Movie Name : KD The Devil
Release Date : May 15, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Dhruva Sarja, Reeshma Nanaiah, Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Ramesh Aravind, Ravi Shankar
Director : Prem
Producers : Venkat K. Narayana
Music Director : Arjun Janya
Cinematographer : William David
Editor : Sanketh Achar
Related Links : Trailer
Kannada ‘Action Prince’ Dhruva Sarja returns with KD: The Devil, a PAN-India project mounted on a massive budget. Directed by Prem, the Telugu version of the film is now out in theatres. Let’s see how it actually plays out on the big screen.
Story:
Set in the 1980s, the story revolves around Deva (Sanjay Dutt), an underworld don also known as Doc Deva. He is so ruthless that even the Bengaluru police fear him, and no man dares to stand in his way. Enter Kali alias Kalidasa, or KD (Dhruva Sarja), an innocent but stubborn guy who happens to be Deva’s biggest fan. KD struggles with his studies, prompting his elder brother Dharma (Ramesh Aravind), a teacher, to stop talking to him. Despite this, KD loves his brother deeply.
Things take a dark turn when Deva attempts to murder Dharma’s family. What pushes KD to turn against his idol? Who is the mysterious rival don Bhairava? And what oath does Deva’s wife, Satya (Shilpa Shetty), take? The rest of the movie answers these questions.
Plus Points:
Even though Dhruva Sarja is the main lead, Sanjay Dutt is the major attraction here. The director presents him brilliantly. The action sequences and mass scenes designed for Dutt offer some respite.
Dhruva Sarja performs well in the role of an innocent, headstrong youngster, showing improvement over his previous film, Martin. Shilpa Shetty gets limited screen time, but she lands a solid, impactful role. Ramesh Aravind looks naturally young and delivers a dependable performance as the elder brother. Kichcha Sudeep’s climax cameo leaves a decent impression, adding to the film’s few redeeming mass moments.
Minus Points:
At its core, KD: The Devil is yet another Kannada action drama weighed down by extreme melodrama and unnecessary hero elevations. The plot feels routine, relying heavily on a standard mafia backdrop and logicless sequences.
The romantic track is easily the most frustrating part of the film. While Dhruva is fine in his solo scenes, his interactions with the heroine are highly annoying. The heroine’s character is written as hyperactive and loud, which quickly irritates the audience.
The film also struggles with pacing and character consistency. The climax twist might seem okay for a brief minute, but Dharma’s sudden shift, from a calm, honest man to someone who turns against his own brother for love, lacks basic logic. On top of that, the heavy use of the Pushpa 2 background score feels out of place. Finally, missing Ravi Shankar’s original voice in the Telugu version is a noticeable letdown.
Technical Aspects:
KVN Productions spent big on this film, and the grand sets clearly show off those high production values. However, the visual effects look weak in several places. Arjun Janya’s music is passable, but borrowing the Pushpa score was a bad move. The song placements feel forced and disrupt the flow. The editing needs serious work. Trimming the hero-heroine track would have made a huge difference.
Director Prem’s execution is below par. He initially sets up Sanjay Dutt’s character and builds decent tension right before the interval. Unfortunately, he doesn’t carry that momentum into the second half. Outside of a few solid action blocks, he relies too much on over-the-top drama rather than an engaging narrative.
Verdict:
Overall, KD: The Devil ends up as a disappointing action drama. While very few mass sequences featuring Sanjay Dutt and Dhruva Sarja work decently, the movie turns boring with over-the-top heroic elevations and a frustrating romantic track. The story had potential, but the execution isn’t good. You can skip this film.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team