Our Bureau
Mumbai
Drishyam: The Conclusion returns Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar in the third chapter of the franchise, with Jaideep Ahlawat joining the investigation as Crime Branch officer Rajveer Singh Tomar. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the thriller revisits the unresolved case surrounding Sameer Deshmukh and places Vijay under renewed police scrutiny.
The new investigation begins as fresh evidence prompts Rajveer to reopen the case. Unlike the officers Vijay has encountered before, Rajveer is portrayed as patient, observant and persistent, creating much of the film’s central tension. The face-off between Ahlawat and Devgn becomes one of the film’s key attractions, with both actors relying on controlled performances rather than overt confrontation.
The film retains familiar elements of the franchise, including October 2 references, Inspector Gaitonde’s humour and Vijay’s elaborate attempts to remain ahead of the police. However, the review notes that the latest instalment shifts its attention away from the Salgaonkar family and towards Vijay’s struggle with the investigation, reducing some of the emotional grounding of the earlier films.
Several twists and subplots keep the mystery moving, but the screenplay occasionally relies on developments that appear driven more by plot requirements than by character logic. This becomes more noticeable during the climax, where revelations and dramatic timing take precedence over the meticulous planning associated with the earlier films.
Tabu and Prakash Raj return in significant supporting roles, while Kamlesh Sawant’s Inspector Gaitonde provides moments of dark humour. The film maintains a grim atmosphere and uses its background score to sustain suspense, although its pacing is uneven.
With a runtime of about 2.5 hours, Drishyam: The Conclusion offers familiar suspense, new confrontations and several twists, while attempting to bring Vijay Salgaonkar’s long-running story towards a conclusion.