Devi(1999)
'Devi' is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language fantasy film directed by Kodi Ramakrishna and produced by M. S. Raju. The film stars Prema as the titular Nagini princess, alongside Vanitha, Shiju, Abu Salim, and Bhanuchander. The story follows a divine snake princess who descends to Earth during a solar eclipse and becomes entangled in a battle with an evil snake prince while protecting a human family. The film is notable for its groundbreaking visual effects for Telugu cinema at the time, particularly the snake transformation sequences. It was a major box office success and was dubbed into Hindi and Tamil, with all three versions performing well. The music, composed by debutant Devi Sri Prasad, became widely popular and launched his career. The film was released on March 12, 1999.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Zee5, Airtel Xstream Play, Sun NXT, Aha Video, Eros Now, Amazon miniTV
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1999
- Director
- Kodi Ramakrishna
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 19m
- Rating
- 4.0/10
Storyline
A Nagini princess named Devi comes to Earth during a solar eclipse. An evil snake prince traps her, and a human father dies saving her. To repay the debt, Devi must protect the man's daughter from dark forces. But the evil prince will stop at nothing to destroy everyone she loves.
“A snake princess who loved like a human.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Devi
Cast reunions in this film: Devi Sri Prasad & M. S. Raju (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's climax was shot in a real forest near Hyderabad, known for its dangerous snakes, causing tension on set.
- Actress Soundarya learned classical dance for her role, as the character Devi performs a ritual dance to summon powers.
- Director Kodi Ramakrishna reused a prop snake from his earlier horror film 'Ammoru' to save production costs.
- The movie's soundtrack includes a rare fusion song blending Carnatic music with electronic sounds, unusual for 1990s Telugu cinema.
- It was one of the first Telugu films to use CGI for the snake transformation scenes, though on a low budget.
- The story draws from a lesser-known South Indian folk tale about a snake goddess protecting children from evil spirits.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film developed a cult following over years due to late-night TV reruns.