‘Devika & Danny’ review: Ritu Varma impresses in her debut web series

Surya Vashistta, Ritu Varma and Shiva Kandukuri in the web series
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In the first few minutes of the Telugu web series Devika & Danny, streaming on Jio Hotstar, Devika Nandan (Ritu Varma) discloses that she has lived her life within a 25-kilometre radius. She teaches music at a nearby village and is the sort of young woman who, despite her reservations about a groom being picked for her, thinks she can walk the line chosen by her father in the hope that a few ‘adjustments’ would make things work.

Written by Deepak Raj and directed by B Kishore, this is a coming-of-age story of a woman who breaks boundaries and in the process, finds her voice. It is easy to gauge the path that Devika is likely to take; she cannot be restrained. The makers gradually reveal the different cards of the story, relying on uncomplicated storytelling. Romance and horror cross paths but unlike long-form stories on digital platforms that milk the genres for shock value with jumpscares and foul language, Devika & Danny caters to family viewing.

Ritu Varma’s web series debut comes nearly nine years after her breakthrough Telugu film, Pelli Choopulu, and there are a few uncanny similarities. Like in that romance comedy drama, here too, she plays a woman who tries, without rebelling too much, to make her father understand her point of view. Unlike the urban-bred character of Pelli Choopulu, here she is limited by her conditioning and lack of exposure. However, the narrative is peppered with a few supporting characters who act as a catalyst, helping Devika take that leap of faith. Ritu plays Devika with restraint and conviction; the part is a cakewalk for her and she brings in both the required innocence and strength.

Surya Vashistta steps in to play the other titular character, Danny, initially coming off as a free-spirited, breezy personality. That this character sweeps Devika off her feet is not a surprise. In the meantime, we get glimpses of several other characters, ranging from a gangster, his wife and brother-in-law to an elderly man who is weighed down by his ability to see and listen to spirits, and a self-centred groom (Subbaraju).

The prospect of a triangular post-engagement romance drama unfolds in an endearing manner. What makes this less predictable is a crucial reveal and the need for a character to seek redemption. It also sets Devika’s character on a new trajectory. Danger lurks as she takes on forces that may be too huge for her to handle. However, the makers opt for a few convenient writing choices that almost dilute the intrigue in the later episodes. The over-reliance on voiceovers that explain a character’s point of view could have also been toned down, letting the audience connect the dots.

Harsha Chemudu appears in a brief part that doesn’t add value to the series, but Goparaju Ramana, in his brief appearance, enacts a character that establishes how generational patriarchy works. The underlying aspect of patriarchy and how Devika rises above it is dealt with sensitivity and the right amount of assertiveness. Shiva Kandukuri gets a pivotal character that may have further scope in the coming season.

While Devika & Danny makes for an easy watch, the intrigue wears off once the key plot points are revealed. For the next season, the story will require more heft.