Darshan Thoogudeepa starrer The Devil finally arrived in cinemas across Karnataka on Thursday (December 11, 2025). But the film was released under unusual circumstances. The actor remains in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. Because of this, he has been away from all promotions, interviews and press events.
Before the release, Darshan reached out to his fans from prison. His wife, Vijayalakshmi, shared a handwritten letter from him on Instagram. In the note, he thanked fans for their “tireless support” and asked them to ignore negativity. He urged them to put their energy into supporting the film instead.
Now that The Devil is out, early reactions suggest that fans are far from impressed.
The Devil Movie Review: Early Viewers Largely Disappointed
The film has generated mixed to negative reviews online. Many viewers pointed out issues with the story, the pacing and the comedy. Some appreciated Darshan’s screen presence and his dual roles, but most said the film lacked freshness.
In a post on X, a viewer shared The Devil Movie Review and wrote, “No proper story, Routine presentation, No high moments, Stretched. Only positive #Darshan. Presence, Dual roles, Face-off scenes, interval, pre-climax. Apart from that, it feels like a regular commercial movie without anything new to offer. Disappointed.”
Another viewer wrote, “1st half too slow, 2nd Nyc, Bgm was utter flop, Stylish Action blocks, Heroine’s performance low, Devil acted well.”
A frustrated moviegoer was harsher and posted, “One of the worst films ever made. Don’t waste your money, have a nice biryani and good sleep.”
One more user posted their The Devil Movie Review and wrote, “Film feels more better with Zero Expectations, especially in the 2nd half.”
Check out some more reactions below
About This Darshan Thoogudeepa Starrer
Directed by Prakash Veer, The Devil is designed as a big-scale political action thriller. The story follows a mysterious vigilante known as Devil, who takes on a powerful crime network that is tightening its grip on the city. The film tries to mix political drama, revenge and personal loss, building up to a dramatic reveal in the climax.
Darshan plays the lead in a multi-layered role. He is joined by Rachana Rai, who plays a character with strong ties to the Devil’s past. The supporting cast features Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Shobhraj, Vinay Gowda and Sharmiela Mandre, who plays an important but undisclosed role.
The film’s music is composed by B Ajaneesh Loknath, with cinematography by Sudhakar S Raj.
With a runtime of 169 minutes, the film demands patience from the audience. While the official budget has not been confirmed, industry estimates suggest that similar star-led films are usually placed in the Rs 50–60 crore range.
Meanwhile, Darshan was arrested in June 2024 while shooting the movie. He returned to work briefly during interim bail periods, which allowed him to finish filming and dubbing. In October 2024, he was granted interim bail for spine surgery, but that relief was short-lived.
On August 13, 2025, the Supreme Court cancelled his bail, stating that the previous order had several errors. He was later moved from Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Prison to Ballari Central Prison after allegations surfaced about him receiving VIP treatment.
