BOTTOM LINE
No Match for S1
PLATFORM
PRIME VIDEO
RUNTIME
8 Episodes, 6hrs Approx
What Is the Film About?
In Kaalipattinam, Sakkarai investigates the locked-room murder of his mentor, lawyer Chellappa, during the Ashtakaali festival. Initially believing Chellappa a saviour, the investigation reveals a complex web of secrets, including the lawyer’s involvement in fighting a human trafficking ring. Multiple women confess to the murder, throwing Sakkarai into turmoil. With Nandini’s help, he uncovers Chellappa’s hidden past and the women’s connection to a dark conspiracy.
Performances
Kathir, yet again, proves he’s one of the most promising young Tamil talents while essaying the role of a cop with a conscience. There’s a maturity and composure in his performance belying his age. Aishwarya Rajesh has a decent role, but in the context of this season – her character takes a backseat and rightly supports the larger issue concerning her other female counterparts. Malayalam legend Lal brings solidity to the setup with his strong presence.
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Analysis
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There’s a danger in commodifying every hit project—it feels like an unnecessary effort to decode the magic that helped it strike a chord with the masses and make a vain attempt to replicate the formula again. The result may/may not work in favour of the paymasters, but the joy of storytelling gradually dies a silent death over time, and all you get to watch is a well-assembled product.
Pushkar and Gayathri-backed Suzhal had a certain originality to its universe—the hill station setting, the rooted storytelling capturing the mythical side of the village, the chaos within the police force, many dysfunctional families, a leadership crisis within a factory, and a subplot involving misguided youths, all connected to the story of a missing girl.
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The first season’s varied threads came together neatly, striking a rare balance between rusticity and sophistication. It focused on the larger picture and the little details, too. If the original started as a big issue and boiled down to a ‘personal’ mystery within a family, the follow-up season does the opposite. A murder mystery opens a can of worms, dealing with a larger, complex problem.
Suzhal Season 2, jointly directed by Bramma G and Sarjun, is a logical continuation of the first part – though Sakkarai and Nandini are the only familiar faces this time. Nandini is behind bars for killing a sexual abuser from her own family using Sakkarai’s pistol. Sakkarai’s godfather Chellappa, a lawyer, fights for Nandini’s bail, her need for self-defence. The case takes a backseat when Chellappa is killed under mysterious circumstances.
The mythological references – the village is named after Kaalipattinam, the backdrop is of the Ashtakaali festival (referring to ‘Ashtalakshmi’) and the larger problem affecting the women – provide a strong foundation to the otherwise straightforward story. The creators and directors toy with your imagination – coming up with contrasting versions of Chellappa’s personality to take the plot forward.
The show subscribes to all the must-haves of an investigation procedural drama – focusing on every possible dimension within the victim’s radar, going back and forth between their past and the present, alternating from one suspect to the other – when the culprit is lurking out in the open. You get a reasonably gripping drama if you don’t compare it with its predecessor.
The narrative is at its engaging best when it deals with the flashback of the various female protagonists – how a courageous woman fought it out with her loved ones to seal their future (who’re in no way related to her) and entrusted them in the hands of Chellappa. Though a few twists are interesting, the culmination is predictable, with Sakkarai and Nandini restarting life, afresh.
By the end of the show, there’s a necessary debate about right and wrong and how amidst the filth in the world, all hope is not lost. What’s quite impressive about Suzhal regardless of its merits/demerits is that it makes its characters face the consequences of their actions; none escapes unscathed. The real problem is how everything is forcibly tied to the original, reiterating that this is a franchise.
Suzhal Season 2 lacks the finesse and the organic charm of the first part but is nevertheless a decent investigative drama with its heart in the right place.
Performances by Others Actors
Manjima Mohan, in a crucial extended appearance, leaves a strong impact. Other key characters related to the murder mystery – played by the likes of Samyuktha Viswanathan, Monisha Blessy, Harini Sundararajan, Gouri Kishan and others – are established well too. Saravanan, as Moorthy, lends a rootedness to the investigation and taps into many layers of his persona.
Ashwini Nambiar, the popular TV/film actress from the 90s, stages a worthy comeback in a meaty role. Anjali Ameer, Attul, Amit Bhargav and Arshya Lakshman make for a strong supporting cast.
Music and Other Departments?
Sam CS plays to his strengths with a captivating, arresting score that enhances the appeal of the sequences and complements its semi-mythical, thriller treatment effectively. Much like the previous part, it is a top-class product on the technical front – be it Arun Venjaramoodu’s production design, the costumes or Abraham Joseph’s slick cinematography. The dialogues too deserve praise for capturing the philosophies of its complex characters without diluting their ideas. The raw stunt choreography is also among its strengths.
Highlights?
Technically rich
Strong performances
Decent premise
Drawbacks?
Lacks the raw vigour of the original
Force-fit into the franchise
Inconsistent, sometimes predictable narrative
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t compare it with the first part, you may like it
Suzhal: The Vortex Season 2 Review by M9
