3.5/5
Drishyam 2 starts where Drishyam (2015) left off. Here’s a recap of what happened in the first film. Vijay Salgaonkar’s (Ajay Devgn) elder daughter, Anju (Ishita Dutta) unintentionally murders the son of the Inspector General of Goa Police Meera Deshmukh (Tabu). The boy had taken a nude video of hers and had been blackmailing her because of it. Vijay hides away the body and weaves a narrative proclaiming that he and his entire family were out somewhere else during the day of the murder. After a lengthy investigation, Vijay is let off due to lack of evidence, even as the police are accused of using brutal means of getting a confession out of Vijay and his family. In the sequel, set six years down the line, the Salgaonkars have moved up in life. Though they’re still traumatised by their past. Anju supposedly suffers from epilepsy because of the guilt and pressure of what we have seen in the first film. Meera Deshmukh and her husband Mahesh (Rajat Kapoor) are desperately searching for closure and haven’t forgiven the Salgaonkar family for the loss of their son. The new IG of Goa police, Tarun Ahlawat (Akshaye Khanna) is Meera’s old friend and vows to nab Vijay at any cost. He’s as shrewd, and as dedicated as Vijay is and what ensues is a battle of wits between two strong-willed men.
The first film was a frame-to-frame copy of the Malayalam original starring Mohanlal and the second too is based on the sequel to the original Malayalam film which was released an year ago on OTT. This Hindi version has nothing new to offer to those who have seen the Malayalam version. For those who haven’t seen it, the film will provide several thrilling moments and a couple of shocking twists. The climax, especially, will surely shake you up and leave you asking for more.
If you want to enjoy the film, then everything which happens will have to be taken with a large pinch of salt. In terms of the plot, this film is more implausible than the first one. Vijay is shown to be more cunning and foresighted than ever before. He’s thought of all the various possibilities that can occur in the coming years and has a solution for each one of them. While it all looks good on screen, life, as we know, is too random for anyone to actually prepare for every contingency. Anything and everything can go wrong at any given moment but here, all of Vijay’s plans fructify successfully. It’s something which is hard to stomach for sure. The first showed that Vijay learned everything about life through movies and such is the case here as well. The film offers a couple of realistic touches in the sense that neighbours actually feel Vijay and his family are guilty and continuously taunt them for it. The elder daughter, as said earlier, suffers from epilepsy brought in by PTSD, the police are shown to be quite brutal and the mother’s character is more ruthless than from the first movie.
Everything hinges on the performances and the entire cast has chipped in with their best efforts. Tabu looks the very picture of grief and angst. She’s a wounded tigress, grieving at the loss of her cub and woe betide anyone who crosses her. In contrast, Rajat Kapoor’s stoic acceptance of what has happened and his dignified manner of handling it makes you root for him. Akshaye Khanna is the new player in the field and his quirks and punch dialogue make you smile. He can exude menace even when he’s smiling and is a welcome addition to the franchise. Shriya Saran too plays a concerned mother who is forever scared of being found out. Ishita Dutta has her moment in the sun as well. The film rests squarely on Ajay Devgn’s able shoulders. He plays the concerned father and husband with the gravitas it deserves. He never strays off character and his sincere performance stays with you from the first frame to the last. He infuses his character with so much conviction that you’re willing to forget the implausible happenings on screen. The film is set for a sequel, so be prepared to be surprised once more.
Trailer : Drishyam 2
Archika Khurana, November 18, 2022, 3:51 AM IST
3.5/5
Drishyam 2 Story: Vijay Salgaonkar and his family are still haunted by the fear and trauma of what happened seven years ago. With the police employing new ways and tracks to uncover the case, how long can the truth remain buried? And can Vijay save himself and his family again?
Drishyam 2 Review: The sequel to Drishyam, which is adapted from a Malayalam thriller of the same name, begins where the 2015 film had left off—Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn) emerging from a police station carrying a shovel. Seven years ago, the almost-perfect crime had a witness, and that’s what gives the police impetus and ammo to revisit the Sameer Deshmukh missing-case investigation so many years later.
Vijay is now a theatre owner who dreams of making a film based on a story he has written. His elder daughter Anju (Ishita Dutta) is still reeling from the shock of the traumatic events, while his younger daughter Anu (Mrunal Jadhav) is in her teens. Every member of the family, including his wife Nandini (Shriya Saran), is moving on with life as usual—but always on guard. And with a haunting sense of fear which never leaves them. A series of unexpected events turn the Salgaonkars’ lives upside down when a truth threatens to change everything.
Even the support Vijay received from his community seven years ago, begins to dwindle as the plot unfolds, and they begin to question if he actually committed the crime. The film gathers up steam when the police investigation led by Inspector General of Police Tarun Ahlawat (Akshaye Khanna), and Sameer’s (who’s accidental death in Drishyam formed of the crux of both the films) mother and former IG Meera (Tabu), swings into action. This time, they follow the leads without underestimating the protagonist.
Following a similar pattern like the first, helmed by the late Nishkant Kamat, here director Abhishek Pathak takes things slowly in the first half. The family’s dread and anxiety are palpable as he gradually builds the tension in the narrative. As the investigation progresses, every character serves a distinct purpose, and helps heighten the drama and suspense.
Ajay Devgn shines as a protective father who loves his family unconditionally; he is a simple man with a razor-sharp mind. Akshaye Khanna, who in the past has played a cop, in films like Mom and Ittefaq, lends much gravitas to these gripping proceedings. Tabu is simply outstanding as Meera, a mother seeking justice for her son. Rajat Kapoor shines as her husband who eagerly wants everything to be settled soon. Kamlesh Sawant reprises his role as Gaitonde, who is still ruthless and bloodthirsty for revenge. Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, and Mrunal Jadhav, who play other Salgaonkars, have almost similar roles as they had in the previous part. Saurabh Shukla as writer Murad Ali plays his part well to resolve the mystery.
Jeethu Joseph’s original story is skilfully adapted by Aamil Keeyan Khan and Abhishek Pathak. They deftly weave in multiple threads, leading to a stellar climax packed with numerous twists that are as good as the first film. While the first one undoubtedly had a certain novelty to it, the sequel stands strong too, it intrigues and entertains. The story here remains unpredictable for the most part, however, some of the setups seem contrived and some situations too far-fetched. Having said that, making a sequel to a very successful first part wherein most of the characters are the same is quite a challenge.
Amitabh Bhattacharya’s song Sahi Galat that comes with the credits and the title track is upbeat. Saath Hum Rahein is slow but perfectly filmed to capture the bond family share. The background score by Rockstar DSP (Devi Sri Prasad) blends well and adds to the intensity of the drama.
Overall, Drishyam 2 dishes out plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked throughout, just like its predecessor. And the story of the Salgaokars will continue to remain in public memory.
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