The Devil (2025)

The Devil 2025: what kind of film this is

The Devil 2025 is a Kannada-language political action thriller written and directed by Prakash Veer. Its pitch, as described in public listings, is a contest over power inside state politics, with Darshan reported in a dual role that covers both the hero and the villain. That single casting choice tells you most of what the film is aiming for: a star-vehicle with large-scale confrontation at its centre.

Production history is part of the story. According to Wikipedia, principal photography began in Bengaluru on 22 March 2024, was halted in mid-2024 after Darshan's arrest, and resumed in February 2025. That context explains why the project took a long road to release, but it is background, not a judgement on the finished film.

We have not watched it, so what follows is a guide built from confirmed facts.

Release date, runtime and where to watch

The film was released in Karnataka theatres on 11 December 2025. Wikipedia notes that the date was moved up from 12 December, and the British Board of Film Classification lists 12 December for the UK with a classification date of 11 December, which is why you may see both dates quoted.

The running time is given as 169 minutes, nearly three hours. For streaming, ZEE5 is named as the platform, with a digital premiere on 17 July 2026. If you are searching for where to watch The Devil online, ZEE5 is the confirmed answer from the sources we checked; availability in other languages or regions is not something we could verify.

Cast, crew and music

Beyond Darshan, the cast lists Rachana Rai, Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar and Sharmiela Mandre, with Roger Narayan, Shobaraj and Srinivas Prabhu among the supporting names. Manjrekar is better known as a Hindi and Marathi filmmaker and actor, so his presence points to an attempt at pan-regional casting.

B. Ajaneesh Loknath is credited with the music, and Saregama holds the audio rights; the first single, released in August 2025, is titled "Idre Nemdiyaag Irbek". The film is produced under the Vaishno Studios and Jai Mata Combines banners. Because this is a political action film, the score and the staging of confrontations will matter, but those are things to judge once you have seen it.

What to expect and who it suits

Expect a long, star-centred mass entertainer where the politics is a frame for confrontation. Viewers who follow Darshan's career, or who like Kannada commercial cinema built around a single charismatic lead, are the natural audience. If you prefer subtle political drama over large-canvas action, check how the film is described by reviewers after you decide, since we are not giving a verdict here.