Devi (I) (2020) User Reviews

A Much Needed Thought Provoking Movie!

[saloni_gupta · 9/10 · 6 May 2020]

13 minutes. 13 minutes is all this short film takes to tell us nine tales and the different shades of brulatilty they suffered leaving the audience with literal shock and goosebumps at the end. The movie, as a whole speaks about how the suffering and trauma of rape victims, do not see their caste, creed, religion, age or race. When the film starts, it is not very easy to guess about the context of the film even though the it keeps us engrossed. It starts with a group of women in a room complaining about the lack of space since there was another girl waiting at the door. They, then, start telling their stories as a way to decide who should stay and who should leave but no story is any less gruesome. This is when the viewers get to know about the whole plot of the film. The women in that room are all rape victims who are now dead. All of them were raped brutally and then left to die and the ones who didn't die because of the incident, died because of the post incident trauma.In the patriarchal society we live in, it takes a lot of courage to come up with a plot like this, which actually showcases the real face of our society. There is a scene in the film where the protagonist even says that it is better to adjust here, in this room than being alive amongst the rapists. Is this how safe women are in this country?The most ironic part of the film is the name itself, 'Devi' - Goddess. In a country like India, where on one hand, goddesses are worshipped, be it Saraswati for wisdom or Durga for power; women are dominated, assaulted and even killed. This film is an eye opener for the viewers. It is high time that we put a stop on this, or at least try. Better jurisdiction, law enforcement, education and most importantly, unity among citizens, especially women are the first areas, India still needs to work on. Even though the movie isn't loud or long, the simplicity and thought provoking plot makes the film worth a watch.

Strong and impactive albeit not fully realised

[Peter_Young · 7/10 · 10 October 2021]

Following the recent wave of short films addressing feminist (or maybe humanist) issues, such as the brilliant Juice (2018) starring Shefali Shah, Devi is one good piece, although it could have been even better. Set in one house during one continuous 13-minute episode, the film introduces a group of women who've been staying in this apartment, which apparently serves as a metaphor for afterlife. All of them, of varied ages and sociocultural backgrounds, are bound together by virtue of them being women, and to be precise, women who've been through abuse, mostly sexual, but not necessarily so, as it appears. The film presents their stories through all their differences in both attitude and mentality, and it does so really well, capturing their disputes and tiny conflicts so as to show how the little that unites them is far greater than what divides them.

Devi is a strong commentary on a society where female deities are worshipped but women are much less respected. The film is symbolically impactive, but the abundance of characters might have been better resolved had some of it been just a little less suggestive of what had happened and actually given more information. Here too we have a wonderful group of actresses, brilliantly led by Kajol, who is palpably vulnerable and distraught. Much of the tension is courtesy her, as she dictates the mood with her strong presence. Obviously Neena Kulkarni is next to marvel at given a showy role but a remarkably realistic performance, and Neha Dhupia acts well against her. Mukta Barve is very impressive, and all the rest of them do their bits part exceedingly well, helping create a nice prologue to the moving ending and the final, explanatory credits.

"Devi"

[narendradeshmukh-98406 · 9/10 · 3 March 2020]

"Devi" was A best short Film To Watch.

Multi-starrer Short film, Story was really good and Good Message to Our Country.

I am ashamed to be called an Indian

[daaarknesss128 · 10/10 · 9 March 2020]

I usually don't write reviews. But this one.. it's a shame living in a country where women are not safe, leve women, even 7 months daughter is also not safe.

Worth watching. No words.

Second half is bone chilling

[yadawanubhav · 10/10 · 6 March 2020]

After 7:00 u will realise it's not ordinary, there's something different and slowly slowly you will be just awed 🤐🙄😶😶

1st Must Watch Short of 2020

[MandalBros-5 · 10/10 · 4 March 2020]

That's how a short can be made. Priyanka Banerjee has done a great job. A tale of nine women navigating through an unusual sisterhood thrust upon them by circumstances. So, what are those circumstances, for that you have to give your 13 minutes to it. A Must Watch With Brilliant Performances by Ensemble Cast.

Excellent concept.

[rishabhsingh-261092 · 8/10 · 17 March 2020]

This movie itself has lots of hidden stories. Not only for one generation, this movie is for everyone from any decade. Full of emotional touch and sensitive issues. Best story and screenplay was awsome. Everyone did their job so well.. Their pain was clearly visible in their faces. Worth watching

Eye opener

[mihirmanghwani · 9/10 · 23 October 2020]

This is the short film that raises questions against rape. Amazing. And you will be questioning yourself " Am I a good citizen?" JUST WATCH IT

This how you should make short

[ashutoshaswaleho · 9/10 · 3 March 2020]

Issue is sensitive, and execution is excellent. Performances, they all were top-notch. Yeah there are some flaws but let's Focus on the issue which is being represented very neatly. this need to be spread.

a short film .. with a big massage

[fatoooma55 · 9/10 · 6 March 2020]

We need more films like this for all women apically india .. were women treats like a machine or an item for some men .. no matter how old you were .. for them you are a women but not a human

That's How You Make Good Short Movies With A Very Deep Message!

[ahmed-baber-14078 · 1/10 · 18 March 2020]

Even Im From Pakistan , You Have To Stop This , Woman Has To Live Save Wheather Is India Pakistan Or What So Ever , We Have To Stop This , Our Woman's Has A Right Too Live Normal !

Devi

[Dhaval_Forever · 8/10 · 28 July 2020]

Beautiful Short Film & Gd Message Watch it Guys.....

Only if the content were altered...

[MuviFan73 · 8/10 · 27 January 2021]

Big names coming in cast is totally justified. IMDb review from Saloni Gupta helped me understand the movie clearly.

As the short film progressed, I thought the women gathered were the ones brought into a facility for the commits of similar kind. I thought they killed the ones who raped them, although I was doubtful.

Sadly the review from Saloni Gupta made me aware of the true nature of content. I just feel what if I were true. I would have been at ease some how.

Shocking reality in 2020

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 23 March 2020]

"Devi" or "Splinter" is an Indian 13-minute live action short film from 2020, so really new movie, actually not even a month old and it will probably have around 15 million views when it has its one month anniversary. This shows you how much of an impact this film currently is making. And that is a good thing. But first things first: The writer and director is Priyanka Banerjee, not a famous filmmaker at all and not very experienced either, but the talent is there and I am curious if she can make perhaps at some point a transition to Hollywood even. I am sure America appreciates this film as well. I cannot say I am familiar with Indian actors in general, but at least Kajol is somewhat popular I believe. Shows you how good and important the project here is if experienced big name actresses join the project of a relatively unknown filmmaker. If there is any criticism from my side, then it is that they/she did not provide any official subtitles for this film that is quickly getting famous. The scenario is pretty simple. We have a group of women (all ages) sitting in a room together and from the news we find out something terrible has happened. The man we see there is also the only male cast member. As the film progresses, we find out who the women are and what they have in common, which is the reason why they are sitting in the same room. At the same time, they have to make a decision because one of them has to leave the room as somebody new is about to enter and it does not take too long to realize, this newbie is linked to the television report. Even if there are major conflicts among the characters (about language, just one issue, values you could say all in all), they still seem to stick together. At the end, there is a shocking revelationabout the new girl in the room. The one thing I liked here is that this film is really as harsh as reality. It does not hide the cruelties. I still would have hoped that it could have a little bit more subtlety in addition to the explicitness that really should not have been changed at all. And I kept wondering why they have to make room for a new character and also where the one who has to leave would be going. But it is a short film, so naturally not all questions can be answered in under 15 minutes. Judging from what we read at the end of the film, this really is movie that needed to be made and I applaud Banerjee for doing so. It does not rely only on the gravity of the situation, but there is also a really creative approach and convincing setting that works nicely with the impact they were going for here. I am glad this film is makking such waves. It should be because like I said what you read at the end is the epitome of real life horror. Next time you complain about your gender being listed (incorrectly (according to you)) in your ID card, think of what real discrimination really means in other parts of the world. I really hope the sitiation in India can improve soon. A truly sad state of affairs. So as a consequence I also hope this film is seen by many because the first thing to change (positive change, actual change, not just fake change like Obama's) is that you have to know about the situation. I am really glad this film was made and I came across it. I highly recommend the watch and you definitely should go for it. My new favorite short film from 2020. Close to must-see territory, not just for Indians, but for everybody. So pelase provide English subtitles soon for the movie on Youtube. It's essential and the parallel/contradiction between religion and violence is truly memorable as well.

storytelling at its finest

[vanshika-dhyani13 · 9/10 · 16 October 2021]

To tell a story that carries-upon its shoulders-the weight of a mountain is not the work of an ordinary director. The film cushions the truth for the bigger part of the work before succumbing to its injuries.

Jaw dropping.

This type of propaganda in the name of film is generating more stereotypes

[TheNonSmoker · 1/10 · 17 December 2021]

In per capita rapes, India stands at 1.81 while USA at 27.31 and Britain 27.29

• as per the data of 2010

I'm not telling that India is the best country because the rates happens to be low here, I'm just saying that this is an issue of every society, and we should equally bring all society offender, just creating stereotypes on one particular community, nationality, religion makes this all more of a political drama, and creates a matter of racism that Indians online and outside face from outsiders.