'Deva' movie review: A high-octane relaunch of Shahid Kapoor

Cop movies have been around for years, with most of them following the same old pattern. ‘Deva’ takes a deviation from the stale stories, offering a gripping screenplay and a stellar performance from Shahid Kapoor.

Revolving around three friends in the Mumbai Police — one being a rambunctious officer with utter disregard for processes and the other two being upright sticklers for the law — ‘Deva’ keeps the audience hooked, even though a few portions of the movie seem to drag on.

Shahid as Dev Ambre absolutely nails the role, giving a glimpse of his repertoire, and it would be safe to say that the entire movie revolves around him. A cop with an attitude, Dev does what is right for himself and his force, but is faced with a challenge as he tries to unravel the murder of his friend, ACP Rohan. An accident results in Dev’s memory loss, resulting in a new version of himself, showcasing the delicate balance between human emotions.

There are the standard elements of politicians and goons. You’d be forgiven if you think you’ve heard this story before. However, the direction and plot make for a gripping story.

A remake of the Malayalam movie ‘Mumbai Police’, ‘Deva’ does not try to oversell itself in a world where Bollywood movies aim to go over-the-top when it comes to recreating south Indian movies.