Sadhuram 2 review: This equivalent of Saw is a treat for thriller lovers
By Malini Mannath Published: 17th September 2016 04:31 AM
Last Updated: 17th September 2016 04:31 AM
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The film opens with two men who find themselves captive in a room, chained at the ankles and with a bloody corpse lying between them. One is photographer Vishal, the other a reputed doctor Vasu. As the two puzzled men try to find an answer to the situation they are in, they realise that a game of death had been arranged for them by a psycho-killer. Pitted against each other and in a desperate bid for survival, the two try to escape.
The film is inspired by the psychological-horror-thriller Saw (2004). The film with its inventive torture-techniques had gone on to become a seven-part franchise. It's appreciable that the director in a rare and exceptional gesture, not exactly the rule for 'inspired' versions, has given due credit to the original. It's a challenging task for a maker to recreate the scenario on Indian screen, what with it being so horrific and gory. But for a debutant, Radhakrishnan has managed to do it to an extent.
gore and recreating the ambience almost faithfully, he has remained focused and made no compromises by way of dream-songs or inane comic moments. Incidentally the film is crowd-funded. It's about cleansing the society of wrong doers, teaching the insensitive and the callous the value of human life (reminds one of Seven, 1995) and giving some a second chance. The extremely raw and gory ambience there had camouflaged the inadequacies of the screenplay. But here understandably, the strong graphic violence has been considerably toned down (like the scene where Vasu tries to cut his feet with a saw) making the flaws seem a little more obvious here.
Too many characters enter the plot, each with own backstory. This back and forth narration and entry of new characters with links to the plot, is likely to confuse a viewer. The set design, the background score and the cinematography help sustain the mood and feel.
Casting freshers and lesser-known faces in crucial roles has worked to the film's advantage, as they lend a feel of raw realism to their characters. Yog Japee essays Dr Vasu with efficiency. Newbie Riaz as Vishal and Rohith as Shiva a terminally ill man, fit in adequately. In just 94 minutes, Sadhuram 2 is an ideal watch for those who love the action-horror genre.
