Dridam (2026) Review: Martin Joseph's Bold Malayalam Film

SI Vijay Radhakrishnan (Shane Nigam) arrives at a quiet police station in a rural area, expecting a low-key posting. He’s immediately thrown into a storm when construction workers unearth human remains near the station’s jurisdiction. The higher-ups, anxious about media scrutiny and public panic, give him an ultimatum: solve the case in seven days. Vijay’s team - a motley crew of veterans and rookies including the cynical ASI Krishnan Kurup (Shobi Thilakan) and eager CPOs like Vidya (Saniya Fathima) - must piece together clues from a community that prefers silence over cooperation. As the deadline looms, Vijay digs into local politics, old grudges, and a land dispute that points toward a powerful figure. The plot structure is straightforward: investigation, suspicion, a few red herrings, and a final confrontation that ties the threads together - though not without a few frayed edges.

The film’s biggest strength is its ensemble. Shane Nigam carries the weight with a measured intensity, showing Vijay’s frustration and idealism without turning into a melodramatic superhero. He’s well-supported by Shobi Thilakan, whose weary, pragmatic ASI offers a nice counterbalance - the yin to Vijay’s restless yang. Dinesh Prabhakar and the rest of the station staff get small but memorable moments, giving the team a lived-in feel. The banter between the cops, especially during late-night chai breaks, is where the film breathes.

Director Martin Joseph has an eye for atmospheric tension. The stations, backroads, and rain-soaked evenings are shot with a gritty texture that suits the tone. The initial discovery of the remains is handled with a chilling matter-of-factness that sets the stage well. The pressure from the department - delivered through curt phone calls and stern meetings - feels genuinely stifling, and the public’s restless murmurs outside the station add a layer of social anxiety.

However, the screenplay has notable cracks. The investigation often advances through lucky breaks rather than sharp deduction. A crucial witness suddenly appears just as Vijay hits a wall; a piece of evidence is found in a conveniently misplaced document. For a thriller that prides itself on realism, these shortcuts are distracting. The mid-section drags, with several scenes repeating the same argument between Vijay and his superiors about the deadline. The editing could have been tighter.

The biggest flaw is the antagonist. The villain, though played with adequate menace, is underwritten. We get vague hints of past misdeeds, but the motivation is thin. When the climax arrives, it feels rushed - the confrontation is more of a conversation than a showdown, and the resolution relies on a confession that seems too easy for a person who’s supposedly been evading justice for years.

The TMDb rating of 5.2/10 feels about right. It’s not a bad film, but it’s a frustratingly average one. You can see the bones of a great thriller - the cast, the setting, the central premise are all solid - but the flesh is missing. The film also oscillates between a grounded, procedural drama and a more commercial, action-heavy tone, especially in the final act where a chase scene feels bolted on.

That said, the film does have its moments of genuine tension. One sequence involving a late-night interrogation of a reluctant local is superbly staged, with the silence doing more work than the dialogue. And the final shot, which hints at the cyclical nature of violence, is a nice touch that lingers after the credits roll.

Pros

• Shane Nigam’s restrained, effective lead performance
• Strong supporting cast, especially Shobi Thilakan
• Atmospheric, moody cinematography that fits the crime genre
• A premise with genuine stakes and a tight time limit

Cons

• Plot conveniences and lazy investigative leaps
• Underdeveloped antagonist with thin motives
• Pacing issues in the middle act
• Rushed, underwhelming climax that relies on easy confessions

Dridam is a film that understands the mechanics of a crime thriller but misses the soul. It’s a competent effort from Martin Joseph, with a game cast and a believable setting, but the storytelling is too reliant on shortcuts. The result is a movie that promises a gritty, relentless investigation and delivers a soft, predictable one. If you’re a fan of Shane Nigam or Malayalam police procedurals, you’ll find something to appreciate. For everyone else, it’s a middle-of-the-road thriller that won’t change your mind about the genre. Watch it for the performances, stay for the atmosphere, and forgive the plot’s many detours.