The moment I heard that it is a thriller, I ensured that I didn't read thru any of the reviews floating around, which meant I had no clue of the plot. The only thing I knew was that it was a family drama which turns out to be a thriller. So, if you plan to watch the film, do not go read about it. Even the Wikipedia page has spoilers!
What works in favor of Drishyam is the narrative. Written and directed by Jeetu Joseph, the movie stars Mohanlal, Meena, Asha Sarath, Siddique
The cinematography by Sujith Vaassudev is an asset and aids Jeetu's narrative ably. Some of the shots of the scenic Thodupuzha and its surroundings are indeed a feast. Music composed by Anil Johnson and Vinu Thomas is adequate. The songs are pleasant and do not hamper the flow. The background score though loud at places serves the movie well when it really matters.
I consider the characterization of Mohanlal as a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. A protagonist playing a movie buff and taking real life decisions based on the movies he watches, is a stroke of brilliance from the director and who better to play this than the master actor Mohanlal. There are news' doing the rounds that Kamal Haasan has been signed to do a Tamizh remake of this film (with some changes to suit the Tamizh viewers, ofcourse!). But I will stick my neck out and say, with all due respect to Kamal, Mohanlal's performance can not be matched.
Meena is excellent as the protagonist's wife and Asha Sharath as the stern police officer in the company of the dependable veteran Siddique does a commendable job. Kalabhavan Shajon as Constable Sahadevan, who has a few scores to settle, is very effective as well.
All in all, a fantastic movie watching experience. One cannot stop from applauding the way the thriller unfolds. Kudos to Jeetu Joseph for the script. I really look forward to his future projects.
My Verdict: Must Watch!
