Kairam Vaashi reviews The Devil, the latest Kannada film starring Darshan Thoogudeepa, which released to packed theatres despite its leading man being in judicial custody. Kairam notes this marks the second time in Darshan's career that a film has released under such circumstances, following *Saarathi* fourteen years ago. The review examines how director Prakash kept the film's central plot twist hidden from the trailer, revealing a mistaken identity narrative that offers Darshan two distinct shades to portray—the virtuous do-gooder and the titular devil.
While acknowledging the film's production challenges, uneven pacing, and dated treatment, Kairam finds the interplay between Darshan's dual roles to be the film's strongest element. Supporting performances from Mahesh Manjrekar and Achyuth Kumar start promisingly but don't quite sustain, and Rachana Rai's role remains underwritten. For hardcore fans, there's plenty to celebrate, but Kairam concludes that beyond Darshan's performance, The Devil doesn't offer much beyond a watchable experience carried largely by its star's devoted fanbase.
