Tag: Jeetu Joseph

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Mohanlal and Anaswara Rajan’s Neru


Jeetu Joseph’s Neru is no Drishyam. There are no big twists and turns here. The plot is set up within the first ten minutes. A blind girl Sara (Anaswara Rajan) is sexually assaulted by an intruder who turns out to be a cliched spoilt brat. In spite of being blind Sara is a skilled sculptor. Mohanlal plays a not so confident lawyer Vijaymohan who eventually gets back his rhythm. The legendary actor perfectly blends into the narrative and plays his supporting role to perfection.

Siddiqui and Priyamani also make for competent adversaries. However the best bits of the film belong to Anaswara Rajan. Her character of Sara has been designed with the right mixture of vulnerability and braveness. Through her role Jeetu Joseph talks about how a rape victim should not hide behind a veil and let that dark chapter define her existence. Jeetu Joseph also does a brilliant job in showcasing the grit of a blind girl. Her eyes not functioning does not make her any less of a human being. Sara has other senses that make up for what she lacks. Anaswara Rajan does an outstanding job and more than holds her own opposite these seasoned actors. (Streaming site Disney+Hotstar)

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Drishyam 2 (Hindi): A Solid Remake That Stands On Its Own Feet. 

Abhishek Pathak delivers a solid thriller that will satisfy the audiences even if you have seen the original Malayalam film

Drishyam 2 (Hindi)           3.5 out of 5

Starcast: Ajay Devgan, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Akshay Khanna and others

Direction, screenplay and dialogues: Abhishek Pathak

Additional screenplay and dialogues: Aamil Keeyan Khan

Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Abhishek Pathak, Krishan Kumar and Kumar Mangat Pathak

Production companies: Viacom 18 Studios, T- Series Films and Panorama Studios

Original story: Jeetu Joseph

Based on: Drishyam 2 (Malayalam) by Jeetu Joseph

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Genre: Crime thriller/drama

Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

Jeetu Joseph’s Drishyam films can easily fit in any language; the emotions in both the films are something that audiences can connect to irrespective of where they come from. When Jeetu Joseph made Drishyam 2 there were certain apprehensions about the sequel matching up to the original. But the director proved his skeptics wrong by delivering a highly satisfying sequel. Not surprisingly Drishyam 2 was remade into Telugu as well; Jeetu Joseph directed the Telugu version as well.  Now you have Hindi Drishyam 2 headlined by Ajay Devgan and directed by Abhishek Pathak. Late Nishikant Kamat had directed the first part. 

Drishyam 2 comes at a time when we are going through a saturation of remakes. However the film has created a certain buzz thanks to a well cut trailer and also the star cast. This time there is Akshaye Khanna too playing the police officer who takes on Ajay Devgan’s Vijay Salgaonkar. 

The story of Drishyam 2 starts off with a slight recap of the first part. This recap helps the audiences to reconnect with the events. Seven years have passed but Vijay’s family is still haunted by that traumatic night and the events that followed. Vijay has now got his own film theatre. In fact he is writing a story too with plans of producing a film. Former inspector Meera Deshmuk (Tabu) is still searching for answers and closure regarding her son’s death. Nandini (Shriya Saran) cannot sleep alone at night. Whenever Vijay isn’t there she asks her neighborhood lady to sleep her. Anju (Ishita Dutta) suffers from fits during high tension moments. Tarun Ahlawat (Akshay Khanna) is a friend of Meera and is hell bent on making sure that Vijay is punished, however that is easier said than done. This is the basic synopsis. 

The first half of Drishyam 2 is slow paced and a lot of time is spent on setting things up. But Abhishek Pathak does a good job in keeping the audiences invested. The family dynamics don’t have the same warmth as the Malayalam and Telugu versions, but still there is enough meat. Some of the twists won’t be a surprise for those who have seen the Malayalam film. However there is a lot there for even those who have seen the Malayalam film. 

The film gathers steam with the introduction of Akshay Khanna. Akshay Khanna commands the viewer’s attention with his strong screen presence. The cat and mouse game which proceeds keeps the audiences engrossed. My favorite bit in the second half is when Akshay’s character visits the family of Vijay. The tension is palpable throughout. This in spite of the fact that Akshay Khanna never raises his voice, his demeanor is more than enough. Akshay Khanna brings a certain authority to his part and his one liners are too good. 

The background score by Devi Sri Prasad also helps immensely in building up the suspense. The background score adds to the thrills particularly in the second half when things start getting serious. Sudhir Kumar’s cinematography is another major plus for the film. His cinematography adds to the immersive experience. 

Much like the original Malyalam film and the Telugu remake here too as audiences you empathize with both Ajay Devgan and Tabu. There are no heroes and villains here. Both these actors don’t need a particular introduction about their acting capabilities. Their work speaks for themselves. 

Ajay Devgan is brilliant as the protective husband and father who would go any lengths to save them. Tabu has less screen time but she commands your attention as the mother who is waiting to strike back. 

Shriya Saran is fairly effective as Nandini but Meena did a better job in the Malayalam and Telugu Films. Kamlesh Sawant brings in the required ruthless to his part of a cop who is thirsty for revenge.  Final word: Drishyam 2 is a worthy successor. There are enough thrills backed by some solid performances. 

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Drishyam 2: Super Follow Up To Drishyam 1

Sequels are always a tricky business given the expectations of the people and it is very rare that a sequel is as good if not better than the original. Drishyam 2 is one such where it completely lives up to the expectations of those who loved the first part. It is a perfect example of how to make a good thriller. The twists and the turns keep you completely hooked. The climax and the pre climax deserve particular mention.

For those who haven’t seen the first part the plot revolved around a Cable TV operator George Kutty who is leading a happy life with his wife and daughters. Things take a turn for the worse when his family commits an accidental crime and the burden of protecting them and their secret falls on him.

The story of Drishyam 2 begins six years after the incident. George kutty now owns a theatre and also plans to make a movie. The two daughters are also grown up. Anju played by Ansiba Hasan is a subdued college student.  Anu played by Esther Anil is somewhat rebellious. Meena is still the naïve wife who picks on her daughters and isn’t very happy with her husband’s plans. Asha Sharath also reprises her role of ex cop Geeta Prabhakar.

But beneath the normalcy the family is still scarred by what happened in the past. Director Jeetu Joseph paints a realistic picture of the trauma. Anju develops a medical condition because of it. This includes having nightmares and feeling fear whenever she sees the police. Meena’s character is constantly worrying about where her husband had buried the body and someone will find it one day. Whenever her husband goes out of town she asks her neighbor Sarita to sleep with her as she cannot sleep alone. Anu the youngest has kind of moved on.

However it is not just the family which has changed, the people around them have also changed. In the first part the people of the town were rooting for George Kutty’s family horrified by the police actions. This time around they have loosened their tongues. Most of them believe that they indeed committed the crime. What really happened on that day becomes a matter of gossip everywhere. The situation changes when the current IG deploys shadow police officers to get the truth out of George Kutty and his family.

Just like the first part the biggest strength of Drishyam 2 is its writing. It is tough to write a sequel to a story where the crime is the same but Jeetu Joseph does a super job in building up the plot. He also brings freshness to the sequel while retaining the spirit of the prequel.

A suspense thriller is not only about how you begin but it is also about how you end. The courtroom scene in the pre climax mirrors a crucial scene from the first film. Just when you think that Geroge Kutty is going to be punished a new twist shows up where we realize that George Kutty has pulled the rug from under the feet of everyone including the audience.

Drishyam 2 also scores high on emotions. There are many scenes which move you. If the movie has to be summed up in one line it is what the judge tells the IG in the end that both families deserve justice. The director is successful in making you empathize with both Mohanlal and also Asha Sharath, but more with Mohanlal. There are no heroes and villains here.

Mohanlal carries on from where he left off in the first part. He makes George Kutty’s character his own proving once again why he is a legend. The supporting cast also does well but Asha Sharath deserves a particular mention for her performance as a mother who wants her son’s killers to be punished.

In totality Drishyam 2 is a highly satisfying sequel to the first film.