JeeTu Joseph’s “Mirage,” now streaming on SonyLIV, is a classic crime thriller that delivers a masterfully woven plot and an absolutely gripping climax twist. While the narrative is packed with unexpected turns and sharp writing, the film struggles to forge a deep emotional connection with its characters, preventing it from reaching the stellar heights of the director’s previous hits.
Mirage Review
Mirage (SonyLIV) Movie Review!
Director JeeTu Joseph has a formidable reputation in Malayalam cinema. Films like “Drishyam,” “Drishyam 2,” and “Neru,” in which he played the writer, attest to his masterful grip on storytelling. “Mirage” is another crime thriller from this acclaimed filmmaker. After its theatrical release on September 19th, the movie began streaming on SonyLIV from the 19th of this month.
Plot: Aparna Balamurali plays Abhirami, an employee in a company owned by a businessman named Rajasekhar. There, she meets Kiran (Hakim Shahjahan), and the two develop a mutual affection. Abhirami’s friend, Reethu, constantly warns her that Kiran is not a trustworthy person, but Abhirami pays no heed. Abhirami is shocked to learn that Kiran has died in a train accident near Palakkad.
While identifying Kiran’s belongings, Abhirami is unable to look at his body, which is too badly damaged to recognize. Reethu comes to stay with her to help her move on from the memories of Kiran. One day, SP Armugam (Sampath Raj) meets Abhirami. He asks if she knows about a ‘hard disk’ that was with Kiran and tells her to call him if she finds out anything. Immediately afterwards, an investigative journalist, Ashwin (Asif Ali), meets her.
Ashwin also questions her about the same hard disk. He advises her not to trust the police and insists that she give the hard disk only to him. Meanwhile, Rajasekhar’s right-hand man, Riyaz, arrives. He too intimidates her about the hard disk. He warns her that the consequences will be severe whether she gives it to the media or the police. What is on that hard disk? What will Abhirami do once she finds out? What is her background? This forms the rest of the story.
Analysis: The stories crafted by JeeTu Joseph feel incredibly natural. The subjects he draws from middle-class life connect with the audience on an emotional level. Audiences particularly enjoy the twists in his films. Consequently, the moment his name appears as director, audiences show great enthusiasm to watch his movies. “Mirage” is one such film.
The story revolves around criminals, victims, and rowdyism-infused politics, primarily set around the police department. The narrative progresses with about half a dozen main characters. The director has designed each role with great finesse. Furthermore, the storytelling technique and the style of dialogue ensure the plot is understood without any confusion. Specifically, the interval bang, the pre-climax, and the climax scenes enhance the story’s impact.
The plot is filled with rapid twists. Scenes shift between locations, and the audience finds these turns interesting to follow. Beyond the curiosity of what will happen next, there is no real anxiety about what will happen to the main character. The reason for this is the story’s failure to connect on an emotional level. This is the key difference between films like “Drishyam,” “Drishyam 2,” “Neru,” and this one.
Performance: JeeTu Joseph’s directorial prowess and his command over the screenplay are well-established by his previous films. It’s hard to find another director who can unveil twists on screen that are beyond the audience’s imagination. The same pattern is evident in this film, with the climax twist being particularly stunning.
Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali, and Sampath Raj are all senior artists. They act in a way that only their characters are visible on screen. Satish Kurup’s cinematography is good; he beautifully captures the scenic locations whenever the opportunity arises. Vishnu Shyam’s background score is compelling. Vinayak’s editing is commendable, as there are no unnecessary scenes anywhere.
Verdict on Mirage Review: This is a JeeTu Joseph film—his signature is visible in every twist of the story. The unpredictable turns are engaging. However, the inability to connect emotionally means it doesn’t quite measure up to the standard of his previous films.
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