Review: Drishyam The Conclusion: The Conclusion: A Tense Final Game of Cat and Mouse!
The Drishyam franchise has, for over a decade, built its reputation around one fascinating question: how far can a man go to protect his family, and can an intelligently constructed lie defeat the truth? The Hindi franchise began with Drishyam (2015), adapted from Jeethu Joseph’s Malayalam original starring Mohanlal, and continued with Drishyam 2 (2022), again drawing from the Malayalam franchise. However, Drishyam: The Conclusion takes a distinctly different route. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the third Hindi instalment is not a remake or a lightly altered version of the Malayalam story.
The story picks up after the events of Drishyam 2, with Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn) still living under the shadow of the case involving Sam Deshmukh. Vijay may have managed to stay ahead of the law so far, but the danger has not disappeared. Meera Deshmukh (Tabu) and Mahesh Deshmukh (Rajat Kapoor) remain determined to uncover what really happened to their son, while a new and formidable opponent enters the picture. Crime Branch officer Rajveer Singh Tomar (Jaideep Ahlawat) is convinced that Vijay is hiding something and sets out to dismantle the carefully constructed web of lies surrounding the Salgaonkar family. Prakash Raj adds another important dimension as advocate Indrajit Shetty, while Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta and Kamlesh Sawant return as Nandini, Anju and Gaitonde respectively. The central conflict once again becomes a battle of intelligence, patience and strategy, with the events surrounding July 23 becoming crucial to the mystery.
The screenplay by Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh understands what audiences expect from a Drishyam film, clues, misdirection, seemingly insignificant details and a climax that forces viewers to reconsider what they have just watched. The first half is somewhat slow and takes time to gather momentum, but the narrative steadily tightens its grip before delivering its major revelations. The dialogues are sharp, particularly during the confrontations between Vijay and the investigating authorities, while Gaitonde’s humour provides welcome relief.
Ajay Devgn remains perfectly measured as Vijay. His restrained expressions, controlled body language and ability to communicate tension without saying much continue to be the character’s biggest strengths. Jaideep Ahlawat makes an impressive addition as Rajveer Singh Tomar, bringing intensity, unpredictability and considerable screen presence to the cat-and-mouse game. Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor and Prakash Raj provide strong support, with Prakash Raj particularly effective in the courtroom-oriented portions.
Abhishek Pathak’s direction keeps the focus firmly on suspense rather than spectacle. The background score by Amar Mohile is particularly effective, often knowing when to intensify the tension and when to remain understated. Sudhir K. Chaudhary’s cinematography creates an appropriately dark and atmospheric visual palette, while Sandeep Francis’ editing helps the later portions move with greater urgency. The biggest strength of Drishyam: The Conclusion is its climax. Even when certain developments may feel familiar or convenient, the final stretch succeeds in creating suspense and delivering the franchise’s characteristic payoff. The film does have pacing issues in its opening half, but once the pieces begin falling into place, the tension rises considerably.
As the concluding chapter Drishyam The Conclusion gives Vijay Salgaonkar one final and suitably elaborate game against the system.
Rating: ****
By Keerti Kadam