The much-awaited teaser of KD – The Devil, directed by Prem and headlined by Dhruva Sarja, has finally dropped. Released in multiple languages, the grand launch was held in Mumbai, and it doesn’t hold back. With blood-smeared frames, roaring power postures, and a loud musical backdrop, the teaser throws you headlong into a stylized 1970s Bengaluru underworld. But beyond the surface-level spectacle, one begins to wonder—is there more to KD than just rage and revenge?
Dhruva Sarja plays Kaali Dasa, aka KD, a man consumed by pain, power, and vengeance. From the very first frame, he’s seen swinging his long blade through crowds, walking through flames, and bathing in blood. While his physical presence is undeniable, the teaser reveals little of Kaali Dasa’s emotional core. He’s all fury, no fragility.
Sanjay Dutt, as Dhak Deva, exudes silent menace, seemingly the kingpin of this chaotic chessboard. With just a glance, Dutt conveys control. The rest of the ensemble—Shilpa Shetty (Satyavati), Ramesh Aravind (Dharma), V. Ravichandran (Annayyappa), Reeshma Nanaiah (Machhlakshmi), and Nora Fatehi (Marilyn)—appear in blink-and-miss glimpses, each draped in stylized lighting and mood-heavy frames. There’s promise here, but also a sense that the teaser merely introduces these characters rather than engaging us with them.
Prem’s direction is loud, gritty, and obsessed with scale. He paints the underworld with operatic violence and retro swag, but leans heavily on familiar imagery—especially the ever-popular blood-soaked blade. There’s ambition here, yes, but one hopes there’s more to come in terms of storytelling depth.
One of the more noticeable distractions is Arjun Janya’s background score. It’s thunderous and well-produced, but curiously Western in tone. With synth-heavy build-ups and orchestral flares, the music leans closer to Hollywood gangster dramas than rooted Indian storytelling. It adds polish but slightly detaches from the smoky, blood-slick Bengaluru of the ’70s.
A rich production, KD – The Devil is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions. The cinematography by William David is crafted for impact. Sepia tones, vintage cars, smoke, and shadows convincingly build the world.
A great deal of work has gone in from art director Mohan B Kere. Dialogue writer Kraanthi Kumar brings in the necessary intensity, though the teaser is limited in its use of impactful lines.
The teaser’s final shot—a severed head rolling on the ground, followed by a voice-over for Sanjay Dutt at the police station 'Barko, thale sikide, body sikkila, (File the complaint—yes, the head’s been found, but the body’s still missing) gives a sharp leaving viewers a sense of unfinished business.
KD – The Devil teaser is high on raw aggression, visual drama, and scale. But for a story so drenched in blood and filled with violent confrontations, it still leaves us waiting for a clearer picture.
The film was earlier hinted to release on September 4, though the makers are yet to confirm it. There are also reports of Sudeep playing a key role, and he is expected to join the shoot on July 17.
