Drishyam

Already a hit in four regional Indian languages, this Hindi remake of the Malayalam original of the same title (meaning ‘Visuals’) is a sober account of the violent interrogation faced by a middle-class Goan family at the hands of local cops.

When Vijay (Ajay Devgn) a ‘fourth grade dropout’, his docile wife Nandini (Shriya Saran) and their two daughters cover up the manslaughter of a teenager by burying the body in their front yard, they become the chief suspects in the ensuing missing person investigation. Vijay concocts a foolproof alibi, but no-nonsense Chief Inspector Meera (Tabu) is determined to unearth the truth – especially as the disappeared kid is her beloved spoilt son.

This mainstream Bollywood film addresses a pertinent issue in modern day India, namely the questionable level of justice an ordinary citizen can expect from a largely corrupt and inept police force. The depressing answer appears to be that all men are not created equal in the eyes of Indian law-enforcers, especially when the ‘victim’, who is actually the initial law-breaker, is rich and well-connected.

Admirable but frustratingly simplistic in places, this overlong drama feels a bit too heavily plotted in places. It is redeemed by the dignified performances from its seasoned cast, especially A-listers Devgn and the talented Tabu (‘Life of Pi’), who manage to convey the real ethical dilemma faced by both the oppressor and the oppressed.