Directed by Koratala Siva, the film starts with a compelling premise set in 1996 Mumbai during the Cricket World Cup, focusing on a terrorist threat and the struggles of impoverished villagers engaged in smuggling. Jr NTR delivers a strong performance as Devara, a champion of the people facing betrayal and revenge.

The first half draws parallels to Shakespearean tragedy and echoes themes from the Tamil film Vada Chennai. However, the film falters in the second half, becoming slow and losing momentum, with Devara becoming an elusive figure while his son Vara defends their village. Unlike Baahubali: The Beginning, which posed compelling questions, Devara Part 1 feels incomplete, setting up for a sequel without a self-contained story.

Despite its shortcomings, the film is entertaining, thanks to Jr NTR's commanding presence and impressive production design, including inventive action sequences. However, its meandering plot ultimately dampens the initial excitement.