Drishyam 2

Directed by Abhishek Pathak

Rating: *** ½

For those who have seen the original Malayalam film, Drishyam 2 still has some surprises to offer. Abhishek Pathak who had earlier directed a film on the bald(Udta Chaman) goes this time for the bold: his telling of a tale of a murky murder cover-up, already told to perfection in Malayalam(or so, fans of the original think) is fluent and exploratory.

There are many top-shots of cars and buildings that make the people and their manoeuvres seem like a puppet show. For, at the end of the day that’s what we all are, right? Puppets. Except the devious ones, like our workingclass hero Vijay Salgaonkar(George Kutty in the original) who can actually outsmart destiny…or so it seems, going by the first two segments of the Franchise. There is a third film on the way. Who knows, destiny and the law may catch up with him then!

Until then we have Devgn’s deviously street-smart Vijay Salgaonkar protecting his wife(Shriya Sara) and two daughters from the law-enforcers played by Tabu , Akshaye Khanna and Kamlesh Sawant. The opposition is formidable.Some of the actors playing the khaki brigade are a big disappointment .

What holds the film together, as a remake and as fresh adaptation , is Ajay Devgn who looks every bit like a concerned householder, not willing to give away any secrets even to his nearest and dearest ones , as he knows better than anyone else that even walls have ears.

Evenly-placed and designed to keep audiences invested , regardless of whether you have seen the original or not, Drishyam 2 has a solid timeless suspense story to tell. Solid, because every father would always want to protect his family from the evil eye. Timeless, because this common-man superhero’s mind games to outwit the law are a manual for self-preservation.

Sudhir K Chaudhary’s cinematography captures the mystery of ordinariness with vigour. Sandeep Francis’ editing could have been tighter: one lengthy sequence where senior cop Akshaye Khanna barges uninvited into Devgn’s home in his absence is ridiculously selfimportant.

Watch out for Saurabh Shukla as a producer and script writer.You never know whose side he is on. The hallmark of a truly dedicated suspense character.