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The sequel to Drishyam, based on a Malayalam thriller of the same name, picks up where the first film left off, with Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn) emerging from a police station with a shovel. The almost-perfect crime had a witness seven years ago, and that’s what gives police impetus and ammunition to revisit the Sameer Deshmukh missing-persons investigation so many years later.
Vijay is now a theatre owner who hopes to make a film based on a story he wrote. His elder daughter Anju (Ishita Dutta) is still reeling from the trauma of the events, while his younger daughter Anu (Mrunal Jadhav) is in her adolescence. Every member of the family, including his wife Nandini (Shriya Saran), is going about their daily lives as usual—but on high alert. And with a haunting sense of fear that never goes away. When a truth threatens to change everything, a series of unexpected events turn the Salgaonkars’ lives upside down.
Even the community’s support for Vijay, which he received seven years ago, begins to dwindle as the plot unfolds, and they begin to question whether he actually committed the crime. When the police investigation led by Inspector General of Police Tarun Ahlawat (Akshaye Khanna) and Sameer’s (whose accidental death in Drishyam formed the crux of both films) mother and former IG Meera (Tabu), swings into action, the film picks up steam. They follow the leads this time without underestimating the protagonist.
Following in the footsteps of the first film, directed by the late Nishkant Kamat, director Abhishek Pathak takes things slowly in the first half. The dread and anxiety of the family are palpable as he gradually builds the tension in the narrative. As the investigation progresses, each character serves a specific purpose, adding to the drama and suspense.
Ajay Devgn shines as a protective father who unconditionally loves his family; he is a simple man with a razor-sharp mind. Akshaye Khanna, who has previously played a cop in films such as Mom and Ittefaq, adds gravitas to these tense scenes. Tabu is fantastic as Meera, a mother seeking justice for her son. Rajat Kapoor shines as her husband, who is eager for everything to be resolved as soon as possible. Gaitonde, played by Kamlesh Sawant, is still ruthless and bloodthirsty for vengeance. Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, and Mrunal Jadhav, who play other Salgaonkars, reprise their roles from the previous film. Saurabh Shukla, who plays writer Murad Ali, does an excellent job of resolving the mystery.
The title track and the credits song, Sahi Galat by Amitabh Bhattacharya, are upbeat. Saath Hum Rahein is a slow film that perfectly captures the bond that a family shares. The background score by Rockstar DSP (Devi Sri Prasad) blends in well and adds to the drama’s intensity.
Drishyam 2 has plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested throughout, just like its predecessor. And the Salgaokars’ story will live on in the public imagination.
