Sookshmadarshini Review: A Fresh Malayalam Crime Thriller with a Mind-Blowing Twist
Sookshmadarshini, a Malayalam film, recently premiered in theaters with a runtime of 2 hours and 22 minutes. I watched it last week with subtitles and even shared it on the Feetga Media Insta page. After watching the film, I genuinely liked it. It’s a fresh thriller set in adjacent houses, featuring a mind-blowing twist. While Malayalam films are known for their slow narration, Sookshmadarshini gradually builds up, leaving you with a satisfying feeling by the climax. It’s certainly a good watch.
The Core Story & Unique Concept
The basic storyline revolves around Manual (Basil Joseph), whose mother appears to have memory loss and is shown to have left home. Priya (Nazriya Nazim), their neighbor, grows suspicious about what’s truly happening. The film then explores what Manual is doing, what happened to his innocent mother, and ultimately, what the resolution is. The movie executes a completely new thriller concept, running through homes located right next to each other. It carries a mind-blowing twist that works effectively because the narrative consistently maintains its pattern until the very end, preventing easy guesses. The story unfolds in a thrilling manner without directly revealing ‘this is it’ until the very end. The main scenes where three individuals collaborate on a plan are particularly well-executed.
Strengths: Writing, Performances, and Cinematography
A consistent strong point in Malayalam cinema is always the writing, and Sookshmadarshini is no exception. The film’s narrative is fresh; it doesn’t reveal what’s happening until the very end, making it impossible to guess. Even the elements slowly revealed in the film divert our thoughts in different directions, but those are not the actual reasons. Unlike typical killing-centric films where you guess the villains, here the true villain is different.
Basil Joseph, as Manual, delivers a career-best performance, creating dark comedy in a negative role from the beginning. Nazriya Nazim, as Priya, delivers her usual strong performance, making it almost a one-woman show in parts. The background music is good, and the cinematography is exceptional. The movie primarily takes place in an area with just three or four houses, which is excellently covered by the camera work.
Weaknesses: Pacing and Cinematic Liberties
Similar to many Malayalam films, Sookshmadarshini suffers from slow pacing, with a lengthy introduction before entering the main story. The film’s runtime could have been shorter, as the core message could have been conveyed more concisely. A significant drawback is the lack of direct explanation for ‘why’ certain events occurred, possibly to avoid controversy. The audience is left to interpret the underlying reasons.
Furthermore, the climax fight includes cinematic liberties, such as villains holding back until the heroine arrives or being easily defeated in a couple of shots, despite having earlier opportunities to act. It’s also implied the villains could have acted much earlier, leaving a sense of ‘what’s next?’. These kinds of cinematic liberties are abundant in the film.
Is Sookshmadarshini Family-Friendly?
Yes, Sookshmadarshini can be watched with family, as it contains no adult content.
“Do Bakri Katha” – A Short Film Mention
The review also briefly mentions “Do Bakri Katha,” a short film released on YouTube with a five-minute runtime. Its concept is based on two goats talking about humans near a mutton shop. It’s described as a simple and decent attempt with good voiceovers and dialogues, using goat expressions effectively. The reviewer encourages viewers to watch it, stating a link is provided in the description and comments to support the creators.
Final Verdict and Rating
Despite its few minus points, Sookshmadarshini is definitely a fresh crime thriller worth watching. While pacing issues exist, it remains an impressive crime thriller. My opinion gives it a rating of 3/5.
If you watch the movie and don’t understand certain plot points or the reasons behind specific actions, feel free to comment; I’m happy to explain my interpretation. Similarly, if you’ve seen a Mohanlal film with similar points and didn’t understand it, let me know. If you liked my work, please subscribe to our channel for more reviews. Thank you!
