Among all hindi movies that did well financially in 2022 — Brahmastra, Gambai Katyawadi, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and even The Kashmir Files, ironically the most mind-boggling inclusions happen to be better than the others. Drisham 2, itself a remake of the hit Malayalam film starring Mohanlal, made a lot of sense when it emerged as the second-biggest Hindi-language film of the year, especially in a year that produced such bombastic entertainment. There was nothat’s why RRRKantara and KGF: Chapter 2.
Relatively grounded thrillers can make more money than A-lister-directed lavish period dramas, foul propaganda pandering to the majority mindset, and genuine up-and-coming comedy sequels. No? No, the answer is not taboo. In an interview, filmmaker Karan Johar put forward a rather plausible theory that Dorisham 2 worked purely because there was no Hindi dub in the Malayalam original. After all, Indian audiences have yet to overcome the subtitle barrier. But when you watch the movie on Prime Video, you’re struck by one pretty basic reason why this franchise has been able to capture the public’s imagination. Seven Despite being remade, it remains perhaps the most resilient IP in the history of Indian cinema.
Drissham 2 (and indeed the first film as well) presents a version of masculinity that was all but outdated until the pandemic pushed Indian filmmaking back into prehistoric times. “Mere liye meri family meri duniya hai,’ says Ajay Devgan, the sentient monolith of machismo, as Vijay Sargaonkhar in the film’s final narration. “Unke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon.”
Unlike Rocky bhai and Shiva, Vijay does not solve problems with (physical) violence. But when he says he can go to any length, he means business: Vijay, the borderline psychopath in the first film, reveals just how harmful his devotion to his family really is. I have no clue what there is. Of course, mostly out of reverence for him, the film never pauses to reveal the main character’s actions. Both Vijay and the film seem to lead us to believe that he is some kind of loyal male protector, but in reality he has had little respect for any of the three women in his life. Somewhere along the way, the line begins to blur between his efforts to protect them and his determination to outsmart the police.
In Drishyam 2, he allows the police to physically assault his daughter, purely because it is part of his plan. It’s been said over and over again that he’s smart. It’s pretty much all about him. Couldn’t they have come up with a plan that didn’t involve 3rd degree torture of teenage children? Instead, all the contingencies (not yet talking about the psychological trauma his actions caused) , is wiped out as collateral damage from a man’s noble mission to protect his family’s honor.
The inciting incident of the first film — Vijay’s eldest daughter Anju’s sexual harassment — is barely mentioned in Drishyam 2. his reaction to the incident. Poor Ange is said to have started having her fits, possibly due to past events, but the film doesn’t really flesh her out, instead using her trauma for plot purposes. is selected.
But like its nonchalant protagonist, Drishyam 2 is indifferent to the moral implications of Vijay’s actions. This isn’t as badass as the first season of Prime Video’s Breathe, which took a similar premise a step further, with the main character orchestrating a serial killer to save his terminally ill son, but as much as his Tabbar on SonyLIV. It’s not complicated. That’s because Vijay is left unchecked. He is not bothered by the gossip that surrounds him, nor does he care at all about his wife Nandini’s visible anxieties.
Having spent the previous seven years in a state of utter disarray — Vijay, like most Indian men, does not communicate with his wife — Nandini is in a nervous wreck. She winces at the drops of her feathers, feeling disengaged from the reality that her husband goes about his life as if nothing had happened. She would have been relieved if Vijay simply allowed her to join her own plans, or at least let her know what he was up to. But no. He looks down on her, disrespects her intelligence, gaslights her and makes her think they are safe for her. Vijay refuses to keep her in the loop not because she is unable to help her but because she fears she will blame herself.
Of course, she eventually does so to the first adult willing to listen to her. increase. A woman cannot be trusted with precious cargo. Of course, this is nonsense. We all know that it is usually women who handle the finances of middle-class homes.
Speaking of finance, in the seven years since the first movie, Vijay is said to have become a business tycoon. He is no longer a small operator running a cable TV business. Vijay now owns a movie theater and lives in a sprawling new house with obedient chicks. Vijay is a social climber. He is the mascot for all Indian men who want a better life. He challenges authority and privilege, betrays both, and is a handsomely rewarded ‘chauthi-fail’. Vijay lives the dream — he has a non-threatening wife, doesn’t interfere in his affairs, and rolls over when sex is needed. I’m sure he’s smarter than everyone else. And most importantly he drives his SUV. No wonder the film appealed to the masses. This could be you, he seems to say with a sly smile. And people in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam he bought more than once.
Post Credits Scene is a column that breaks down new releases each week with a particular focus on context, crafting and characters. Because once the dust settles, you always stick to something.
