Review: Sookshmadarshini - Gripping and Effectual

 

Movie: Sookshmadarshini
Rating:3.5/5

Cast: Basil Joseph, Nazriya Fahadh, Sidharth Bharathan, Akhila Bhargavan, Pooja Mohanraj, Merin Philip and Others

Director: M C Jithin

Produced By: Happy Hour Entertainments, AVA Productions

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Story:

Priyadarshini (Nazriya Nazim), wife of Antony (Deepak Parambol) and the mother of a young daughter named Kani, resides in a quaint town near Kottayam. She has an unstoppable curiosity, eager to uncover the reasons and identities behind everything in her surroundings. In the meantime, Manuel (Basil Joseph) returns to his ancestral home next door, accompanied by his elderly mother. This prompts Priya to begin observing him and his household through her kitchen window. Although Manuel appears to be affectionate and attentive to his mother, Priya senses that something is amiss, and one day, his mother mysteriously disappears. What has transpired regarding Manuel's mother, and what secrets are behind her multiple disappearances? What actions will Priya take next to unravel the mystery? The answers to these questions are answered by the rest of the story.

Performances:

Basil Joseph delivers a convincing performance as Manuel. The role is a good change for him considering his recent films. Nazriya Fahadh gets a solid role and she performs superbly. Sidharth Bharathan, Akhila Bhargavan, Pooja Mohanraj, and Merin Philip did their parts well. 

What worked for the film:

The screenplay of the film skillfully weaves a narrative that is deeply rooted in the cultural nuances and characteristics of small-town life in India.  It develops a particular plot that has us absorbed and ends with a powerful twist. All the random scenes shown before are superbly mixed into the main setup in the last forty minutes. The real faces of characters stun us and make us root for the good ones and feel their triumph. The camera work and music are well in tune with the film's narrative and they took some crucial sequences to the next level.  The unexpected humor in tight situations also works well, leaving you wondering if this is all a clever build-up to an extremely funny revelation or if it's something more evil than you expected. 

What did not work for the film:

The curiosity of Priya to look into the suspicious acts of others could have been established properly. At times one can feel that her actions are a little bit overboard. The ultimate twist that shifts the film's narration can be guessed from a little far away. 

Sookshmadarshini Review and Verdict:

Sookshmadarshini is an exceptionally crafted and entertaining thriller with only a few defects. The screenplay is perfect, and it develops a narrative that captivates our attention and delivers a superb twist that heightens the excitement.