captures beautiful locations, adding visual glamour. However, some inconsistencies in transformation graphics and hairstyling are noticeable.
With a total runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes, the film sometimes feels stretched.
Audience Response and Box Office
On its opening day, the film earned ₹10 crore, recording nearly 63% occupancy in Karnataka.
On Twitter (X), reviews are mixed — fans call it one of Darshan’s best performances, while others feel the first half is slow and the plot predictable.
The twists before the interval keep the interest alive, but the treatment of women in the story has drawn criticism from some sections of the audience.
Overall Verdict
The Devil works as a mass entertainer for Darshan’s fans, offering solid action and dramatic moments. However, the outdated storyline and patchy editing prevent it from achieving its full potential.
If you enjoy high-voltage commercial films, it is worth watching in theatres; otherwise, waiting for the OTT release may be a better option.
Rating: 2.5/5