Dridam Review: A Thriller That Fails to Thrill

Dridam, the debut film from director Martin Joseph, is a crime thriller that ultimately proves middling and uninspired. The narrative follows Sub-Inspector Vijay Radhakrishnan as he investigates a murder and a robbery in the rural village of Kuzhinilam. However, the film is hampered by dull moments and uninspired dialogues, making it difficult to take seriously.

While the script attempts to build a slow-burn atmosphere and explore the banality of police work, it often comes across as artificial and contrived. The characters, including SI Vijay and supporting officers like Balan Nair and Krishnan Kurup, are underdeveloped and superficial. Even the female characters are tokenistic, adding little to the plot.

Despite these shortcomings, Martin Joseph's direction is serviceable for a debut, avoiding typical crime thriller visuals. Sreerag Saji's music also receives praise. However, the film's confusing identity, oscillating between procedural and suspense thriller without fully succeeding at either, combined with Shane Nigam's repetitive acting, results in a disappointing 1.5-star rating.