Drishyam Movie Review : Venkatesh Meena Starring Drishyam

Venkatesh and Meena have teamed up for the suspense thriller Drishyam.  The film is all set for a theatrical release on July 11th. The film was showcased to select members of the press today and this is our review of the film.

Story :

Rambabu( Venkatesh) is a simple  middle class guy who runs a cable network in a small village close to Vijayanagaram.  His simple life is destroyed when his daughter is harassed by Varun,  who is the son of  the Inspector General of Police. (Nadhiya).

Varun mysteriously disappears and suspicion falls on Rambabu and his family.  The full might of the Police Department is used on the family and they are tormented.

But Rambabu and his family maintain their innocence.  A thrilling Mexican Standofff follows.  Who will blink first?  What happened to Varun?  That is the story of the film.

Plus Points :

- This is a role that is tailor made for Venkatesh.  He has given a superb performance as Rambabu.  Venkatesh shines in the role of a guy who is willing to sacrifice everything for family.

- The film is a great family thriller and if you have not watched the original Malayalam version,  you will enjoy this film even more.

- The suspense element has been maintained very cleverly right till the end.  The storyline and the execution deserve applause.

- The emotional quotient in the film is very high.  A victimized family,  a desperate father and a power drunk police officer -  perfect characters to stoke emotions in viewers.

- Venkatesh was well supported by Meena,  the two kids, Nadhiya and Naresh.  All of them have given good performances.

Minus Points :

- The film takes off rather slowly and the first 20 mins can get tiring.

- The romantic scenes between Venkatesh and Meena look forced and odd.

- The film has been made on a tight budget and it shows.  Production values are just about ok.

The finer Things :

Director Sripriya had a good foundation from which to execute this project.  A few changes have been made to the storyline for Telugu viewers.

Editing is near perfect for the movie and dialogues are decent.  Background music is little too loud however and it could have been better.

The film is going to do very well in multiplexes. Crowds in B and C centers  should connect to the strong family emotions.

Verdict :

Drishyam is a fine suspense thriller with good emotions and fine performances from a capable star cast.  Don’t miss this film.

Critic’s Rating – 3.5/5

Box Office Potential : HIGH

Reviewed by Mahesh S Koneru