Drishyam 2 is the newest theatrical release from the Hindi belt of the Indian Film Industry aka Bollywood. It is a sequel to the 2015 film- Drishyam. Both the films are remakes of the original Malyalam film of the same title which were written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. While the original starred Mohanlal as the protagonist, the Hindi remake has Ajay Devgn. I have never seen the original Drishyam, my first contact with this story was through Nishikant Kamat’s 2015 film. I loved the film when I watched it for the first time and I continue to love it every time I’ve seen it since. It has to be one of the finest thrillers ever produced in India. Not to disregard the original, the remake was possible only because of the Malyalam film. The ending the of the film was so perfect that I never thought there can be continuation to this.
However, I was proved wrong when Jeethu Joseph came out with the sequel to his original film in 2021. The film released on Prime and was very well-received. I chose not to see the film, as I hadn’t seen the original Malyalam version, so I waited patiently for the Hindi remake. Very soon the proceedings for the Hindi remake began. While I was privy to some spoilers for Drishyam, I made sure I walk in with a clean slate for the sequel. After a long wait, I’ve finally seen the film and I have some thoughts to share. Let’s dive right in.
Rating – ★★★
Drishyam 2 Review: As Good As the First One?
Just to clarify, the 2015 Drishyam was directed by Nishikant Kamat while the sequel is directed by Abhisekh Pathak due to the tragic passing of Kamat in 2020. The sequel picks up 7 years after the events of the first film. Vijay and his family has moved on. Vijay has opened his own theatre and plans to produce a film. The village still gives the stink eye to Vijay but he is unbothered by it as he has achieved so much since the first film. There is a new IG in town and he happens to be friends with Meera Deshmukh who still hasn’t moved on.
The sequel’s premise is set on the fact that the first film’s perfect ending was not so perfect. While Vijay was burying Sam’s body in the police station, he was seen by someone who happened to be there due to dumb luck. What will Vijay do when his masterplan is ruined and the body is discovered is the dramatic question throughout the film which is answered at the end. I loved the film’s opening, it was unexpected, an unknown character running away from the police as he has committed a murder and then crossing paths with Vijay.
I was hooked by the opening as it already built the foundation for the entire premise of the film. The seed of evidence will soon sprout into a tree. After that the film catches up on all the happenings of the past 7 years. The first half is extremely interesting as it sets up everything very well, it is low I’m aware but I was not bothered by it as the promise of thrill was established well. Many characters are introduced and many are re-introduced like Gaitonde. There are tense moments throughout the first half but honestly, the story of the film hasn’t started.
It is not until the last 10 minutes of the first half where we see the first bell of conflict being struck where we realize Vijay’s neighbors are actually undercover cops who have been collected information on him. It is at this point where we realize that there is impending doom on Vijay as Nandini has slipped valuable information. After the interval the film picks up significant pace. There are a lot more tense moments. The second half focuses on the police attempting to find a shred of evidence against Vijay but failing.
Until, the body is discovered. That is when the real action starts. How the family is dragged back into interrogation and the illegal practises the police use to break them, pretty much make the second half. Vijay gives a confession to keep his family out of it. However, later in court he denies and says this confession was taken by force. Then the masterplan in revealed of how Vijay always knew the body will be found and he has many fail safes in action to save his family. That includes all the things we’ve hearing throughout the first half- his book, his film, and the local guy works in the graveyard.
I liked the film, don’t get me wrong but the second half is certainly disappointing. The promise the first half sets-up is not given justice. The film from a structural standpoint doesn’t have a second act at all, if it is then it is diminishingly small. The film has a long first act, extremely small second act and then once again a big third act. Anyone who has a rudimentary understanding of scripts will tell you the main meat of the matter or heart of the film is always the second act. The twists in the end are too over the top as well.
Verdict
Drishyam 2 is a good sequel and it is enjoyable for the most part as well. However, I found the second half to be rushed and disappointing. The first Drishyam works so well because of how the second act is extremely thrilling as Vijay desperately does so many smart things, here there is no such struggle. he body is discovered there one scene of torture and after that the climax starts where the entire masterplan is revealed. The twist at the end of Drishyam was very well executed but here it is all over the place as there are too many twists.
The resolution as well is very convenient where as Vijay has destroyed Sam’s body and the remains, he has kept some of his ashes which he then gives to Meera to find closure. Meera doesn’t try to get back at him. It is like she has moved now, that didn’t work for me. I have to say though while I’m grilling the movie for its flaws the audience was hooting and cheering as the revelations unfolded. So, it might’ve worked for many and the box office numbers say so. Ajay Devgn as Vijay is the heart of the film and its best part.
The other performances were okay but no standouts. I’ve already discussed my problems with the film’s story. The direction is fine, there was nothing much to do. The music of the film was impressive. I liked the the bone chilling BGM. I would recommend watching the film but it is nowhere close to the brilliance of the first one. It is a good film and maybe even the best Hindi film of the year but it was disappointing for me. Honestly, based on the conversations I’ve had the remake doesn’t change too much from the original so yeah the direction in which the original maker has taken the story is not working for me, hence, I didn’t like the remake as well.
Drishyam 2 is a good but disappointing sequel- 3 out of 5 stars. I hope there is no Drishyam 3, let it end here as this point is not very disappointing, the third film might be. It is currently playing in theatres near you.
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