Suzhal 2, the latest season of the gripping thriller series, continues the story from where its predecessor left off. Created and written by Pushkar-Gayathri and directed by Sarjun KM, the show dives deep into a closed-room mystery, a murder, and a group of suspects that may or may not be connected. The premise is intriguing, but how does it play out in execution?
The second season picks up with Nandini (Aishwarya Rajesh), a survivor of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), who is now an undertrial after shooting her abuser. Alternating between feelings of guilt and anxiety, she is visited only by Sub-Inspector Sakkarai (Kathir) while her advocate, Chellappa (Lal), becomes a symbol of hope. However, things take a dark turn when Chellappa is found dead, and eight young women each separately claim to be the one who killed him. What drives these women to such drastic actions? And was Chellappa truly the hero everyone believed him to be?
These are the central mysteries that Suzhal 2 aims to solve over eight episodes, each spanning around 40-50 minutes. As the season progresses, the show blends local cultural nuances, mythology, and small-town sensibilities with the thriller genre, much like the first season. However, Season 2 aims to be even more ambitious, delving into the grim realities of human trafficking. While the first few episodes are gripping and full of cliffhangers, the plot soon becomes unnecessarily complicated, resorting to familiar rape-revenge tropes that detract from its potential. One begins to wonder – is there more to the lives of these women than just the same old stories of violence and victimization?
Despite the early thrills, Suzhal 2 soon falls prey to a sense of déjà vu. The series follows predictable patterns – a festival like thiruvizha inevitably leads to political conflict, women in jail undergo brutal body searches, a trans woman (Anjali Ameer) will undoubtedly have a heart of gold, and the human traffickers will follow the same formulaic script. Even the emotional outbursts from victims and their subsequent transformation into vengeful figures feel repetitive. The series fails to break free from its predictable trajectory, and the lack of originality in its writing and direction makes it hard to stay invested in the plot.
The characters, too, fail to offer much depth. Aside from Moorthy (Saravanan), the cop with possibly hidden motives, the rest of the characters, particularly the eight young women named after various forms of Kali, are underdeveloped. Their backstories feel shallow, with little room for their individual experiences to be explored. The choice to introduce these eight women, each tied to a goddess archetype, seems forced, especially since the narrative doesn’t give them enough space to become authentic characters. They are, unfortunately, reduced to being mere symbols of vengeance rather than fully fleshed-out people with unique struggles.
The series also falters in its treatment of trauma. The women’s suffering is amplified or diminished at the whim of the plot, reducing their complex emotions to mere plot devices. While the series attempts to evoke empathy with the women’s suffering, it falls short in making us care about them. The climax, backed by Sam CS’s overpowering music, aims to invoke a sense of divine fury but ends up feeling hollow and uninspiring.
One of the biggest disappointments of Suzhal 2 is its handling of the investigation. Rather than unfolding through a well-paced police procedural, the major revelations are delivered in an extended flashback. The twists feel forced, and the plot becomes increasingly hard to believe, with several loopholes that leave viewers questioning the logic of the narrative.
Despite the commendable performances from the cast, including Aishwarya Rajesh and Kathir, Suzhal 2 is weighed down by its overused ideas. While it may provide moments of shock, it ultimately lacks the depth and insight necessary to elevate the story. It’s a series that offers entertainment but falls short in terms of emotional engagement and originality.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Suzhal 2 may appeal to those looking for a fast-paced thriller but may leave those seeking something more substantial feeling underwhelmed.