Drishyam 2 review: Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Tabu starrer is a faithful remake with thrilling execution

3/5

Seven years after the lawsuit against Vijay Salgaonkar and his family was resolved, a string of unanticipated occurrences reveals a fact that could drastically alter the Salgaonkars' lives. Can Vijay this time save his family?

During a revelation scene in the second half of Drishyam 2, the audience erupts with applause and screams. The community viewing of the Hindi version made me a little bit disappointed that the same feeling couldn't have been enjoyed when the Malayalam version dropped on Amazon Prime Video. That's the charm Abhishek Pathak maintained with the adaptation of the story, which just gets twisted as the years go by.

The first half of Drishyam 2 maintains the same pace as the first instalment did. We once again see a happy family that is ragging each other and going out for picnics and more. But even the sight of police makes Nandini (Shriya Saran) and Anju (Ishita Dutta) live in fear again. We also see that Anju has occasional episodes of epilepsy when she recalls the heinous incident that took place seven years ago. However, the first half of the buildup is slower and might make you slightly impatient for people who are waiting for the thrills to take place at the word "go."

It was believed that only Vijay and the viewers knew where he hid Sam's dead body, but the story brings another twist to take it forward. It would have come across as very twisted, but thanks to the incredible storytelling of Jeethu Joseph, the placement was apt and pitch-perfect. Pathak, who took on this enormous responsibility, adds the same twist, and it will undoubtedly delight you in some way.

There are hardly any changes made in the Hindi adaptive version, barring a few that are actually welcome. One of the best sequences is Akshaye Khanna's character, Inspector General Tarun Ahlawat, making a "friendly visit" at the Salgaonkar household when Vijay is not home. His sarcastic tone and wit might leave you in splits, and the way the whole sequence is shot is totally impressive.

Pathak has adapted the screenplay with Aamil Keeyan Khan, and they did total justice to the original script by making it grippier and edgier. And the technical credit has to go to Sudhir K. Chaudhary, the cinematographer of the film.

But it's the thrilling background score by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) that is the catalyst for making you leave at the edge of your seat. Although the songs from the film are forgettable, the BGM is just awesome and blends perfectly with the storyline.

Talking more about the storyline, I was a little confused when I watched the Malayalam version. What just happens in the third act is that all hell breaks loose, and you once again lose your mind over it. The same reaction is maintained in the Hindi adaptive version, which was the actual litmus test for the film. Everything comes down to how a twisted story can make you wonder how Vijay did that, just like all the other characters think about it.

Devgn passed the test with flying colours, thanks to a competent execution that included fewer dialogues and more eyeball movements. That's the thing about the Drishyam franchise: you know who's right and who's totally wrong, but all we want is a win for the leading character and to cheer for him to cover up the crime like a smooth criminal.

In terms of performances, as the leading man, Devgn retains the same level of intrigue as he did seven years ago. It seems like the character never left him, and he got into the skin of it very easily.

In the previous film, it was Tabu as Meera who was shoulder-to-shoulder with Vijay. This time, although she takes a slight backseat, the actor shows the two extremes of her character: one as an ex-cop who still wants the Salgaonkar family to suffer, and on the other hand, as a mother who is still coming to terms with the death of her son.

A new and welcome addition is Akshaye Khanna as IG, who is shown as a sarcastic man with great one-liners that suit his character well. To show how he is a smart cop, there is an amazing sequence that focuses on just how he thinks, which wasn't in the original Malayalam version.

Even Shriya, Ishita, and Mrunal Jadhav show great progression in the sequel by bringing back the essence of the same character again after a seven-year gap. Ishita deserves special praise for how calm she stays while playing this role.

Drishyam 2 is a worthy remake despite a slower-paced first half. But, whether you've seen the original or not, this one will keep you glued to the screen, but the twist won't become clear until the second or third viewing.

However, when it comes to Drishyam, the visuals will always be deceptive.

Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, and Tabu are actors to watch out for in Drishyam 2. However, it's once again an out-and-out Vijay Salgaonkar show with a twist that no one sees coming.