Devullu

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Devullu (“Gods”) is a 2000 Telugu devotional fantasy directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, about two children who set out on a pilgrimage to save their parents’ marriage. Prithvi and Raasi play the parents, Master Nandan and Baby Nitya the children, and a run of guest stars, among them Suman, Srikanth, Rajendra Prasad, Ramya Krishnan and Laya, appear as the gods they meet on the way. It was released on 9 November 2000 and was dubbed into Tamil as Kuzhanthayum Deivamum.

What the story is about

Prashanth, a well-known singer, marries Nirmala, who helps rebuild his faltering career and then outshines him. Their egos grow with their children, Chintu and Bhavani, until the couple file for divorce. Their grandmother tells the children that the family’s troubles began because their parents never fulfilled vows made at seven holy places, so the two set off alone to complete them, from Kanipakam and Tirumala to Bhadrachalam, Vijayawada, Srisailam, Shirdi and Sabarimala. At each stop a deity helps them, while Kali, the force behind the family’s misfortunes, puts obstacles in their way and a thief who has hidden a stolen temple jewel in their bag keeps following them.

Cast and crew

• Prithvi as Prashanth and Raasi as Nirmala
• Master Nandan as Chintu and Baby Nitya as Bhavani
• Babu Mohan as Major BM Rao, Prashanth’s uncle
• Suman as Venkateswara
• Srikanth as Rama and Laya as Sita
• Rajendra Prasad as Anjaneya
• Ramya Krishnan as Kanakadurga and Bhramarambika
• S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as Ganesha’s mouse, Mushika
• Vijayachander as Sai Baba
• Master Tanish as Ayyappa

Director: Kodi Ramakrishna. Producers: Chegondi Haribabu and Karatam Rambabu (Babu Pictures). Music: Vandemataram Srinivas, lyrics by Jonnavithula Ramalingeswara Rao. Runtime: 149 minutes.

Music and awards

The soundtrack, released on Aditya Music, was well received, and Vandemataram Srinivas won the Nandi Award for Best Music Director for it.

Reviews

Contemporary reviews were mixed. Sify pointed to “discrepancies and loopholes in the script” but found the film “quite interesting” overall and “a treat” for audiences who like religious films. Andhra Today was cooler, arguing that the story was neither strong enough for adults nor entertaining enough for children, and that most of the adult cast make only fleeting appearances.

Where to watch Devullu

Devullu is listed on Aha (checked against the platform’s own listing). Availability can vary by region and subscription.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on Devullu and the reviews it cites, linked above; Aha’s listing; our own cast and crew records.