Malayalam film industry is not unfamiliar with sequels. The success of films encourages filmmakers to carve niches to fit in the sequels that most of the times are widely accepted by film enthusiasts. Many films have open-ended climaxes leaving the viewers and their imaginations to ponder upon how the story can end or continue. The CBI Diary series, Mannar Mathayi films, Kireedam (1989) and Chenkol (1993), Harihar Nagar Series, etc. are some of the hit sequels and series in Malayalam cinema so far. With new trends and genres rising in the industry and with the advent of OTT platforms, Malayalam films too have found their scopes into a wider platform and audience.
Drishyam (2013) one of the biggest hits Malayalam industry witnessed within the era of the New Generation films, paved its own unique way to the entire cinematic world. Drishyam,
a film that could be placed within the genres
of a thriller as well as a family drama, has been remade into all South Indian languages, Hindi, and even Chinese. The huge unexpected success of the film had always made the audience demand and ask for its second part. Many
social media posts and writeups have come
up about how the life of George Kutty and his family be, after the death of Varun Prabhakar, the only son of IG Geetha Prabhakar (retired in Drishyam 2) played by Asha Sarath. Finally, after all the anticipation, Drishyam 2 got released on Amazon Prime, with around a million views in a day or two. For a movie like Drishyam, where the plot of the first part seemed to be compact and complete; how the second part would be, was waited with so much curiosity. Without disappointing the audiences, the sequel turned to be one of the finest sequels the entire industry has witnessed so far.
Critics compared George Kutty to Walter White and referred him as a ‘classic criminal’
as Murali Gopi’s character referred him in the film. George Kutty is an ordinary-extraordinary family man in pursuit to save his family from any external forces, and no actor other than Mohanlal could have done justice to a character with such intricate layers. Like how in the first part of Drishyam, a man who studied just up
to fourth grade ended up winning against the intelligence of the police force, in second part too, the strategy and his strength to save him and his family continues. The first portion of Drishyam 2 seemed like a warming up to the unexpected twists and turns the second portion had to offer.
With more intricate details, Drishyam 2 set after six years, has lot more to offer than any ordinary sequel. The entire family living in the trauma of the past, only George Kutty’s younger daughter Anumol (played by Ester Anil), seemed to have moved a little ahead in life. George Kutty’s progress and success from a cable TV operator to a theatre owner and a film producer does not seem to have brought happiness to his family. George Kutty’s and Rani’s elder daughter Anju (played by Ansiba) is still petrified with police sirens and has seizures. Rani his wife beautifully portrayed by Meena, who is so tensed and scared when George Kutty has to travel, calls their neighbor Saritha for sleepover.
What is striking about George Kutty is his ability to handle the emotions of the past. His strong change in character of deceiving Rajan and Vinayachandran and others who were
part of his journey to hide the crime, do not come as wrong when seen in the context, and this noticeable change could be brought to a comparison with Walter White. Jeethu Joseph’s vison of Georgekutty and his character has fallen in the places and fitted the conundrum so perfectly.
All actions of George Kutty are in defense
of his family that have become part of an unfortunate crime. As Fyodor Dostoevsky has pointed out in his masterpiece Crime and Punishment, “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart”. As the plot tightens and as police start getting more and more clues, Jeethu Joseph’s George Kutty is forced to hide the truth and leave no clues. It is clear to the audience and investigators, that there is no bigger punishment than carrying the burden of conscience all
their lives. Drishyam 2 -The Resumption is a great storytelling and movie experience and a sure comeback for the entire Malayalam film industry after the numbness of lockdown and the pandemic.
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