Darshan's 'The Devil' Opens to Mixed Reviews Amidst Box Office Success

The latest film starring Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, titled 'The Devil', has made its debut in cinemas, attracting considerable attention from fans. This comes as the actor faces a challenging personal situation, currently serving a prison sentence. Despite this backdrop, audiences have flocked to theatres to support the action thriller.

Mixed Reactions from Viewers

Initial reactions to 'The Devil' suggest a divide among viewers, with many expressing their opinions on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The film, directed by Prakash Veer, has been commended for its direction and music. One fan shared their enthusiasm, highlighting Darshan's commanding screen presence and praising the film's music, composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, who previously garnered acclaim for his work on 'Kantara: Chapter 1'. The user posted, "This is the tweet. Thank you so much @MilanaPrakash Ultimate movie 5/5 CM. Movie starts everyone will appreciate Krishna then 2nd half = #TheDevil."

Conversely, not all reviews were positive. Some audience members described the film as an average experience, with critiques focusing on the storyline. One viewer noted, "Review #Devil #Darshan #DBoss Good Performance, Normal Storyline, best song, Action block at his best. Overall Satisfied or One Time or Okayish."

Concerns Over Film's Execution

Reactions varied greatly, particularly regarding the film's first half. A viewer described it as a "routine political drama" that lacked coherence and had editing issues. They also mentioned dissatisfaction with the costume design, specifically pointing out that Darshan's character, Krishna, was not well represented in terms of appearance. However, they acknowledged some positive aspects, such as the stylish depiction of the 'Devil' character and the well-crafted interval segment. Another viewer compared the pacing of the first half to the second, suggesting that the film would resonate more with devoted fans of Darshan than casual viewers.

Box Office Performance

Despite the mixed feedback, 'The Devil' has demonstrated strong box office performance since its release on December 11, 2025. According to reports, the film opened with significant momentum, achieving a 60% occupancy rate in morning shows. This steady attendance continued throughout the day, culminating in a remarkable 79% occupancy during evening shows. The film reportedly generated ₹10 crore (approximately £1.1 million) in net collections on its opening day, recovering 50% of its production budget of ₹20 crore (around £2.2 million).

As per a report by Sacnilk, while the film has garnered predominantly negative reviews from critics—many of whom labelled it as strictly for Darshan's fans—the actor's loyal following has evidently played a crucial role in its box office success. The film's strong opening day performance has positioned it as one of the top releases for Darshan in the post-COVID landscape, trailing only behind his previous film, 'Kaatera'.

Looking Ahead

The future collections of 'The Devil' may be influenced by the initial reviews and audience word of mouth. However, with a four-day extended opening weekend ahead, there remains optimism that the film could continue to recover its costs and attract more viewers. As the film steps into its second day, early estimates indicate a collection of around ₹3.50 crore, bringing the total to approximately ₹13.50 crore across its first two days.

'The Devil' features a prominent cast alongside Darshan, including Rachana Rai as the female lead and Mahesh Manjrekar as the primary antagonist. The film also stars Sharmiela Mandre, Achyuth Kumar, Vinay Gowda, and Chandu Gowda, contributing to a dynamic ensemble.

As the film continues its run in theatres, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the critical landscape and audience reception, particularly in light of Darshan's unique position in the industry at this time.