BOTTOM LINE
Satisfying Wrap-Up
RATING
3/5
Director: Abhishek Pathak
Story, Screenplay: Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Parveez Shaikh
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Kamlesh Sawant
Music Director: Ravi Basrur and others
DOP: Sudhir K. Chaudhary
Editor: Sandeep Francis
Producer: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, Ajit Andhare, Alok Jain
U.S. Distributor: Zee Studios
Related Links: Trailer
What Is the Film About?
Drishyam: The Conclusion picks up from the events of the previous films and revolves around the reopening of the Sam Deshmukh murder case. Tabu and Rajat Kapoor continue to seek revenge and justice, while Jaideep Ahlawat enters the picture as a determined police officer who refuses to let the case go.
A new cutthroat lawyer, played by Prakash Raj, enters in the second half and adds another layer of tension to the courtroom proceedings. Whether Vijay Salgaonkar can once again save his family and how he manages to do it forms the rest of the film.
Performances
Ajay Devgn continues to shine as Vijay Salgaonkar. His minimalist approach works perfectly for the character. He doesn’t need lengthy dialogues or dramatic outbursts. His eyes, expressions and body language do most of the work.
Shriya Saran gets a show-stealing moment in the pre-climax and makes the most of it.
Analysis
Abhishek Pathak returns to the Drishyam world with a film that understands what makes this franchise work. The story integrates smoothly with the previous installments, and the new developments don’t feel artificially inserted.
The biggest positive is that Drishyam 3 doesn’t feel like a forced sequel or a film made merely to cash in on the franchise. More importantly, this is an original film and not another Malayalam remake, allowing it to develop its own identity.
The first half is slightly slow but not boring. The director takes time to establish the characters, the new police officer and the case. The dialogue-heavy sequences keep the interest alive.
The film picks up considerably in the second half.
Once the twists begin arriving and different pieces of the puzzle start falling into place, the proceedings become much more engaging. The audience starts connecting the dots along with Vijay, and his moments are likely to generate hoots and cheers in theatres.
This is where Drishyam 3 delivers the franchise experience audiences expect. The screenplay remains connected to the core Drishyam mystery.
The climax, however, could divide audiences.
Some may find it slightly underwhelming because it doesn’t deliver the completely unexpected shock one might expect after all the buildup and twists. The conclusion relies more on Vijay’s established character and the nature of the franchise.
The film is also slightly long, and the first half could have been tighter. Still, the strong dialogue delivery and character buildup keep things moving.
Compared to the Malayalam Drishyam 3, this version stays closer to the core appeal of the franchise.
Overall, Drishyam: The Conclusion is a satisfactory and engaging conclusion.
Performances by Other Actors
Jaideep Ahlawat is the standout performer and, in terms of acting, the real hero of the film. He brings tremendous weight and intensity to the new police officer and gives the proceedings the required tension.
Prakash Raj is solid as the sharp lawyer who enters in the second half. He brings some much-needed energy to the courtroom portions.
Kamlesh Sawant, as the popular character Gaitonde, provides comic relief whenever the proceedings need a lighter touch.
Tabu and the rest of the Salgaonkar family are just about okay. They remain important to the larger story, but their roles are limited for much of the film.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score is a significant improvement over the previous installments. The character-specific themes work well and add tension to the important sequences.
The cinematography is one of the film’s strengths. Sudhir K. Chaudhary’s framing is particularly impressive during interrogation and dialogue-heavy scenes which make even simple exchanges intense and immersive.
Technically, the film is well mounted.
Highlights?
Jaideep Ahlawat
Ajay Devgn
Twists and Reveals
Court and Pre-Climax Scenes
Drawbacks?
Slow first half
Convenient choices for twists and thrills
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Drishyam: The Conclusion Hindi Movie Reviewed by Kalyan
