KD The Devil X review: Mass love for Dhruva Sarja, fans call film absolute rampage

KD: The Devil has opened to strong fan chatter on X and mixed critical reviews. The split response turns attention to its stronger second half, theatrical highs and uneven screenplay.

In Short

• The film's 1970s Bangalore setting has earned praise for visual scale
• Viewers largely found the second half sharper, louder and more rewarding
• Many early posts celebrated the background score, climax and theatre response

KD: The Devil has opened to a split response online, with early reactions on X reflecting a clear divide between fan enthusiasm and critical caution. While several viewers have hailed it as a mass entertainer, others have pointed to an uneven screenplay and pacing issues.

Directed by Prem and headlined by Dhruva Sarja, the film is set in 1970s Bengaluru and leans heavily into scale, stylised action and nostalgia.

KD: The Devil X reviews

Much of the early conversation around KD: The Devil centres on its uneven structure. Several viewers have criticised the first half as slow and disjointed, while the second half has emerged as the stronger segment, with higher-stakes drama and action sequences that appear to land better with theatre audiences.

On X, reactions have largely skewed positive among fans. One user wrote, “KD The Devil is full-on mass madness. Big sets, loud BGM, and whistle-worthy moments throughout. Climax combo is equal to goosebumps. Dhruva Sarja comeback vibes (sic).”

Another post read, “I never thought I will say this in 2026 but Prem cooked. Except for the loud love story, it works. The second half goes full commercial. Dhruva delivers, and Sudeep’s aura stands out (sic).”

See screenshots here:

Several users also highlighted the film’s theatrical appeal, pointing to its large-scale visuals, background score and crowd-pleasing moments. Mentions of Kichcha Sudeep’s cameo have also been a recurring theme in early reactions.

One review read, "Absolute Rampage in theatres has full meals for fans and neutral audience (sic)."

Other posts described the film as a “hit talk” and praised its “crazy crowd response”, with some calling it a “full meals entertainer” designed for big-screen viewing.

See screenshots here:

While fan reactions have leaned positive, critical responses have been more measured. Reviews have flagged issues with the film’s writing, citing weak storytelling, repetitive stretches and disjointed scene transitions.

At the same time, critics have acknowledged the film’s strengths – particularly its visual design and the recreation of 1970s Bengaluru. The second half, in particular, has been noted for its improved pacing and action-heavy treatment.

See screenshots here:

India Today review

In its review, India Today described the film as an eccentric commercial outing. “Director Prem’s story being eccentric would be an understatement, as the film’s eccentricity is on steroids. KD: The Devil is a standard commercial entertainer with a gangster villain – predictable, but enjoyable. Why? Because the ensemble cast has characters to play and are not merely there to hype the lead (for the most part). That is, until the excess kicks in,” the review noted.

Watch the trailer here:

Set in the 1970s, KD: The Devil blends action, nostalgia and star power. Alongside Dhruva Sarja, the film features Sanjay Dutt, V Ravichandran, Ramesh Aravind, Shilpa Shetty and Reeshma Nanaiah in key roles.

As the first wave of reactions suggests, the film has struck a chord with fans looking for a high-decibel theatrical experience, even as its narrative choices continue to divide opinion.

- Ends