Drishyam 2 - 2022

Introduction 

Drishyam 2 is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Abhishek Pathak. Starring an impressive cast, including Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, this film is a sequel to the 2015 hit film Drishyam and a remake of the 2021 Malayalam film of the same name. The story picks up seven years after the events of the last film and features supporting performances from Saurabh Shukla, Rajat Kapoor, and others.

With music composed by Devi Sri Prasad, Drishyam 2 was filmed in picturesque locations such as Goa, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The film received positive reviews upon its release in November 2022, with praise for its acting, writing, cinematography, and editing. The film's success at the box office, with a worldwide gross of ₹343.42 crore (US$43 million), solidified its place as a top-performing film in the Indian film industry.

Table of Contents

• Details

• Story

• Release

• Reviews and Ratings

• Cast

• Crew

• Character Analysis

• Songs

• Controversy

• Box Office Collection

• Awards

• Interesting Facts

• Conclusion

Details

Story 

PlayDrishyam 2 picks up seven years after the events of its predecessor, with Vijay (Ajay Devgn), Nandini (Shriya Saran), Anju (Ishita Dutta) and Anu (Mrunal Jhadav) leading a contented life. Vijay, now a successful businessman, dreams of making a film of his own and is in the process of developing the script with screenwriter Murad Ali. Meanwhile, Anju struggles with PTSD and epilepsy caused by her involvement in the death of Sameer Deshmukh, aka Sam (Rishab Chadha), a subject of gossip and rumours among the locals. On the anniversary of Sam's death, Vijay is confronted by Sam's father, Mahesh (Rajat Kapoor), who tries in vain to locate his son's remains. Nandini, however, inadvertently reveals Anju's involvement in the murder to her neighbour Jenny, who is actually an undercover cop.

As the investigation intensifies, David Braganza, the actual murderer in the predecessor film, is released from jail and recalls Vijay's presence at the under-construction police station. He tips off the police, leading to the discovery of a skeleton and Vijay's eventual arrest and trial for Sam's murder. During the trial, Murad reveals that Vijay had written a novel loosely based on Sam's murder as part of a future crime thriller. The judge shocks the court by announcing that DNA tests on the skeleton do not match Sam's, leading Murad to reveal Vijay's alternate climax.

Vijay is released on bail due to lack of evidence, and the judge calls off all investigations against him and his family. In a twist, Murad reveals that Vijay's alternate climax involved the hero handing over the villain's cremated remains to the bereaved parents. Vijay, watching from afar, anonymously hands over Sam's remains to Meera and Mahesh, who finally find closure and let go of their animosity towards him. The film ends with Vijay leaving, having done everything to protect his family.

Release

Drishyam 2 was released on November 18th, 2022, with widespread theatrical distribution across the globe. The film was distributed by Panorama Studios and Yash Raj Films and was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from both audiences and critics alike. 

With Amazon Prime as its streaming partner, the film had its OTT release on 13th January, 2023.  

Reviews and Ratings

IMDb rating: 8.3

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

Drishyam 2, the much-awaited sequel to the 2015 blockbuster hit Drishyam, was released on 18th November 2022 to positive reviews. The film has been praised for its skilful writing, outstanding performances, and astounding climax.

Ajay Devgn reprised his role as Vijay Salgaonkar and was matched by the brilliant performance of Akshaye Khanna as the IG who re-opens the case. The movie starts off on a slow note but gathers momentum towards the second half. 

Tabu, Shriya Saran, and the rest of the cast gave commendable performances, although their characters could have been better written. The movie remains faithful to the original and has been enjoyed by audiences who cheered for the dialogues of Akshaye and Ajay.

The movie's cinematography is amazing, keeping viewers hooked to their seats, and is skillfully made such that even those who have not watched the first instalment can enjoy it. Drishyam 2 is a great movie to enjoy with family and definitely worth watching.

Cast

Crew

Director - Abhishek Pathak

Producers - Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, and Abhishek Pathak

Cinematographer - Sudhir K. Chaudhary

Music - Devi Sri Prasad

Production House - Panorama Studios, Viacom18 Studios, and T-Series Films

Composer - Devi Sri Prasad

Editor - Sandeep Francis

Written By - Jeethu Joseph

Character Analysis

Vijay Salgaonkar

Vijay Salgaonkar is the protagonist of the movie and the head of his family. He is depicted as a loving husband and father who would go to great lengths to protect his family. Throughout the film, he is shown to have a strong sense of morality, evidenced by his desire to protect his daughter from the false rumours about her and his false confession to protect his family from the police investigation.

Vijay is portrayed as a resourceful and intelligent individual with the ability to think on his feet and come up with clever solutions in difficult situations. This is demonstrated by his creation of the alternate climax for his film and his use of his movie-making skills to create an alibi and protect his family.

Despite being a successful businessman, Vijay is depicted as a humble and down-to-earth individual who values family over material possessions. This is seen in the way he treats his friends, employees and even his customers, always striving to put others before himself.

Tarun Ahlawat

Tarun Ahlawat is a police officer who is tasked with investigating the murder of Sam. He is a close friend and colleague of Meera and is described as being an Inspector-General of police. Throughout the film, Tarun is depicted as a determined and persistent investigator who is dedicated to solving the case. 

However, he is also portrayed as being willing to bend the rules and engage in unethical behaviour in order to achieve his goals, such as accepting bribes from David in exchange for information about Vijay's involvement in the murder. This suggests that Tarun is not above using questionable methods to achieve his goals and is perhaps more concerned with results than with the morality of his actions.

Meera Deshmukh

Meera Deshmukh is another police officer in the film who is involved in the investigation of Sam's murder. Unlike Tarun, Meera is depicted as being more compassionate and understanding towards the victim's family. She is shown as being determined to bring the murderer to justice and is willing to go to great lengths to achieve this goal. 

However, she is also portrayed as being very focused on her job and is perhaps willing to prioritise her duties over her personal relationships. Throughout the film, Meera is depicted as being a determined and intelligent police officer who is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes is right, even if it goes against the opinions of others.

Songs

Controversy

The controversy surrounding the release of the Hindi movie Drishyam 2 involved a disagreement between the production houses of Panorama and Viacom18. Viacom18 was the producer of the first part, Drishyam, which added to the complexity of the situation. The film was produced by Panorama and was set to be released in theatres, but Viacom18 claimed distribution rights, leading to a dispute. The controversy sparked discussions online and involved multiple parties, including the director and cast of the film. Eventually, the two production houses resolved the issue, and the movie was released in theatres. This controversy raised questions about distribution rights and the role of production houses in film releases.

Box Office Collection

Drishyam 2 was highly successful at the box office, earning ₹15.38 crore on its opening day and continuing to see strong collections over the weekend, reaching ₹64.14 crore. On Monday, the film held strong, only dropping 20% from its Friday total and collecting 11.75 crores. The film's five-day business reached 85 crore net. By January 26, 2023, Drishyam 2 had earned ₹240.54 crore net in India.

With an overall gross collection of 286.36 crores in India and 57.06 crores overseas, it made a worldwide total of ₹343.42 crores.

Awards

Interesting Facts

• The stunning landscapes of Goa served as the backdrop for the filming of Drishyam 2, with Mumbai and Hyderabad also playing a role in the production. The cameras started rolling on February 17, 2022, and wrapped up on June 21, 2022, after a bustling schedule.

• With a nod to the film's plot, the makers of Drishyam 2 opened advanced bookings on October 2nd, generating buzz and excitement among fans.

• Sadly, the director of the first part, Nishikant Kamat, passed away in 2020, leaving a lasting impact on the film industry and leaving a void in the hearts of Drishyam fans. Despite his absence, his legacy lives on in the highly-anticipated sequel.

Conclusion

Drishyam 2 delivers on all fronts with its gripping and suspenseful storyline. The film's intricate writing, impressive performances, and stunning climax have earned it widespread acclaim, solidifying its place as a standout in the Indian film industry. The Salgaokars' tale of perseverance and survival has left a lasting impact, ensuring that their story will remain etched in the hearts and minds of audiences for years to come.