Plot Summary – A gripping tale of an investigation and a family threatened by it. Will Georgekutty be able to protect his family this time?
Language – Malayalam
★★★★★
This year I set out to watch more Indian films, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. On the way, I found my new favourite film (Ulidavaru Kandanthe), a Godfather-esque masterpiece (Vadachennai) and the first instalment in this series, the original Drishyam. In each instance, I found myself simply astonished by the complexity and depth showcased. Something I foolishly didn’t expect from Indian cinema after being exposed to film and film where the plot is cliched and there is no message. It turns out that my eyes were clamped shut and I needed the keys to open them to this brilliant new world of artistically meritorious and simultaneously commercially viable Indian cinema that entertains and impresses at the same time. Getting to the point, Drishyam 2 supersedes its predecessor in every metric according to me. The writing is richer and the exposition is delivered so naturally and organically that you don’t even realize that an important plot point is being set up. The direction is better because instead of having 2 days to plan, he’s had 6 years so you can see the tiny intricacies of his plan play out in a film that makes full use of Chekov’s gun rule of storytelling. Mohanlal and the cast in general deliver an even more visceral performance that leaves you shaken to your core. Just like the first one, the film takes a while for the main plot to start but here the set-up is essential for the pay-off and we get one of the most shocking yet satisfying conclusions in the end that is sure to have me thinking for a while. I highly recommend both Drishyam and Drishyam 2 to anyone because it’s a great example of what Indian cinema can achieve.
Reviewland by Arnav 