Devmanus

What happens when a simple, calm, composed man commits a crime out of helplessness? Is the crime justified? Does the man repent? Does he get caught? Devmanus answers all these questions and does it while keeping you hooked.

An adaptation of Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal’s Hindi film Vadh, Devmanus sees Mahesh Manjrekar and Renuka Shahane stepping into Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta’s roles. The film is a thrilling drama that packs all the right punches – stellar performances, a gripping story, beautiful shots, taut editing and a fitting background score. Owing money to a loan shark, Keshav (Mahesh Manjrekar) and Laxmi (Renuka Shahane) are struggling to make ends meet. The impending tension of losing their mortgaged house makes the couple helpless as Dilip (Siddharth Bodke), the goon who they’ve taken the money from, shows up drunk at their doorstep anytime he wishes to. Things take a drastic turn one day and the lives of Keshav and Laxmi change forever.

What makes Devmanus a good watch is the way the film unfolds. While the crux remains the same as Vadh, the setting changes, as do a few scenes. The casting of Devmanus is worth applauding. Every actor is immensely talented, but it’s the story that’s the star here. That said, director Tejas Deoskar extracts the best out of every actor without letting them go overboard. Manjrekar is perfectly cast as Keshav. It’s a diversion from the eccentric or villainous roles that Manjrekar is generally moulded into as an actor, and he does full justice to the role. Shahane adds grace to her role of Laxmi, shining in the scenes that come her way, while Subodh Bhave as a policeman with a secret is impactful. Abhijeet Khandkekar stands out in his brief role as Dadasaheb too. Of special mention is Siddharth Bodke who embodies the brazen and menacing character of the goon Dilip. He hits all the right spots and makes you squirm with his portrayal, not once letting the other seasoned performers overshadow his role. It’s a character that the audience will love to hate.

The film slacks slightly post the interval but soon gets back on track. It is great to see such a well-made Marathi film and hopefully this is the first among many after a lean period for the industry. Irrespective of whether you have watched Vadh or not, Devmanus deserves a watch for the way it’s executed.