Shahid Kapoor's Deva trailer reveals stunning parallels to Mumbai Police - is it a remake?

The trailer of Deva hints at a twisted retelling of Mumbai Police with several parallels emerging between the two—here’s what we know so far.

Shahid Kapoor in a still from Deva; Mumbai Police

Since Deva's announcement, there have been numerous rumors that it's the Hindi version of Rosshan Andrews' 2013 Malayalam blockbuster Mumbai Police. Until the trailer came out, the makers and the cast firmly made their stand clear that it's not a remake. Now that the makers have released the trailer, it's clear that Deva is indeed an adaptation of Mumbai Police if not a remake.

Plot overview of Mumbai Police

The plot of Mumbai Police centers around three close friends: Antony Moses (Prithviraj), an assistant commissioner in Ernakulam; Aryan John Jacob (Jayasurya); and Farhan (Rahman), the commissioner of the city police. These police officers instill absolute terror in the criminal underworld and mafia of Kochi City. The media refers to these courageous and effective policemen as the "Mumbai Police" because, despite being based in Kochi, they all share a link to Mumbai.

ALSO READ: Deva trailer OUT: Shahid Kapoor raises the stakes with pulsating action and gripping drama

Shahid Kapoor's character in Deva mirrors Mumbai Police

Shahid Kapoor's character opens the trailer by narrating the death of his brother at an event and vowing to exact revenge. This brings us back to the Mumbai Police scene where Jayasurya's character, ACP Aaryan John Jacob, IPS, meets his demise while receiving a gallantry award.

There's a clean-shaven look of Shahid as Dev Ambre, which hints of him suffering from memory loss. Several other glimpses, in which the actor appears puzzled and confused, further support this theory. The entire plot of "Mumbai Police" revolves around Prithviraj's character suffering from memory loss and losing track of the case he is investigating.

Shocking climax of Mumbai Police and its impact

On the other hand, the Deva trailer also suggests the presence of a green car, which plays a pivotal role in the Malayalam film. The new trailer ends with Pavail Gulati's character appearing for the first time and telling Shahid's protagonist that his anger is actually his fear. This appears to be the same scene in which the revelation between Prithviraj and Jayasurya takes place. No spoilers if you haven't seen Mumbai Police.

The 2013 film, which became a classic for its neo-noir psychological thriller genre, worked mainly because of its shocking climax. Now that the film is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar, many are aware of what happens in Mumbai Police.

Anticipation for Deva and its potential to match the original

We now need to wait and see if Deva changes it or if it maintains the same impact as the original.

Deva is slated to hit big screens on January 31, 2025.

ALSO READ: Why Deva director Rosshan Andrrews' Mumbai Police is still a game-changer, as he gears up for Bollywood debut with Shahid Kapoor's film

Share