What Is the Story About?
Iru Dhuruvam’s second season takes off six months from the first season’s events. It is a direct connection of the story as police part of the investigation of Sekhar (from season one) are murdered one by one. Panic is set in the department when Thirukural couplets resurface again with victim bodies.
Viktor is brought in charge of the case as a special officer. But he has higher officials to deal with, particularly an inspector smitten by Lankeshwaran, Viktor’s number one suspect. Is Victor’s hunch correct? Who is behind the killings and how it is all connected to Sekhar’s death is season two’ overarching plot.
Performances?
Nandha lives in the role of Viktor all over again. He is the same as we saw him previously, including the plusses and minuses. The intensity with all the internalisation is all fine, but there are moments one wishes he were more expressive.
The emotions like angst or anything else in those particular moments would have been better than giving a silent staring pose. The good thing is it is only at specific places rather and not a persistent thing, as Nandha is fine otherwise.
Prasanna gets a more challenging and fun role. He plays Lankeshwaran, a psychologist tapping into the minds of unsuspecting victims and creating a cult boosting his ego. It is a megalomanic, narcissistic character that gets bigger and bigger as the narrative progresses. The actor is alright and does his part well, but it would have been even better with more charisma and screen presence.
Analysis
Arun Prakash writes and directs Iru Dhuruvam’s second season. It is a follow-up of the first season’s events, with a new killer taking over the mantle. The narrative then shapes up like any other crime thriller investigative drama similar to season one.
The exciting part of Iru Dhuruvam 2 is the upping of the ante concerning the stakes. The murders are of the police officers this time, and the killer is a much more significant threat. It makes the take-off and the investigation exciting.
The fact that despite revealing the main culprit, one is still hooked on the proceedings should suggest how strong the story is related to the crime. Season two’s fun and exciting part is connecting the dots associated with crime.
However, when it comes to the sharpness and thrill, it is not as exciting as the previous season despite higher stakes. The problem is due to the writing and the maker’s good but overdone idea to make a potent antagonist.
The writing lacks the balance between building up the villain and the investigation that unravels the mystery related to the mastermind. The police procedural parts are ordinarily written with predictable emotions.
The problem is evident when we move to the final episodes. The narrative is overstretched and lengthy. While the content is exciting, one cannot help but feel things are rushed to cover as much ground as possible.
The ending episode, in particular, misses the sharpness seen previously. There is a muddiness to the proceedings as instead of neatly wrapping up the climax, the focus shifts to establishing a new chapter further. It leaves a sense of dissatisfaction after all that happened previously.
Overall, Iru Dhuruvam 2 is a decent second season maintaining the curiosity of the first. It missed the sharpness due to the writing and rushed ending, but it still has enough meat to make it an engaging one-time watch.
Other Artists?
Apart from Prasanna, Linga is the new addition to the cast. He starts off shakily but settles well as the series progresses. Abdool Lee, who got registered for his part in season one, is also fine here. The rest of the cast comprises faces reprising their role from the previous season. They are all adequate.
Music and Other Departments?
Rudhraavelu’s background score is alright, focusing more on the mood and subtlety rather than loud bangs. It works well within the narrative. The cinematography is decent for an OTT outing, barring a few bits at times. The editing could have been during the final portions. It adds to the sense of muddiness towards the end. The writing, as mentioned earlier, is uneven. It is solid in parts but feels overstuffed and misses the balance.
Highlights?
Story
Casting
Investigation Drama
Drawbacks?
Uneven Narrative
Rushed Parts
End
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Iru Dhuruvam 2 Series Review by Binged Bureau