Devi

Released Oct 7, 1962

1h 38m

Drama

List

100%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In rural 19th-century India, the Doyamoyee (Sharmila Tagore) marries Umaprasad (Soumitra Chatterjee) and moves in with his family. Doyamoyee cares for her husband's elderly father, Kalikinkar (Chhabi Biswas), who dreams that the girl is a goddess. Kalikinkar, who is respected and wealthy, convinces the locals to worship the girl, and she starts to think she has healing powers. When the villagers bring their sickly to Doyamoyee for help, Umaprasad tries to intervene, but tragedy strikes.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Comparatively baroque and melodramatic in terms of its images and story, it manages to mount a lucid, finally very moving argument against the destructive nature of fanaticism and superstition.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

New York Times

A haunting experience, and should have been, coming from afar from a man born to make movies.

May 9, 2005

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Edward Guthmann

San Francisco Chronicle

It's a film that bears all the hallmarks of Ray's best work: gracefulness, exquisite pacing and composition, love for his characters and a deep regard for the power of silence to tell a story.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

Visually, I think this is the most beautiful film that Ray has made... It is an achievement of an integrity as clear as a piece of glass.

Mar 6, 2024

Full Review

Pauline Kael

Partisan Review

If there had been no [Apu] trilogy, I would say of Devi, “This is the greatest Indian film ever made.”

Oct 17, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

For Ray, it was another chapter to his ingenious.

Feb 28, 2023

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Audience Member

The lyrical humanism of Satyajit Ray cannot be matched, and "Devi" moves us with a tenderness that is almost as startling as it is soothing. This is as pensive and thought provoking a film as any in the master filmmaker's oeuvre, yet it is the impressive feat of this work that matters of the intellect never supersede matters of the heart and nobody comes out feeling like a dyed in the wool villain in the end. We simply bear witness to a palette of characters inhabiting a world far removed from our own, some desperately clinging to the antiquated tenets of their faith, while others seek answers in the academically informed attitudes of Westernized modernity. The struggle between the two embodies the mind of this film, while the remarkably compassionate tone and approach to the story supply the heart. This is a film to be debated, but only after it has been thoroughly felt.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

To be honest this is not a typical movie I would ever have picked to watch on my own. Mainly because the images are Demonically sinister and nightmarish not to mention bizarre by nature. Looking back I am extremely grateful to have been suggested giving this film a fair chance as recommended by my dear husband. It ended up a truly worthwhile experience . The plot evolves around ancient Indian culture and the true meaning behind faith. The story begins with one single senile man having a dream he believes to be a divine revelation .Utterly convinced his daughter in Law is a Goddess he shares his vision with others. As with all rumor mills his belief quickly spreads like wildfire only to end up testing everyones true strength of faith. Torn between miracles and disasters each character must choose their allegiance between 100% trusting their faith or medical Science for curing their ailments. With great power comes great responsibility is not just for Superheroes in this case. Our heroine is put in the middle of high expectations and the possibilities of taking the fall when tragedy strikes. At the end of the day the question remains:" Is your faith strong enough to overcome life's obstacles? ." Truth prevails regardless ;as well as whatever it is we value most.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

dustin d

Devi is a masterfully made picture with a compelling story about a mortal mistaken for a goddess, which explores the sometimes perverse nature of faith.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The magic of Ray lies in the storytelling. The wya he capitalizes the young woman's character and the way Sharmila Tagore weaves it with the tunes of her own majestic performances, especially in the first half, makes it an other level of feel-good filmmaking. But in the second half, the way the film turns its pages is just gut-wrenching. I came back with an open mouth and an empty mind. I was just shook. It moved me, it made me cry, it made me rise. This is one of the most soaring, scintillating films in the history of Ray's heritage.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Superb film with a pitch-perfect performance by Sharmila Tagore. Hard to be a goddess indeed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

the lead actress was just 14 when this was filmed she is amazing

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Satyajit Ray

Director

Sharmila Tagore

Doyamoyee

Soumitra Chatterjee

Umaprasad

Chhabi Biswas

Kalikinkar Roy

Purnendu Mukherjee

Taraprasad

Karuna Bannerjee

Harasundari

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Synopsis

In rural 19th-century India, the Doyamoyee (Sharmila Tagore) marries Umaprasad (Soumitra Chatterjee) and moves in with his family. Doyamoyee cares for her husband's elderly father, Kalikinkar (Chhabi Biswas), who dreams that the girl is a goddess. Kalikinkar, who is respected and wealthy, convinces the locals to worship the girl, and she starts to think she has healing powers. When the villagers bring their sickly to Doyamoyee for help, Umaprasad tries to intervene, but tragedy strikes.

Director: Satyajit Ray
Screenwriter: Prabhat Mukherjee, Satyajit Ray
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Bangla
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 7, 1962, Original
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono