'Sookshmadarshini' review: This Basil Joseph, Nazriya Nazim film breaks cliches and feels refreshing

Off late, Malayalam psychological thrillers have heavily been dependent on police investigation dramas, though some like 'Bougainvillea' come once in a while to break the pattern. 'Sookshmadarshini' -- Jithin MC's second directorial after the well-received 2018 movie 'Nonsense' -- offers something new to viewers with its fresh and fun storyline, interesting family-oriented narrative and properly written characters.
Basil Joseph stars as Manuel, a young man who moves into his old home with his ailing mother. His neighbour is Priyadarshini (Nazriya Nazim), a bubbly, educated homemaker who wants to break free of the monotony by seeking a job. Though happy-go-lucky, Priya has an uncanny eye for detail. This is obvious in how she handles the vessels in the kitchen, where she spends most of her time.
So, when Manuel moves in next door, she automatically tunes into the activities at his compound through her kitchen window without being obtrusive, though the 'private detective' in her becomes suspicious when his mother goes missing one day.

Hollywood has explored this theme earlier with films like Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' and the 2022 Netflix series 'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'. However, 'Sookshmadarshini' keeps it closer home by adding local flavour. After all, it is quite common for people in villages to show extra concern, even to the point of being nosy with anything involving their neighbours.
Writers Libin TB and Athul Ramachandran smartly use this premise to create an intriguing setting and a good story. Nazriya has made a brilliant comeback in Malayalam with the film after her brief appearance in 'Trance.' Though she fits the character perfectly, she seems to find it hard to shrug off her bubbly nature during some intense moments in the film.
Basil, who risked being typecast with similar back-to-back roles, gets to do something different in 'Sookshmadarshini', just like his unforgettable character in 'Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey'. The music, especially background score by Christo Xavier elevates the viewing experience of the film. The film's unique edits by Chaman Chakko and cinematography by Sharan Velayudhan Nair are equally impressive.

What makes 'Sookshamadarshini' special is its ability to break free of cliches, including the one involving a woman protagonist. Priya is a friendly, caring home-maker, similar to the ones you may find in Sathyan Anthikad movies, but she is someone with agency and strong determination, in her simple setting. The makers also ensure she does not come off as unrealistic or empowered for the sake of breaking cliches. Instead, her character is wholesome and is supported by good friendships with her neighbours Sulu (Akhila Bhargavan) and Asma (Pooja Mohanraj). Her husband played by Deepak Parambol is allowed to be stay in the background. Overall, the film breaks cliches and is refreshing, which will work well for the family audience.