DISSERTATION

TITLE: DRISHYAM MOVIE REVIEW

SEMESTER & PROGRAM: 8TH SEMESTER/ B.A L.L.B HONS. SPECIALISATION IN CRIMINAL LAW

NAME OF THE STUDENT: RAJ ARYAN

ENROLLMENT NO. R450219256

SAP ID: 500078103

SCHOOL OF LAW

UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND ENERGY STUDIES

DEHRADUN

(JANUARY-JUNE , 2023)
Socio Economic Offences

DIRSHYAM Movie Review: An impactful social drama that questions the

unsaid rules of marriage

DIRSHYAM Cast: Tabu , Ajay Devgan

Director: Nishikant Kamat

My heart raced through most of the length of the film, and a long one at that. This is even though I know
most of what has happened as the characters find out themselves. This even though there is drama, very
average performances to distract you from the events in the film. The anxiety comes from not knowing if
the protagonists will get out of the situation. The anxiety comes from not knowing how much they will
suffer before getting out, if they do at all. The anxiety comes from knowing the odds are against them -
not just the situation they are in, but also knowing the writer/director might not necessarily be kind to
them either. The anxiety comes from being involved with the characters to such an extent. I don't
remember the last time my emotions were engaged in a thriller.

Sure, the situation itself a little out there and the way it is handled a little too smart to be believable. But,
once you have suspended that initial disbelief, given into the situation, and the drama begins to unfold
you realise the intricacy of the set-up and build-up. Little questions like – why would a mother with a
relatively uncommon name Nandini name her daughter a rather common, Anju – are answered and they
add to the narrative. Some explanations, of course are a little convenient. But largely, you are doing
something beyond rooting for the family you have begun to care for – you understand why people who
love them, love them; you want to hurt the people who hurt them.
Drishyam has one of the most riveting second halves I've seen in a long while. Usually, thrillers build up
well and fizzle out in the second half. But here most of the action come post-interval. This also means that
it takes its time to build up. The start does make you restless and wants you to tell the story to get a move
on. And maybe had the film gotten to its crux 10 or so minutes earlier, it would not make you wait for the
interval. But, it is difficult to tell what impact that would have had on the audience's involvement with the
Salgaokar family.

Also, a lot of the drama took me away from the characters into the reel world. The cheeky-cheesy
reference to cinema being an educator is well, cute but a little far-fetched. A self-aware statement that
films manipulate thrill using edits and music is instantly followed by use of “comic”music to bring in a
laugh – that too when it wasn't necessary at all. The scene was funny by itself and the music actually took
away from the smile. Again, a tighter rein on these bits could've also enhanced the story-telling.
Even so, there are things that worked for Drishyam that are otherwise trappings of a thriller. For instance,
usually when a character unveils the mystery by speaking it out loud, it is a put off because it feels like
you are reading a report. Here, the character is revealing the events as she is figuring it out herself. There
are other instances where a shot from earlier in the film is repeated when a character is retrieving it from
their memory. Usually, this is annoying because it is more to serve as a reminder to the audience than the
character. Here, however, it is an essential piece in the narrative.
Other than commenting on the role of cinema in our lives, the misuse of power, the parenting style of the
afffluent, Drishyam poses a question about right and wrong. You do wonder what you would have done if
you were in IG Meera's (Tabu) place and how you would have worked your way around the situation that
Vijay Salgaokar's (Ajay Devgn) finds himself in.
When a film largely works, it is difficult to find fault with the performances. But, except for a shot or
two, Ajay Devgn looks like he is sleep walking. Shriya Saran too comes across as functional. Tabu has an
enormous screen presence, yet it can hardly be called a challenge for her. In fact, the two little actresses
are the ones who come across as the best actors in the lot. So, Drishyam becomes one of those rare films
that has a narrative so strong that mediocre performances don't hamper it.
That is not to say Drishyam is taut. It is hardly flawless, but it glues you - body and mind alert - to the
story. A thing you can only rarely say for a thriller. It is not a visual treat that ought to be watched in the
theater, but it is a film which can be appreciated and encouraged for its writing. And of course, no home
theater can enhance the thrill like a dark cinema hall.