Review- Drishyam 2

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If you haven't watched, Drishyam-1 or simply Drishyam, then it might be logical to watch the first one and then head to this. The makers here have ensured that the continuity from the first stays. Also, am guessing that this might be one of the few sequels that pretty much lives up to the first. Why I use, the word pretty much? Read on.

Drishyam 2 is all about three people, Mohanlal, Mohanlal and Mohanlal. Mohanlal the father and husband, Mohanlal the criminal (or allegedly) and Mohanlal the video store owner. The rest of the characters in the movie pale or perhaps the screenplay does not give them enough time. Infact, we all know (and after having watched Drishyam 1) that the winner at the end of it will still be Georgekutty (Mohanlal's character) and that's why I will like to say that Drishyam 2 pretty much is close to the first instalment and not quite the same. The first always had the advantage of as they say in marketing, the first mover advantage. The second one, therefore has the added pressure, expectations and the obviousness of it all.

But, why will Drishyam 2 work inspite of it all. Since, viewers are constantly curious to know the plot from the scratch. We watch, as the family of Georgekutty is trying to recover from the stress and trauma they went through in the first instalment (a constant in trauma wife and a girl recovering from PTSD). Police harassments, neighbors prying and most of all the adolescent children's mental torture. Infact, the police excesses in the first instalment has put them on the defensive. Yet, they are also not happy letting Georgekutty roam around scot free. Now, that he is making good money and the wealth shows, and the cops and the locality do not like them. So, the context is well set for the plot to unravel. 

A footnote here; Malayalam cinema off late is creating plots and stories which are often in the nearby neighborhood kind of setting. A lot of films like Kumbalangi nights, Virus, Sudani from Nigeria and many more are all about plots that are simple tales of lives in the neighborhood. The jingoism and machismo perhaps is still very Tamil or Telegu cinema where the superstar culture still pervades. However, the society and the overall audience profile that the new age Malayalee's are, has forced makers to look at plots and context differently. The look and feel of Drishyam 2 follows the same adage.  

Coming back to the film. Drishyam 2 as a plot looks too perfect and at times the naturality of the first instalment seems missing. The suddenness of the event and how the events unfold eventually was riveting in the first one and the second one therefore looks fabricated at times. Yet, one will relate to the Georgekutty family after all that they went through. Also, the lead protagonist (being a film buff himself) knows that the police may not let off the case so easily. Hence, the rationale of the events that unfold does hold fort. The planning is meticulous and the so are the pieces of puzzle all strew so far, seem to be falling in place. 

Mohanlal remains spot on and he is the pivot to the script and the film. The rest are all tied to him in some way or the other. His roles as a father, husband, business man and finally the resident of the locality is all coming into with the intensity of the expressions and the body language. I sense there might be a Drishyam 3 too; but the makers should be cautious as each time you are squeezing the lemon for the last drop of juice, it turns bitter.  

Drishyam 2 premiered directly on the OTT and its on Amazon Prime. Go watch!

Comments

AMITAV GANGULY said…
VERY GOOD ANALYSIS! MAKES ONE WANT TO SEE THE MOVIE!
February 22, 2021 at 9:25 PM
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