Shane Nigam's crime thriller 'Dridam' has sparked discussion among viewers following its theatrical release. Directed by debutant Martin Joseph, the film received mixed reviews, but one particular dialogue quickly captured the attention of audiences familiar with the 'Drishyam' franchise. The line, 'Ah rahashyam ee bhoomiyil randamathoraal ariyilla...athu ennodoppam mannil alinju illathaakum' ('I will take this secret to my grave'), instantly reminded viewers of Mohanlal's memorable dialogue from the first Drishyam film.
Martin Joseph Opens Up About the Reference
Martin Joseph recently shared insights into the creative process behind 'Dridam' in an interview with Variety, revealing that the line was not initially part of the script. The filmmaker explained that the idea originated from Jeethu Joseph during script discussions. Martin told Variety, 'I had given the script of Dridam to Jeethu Sir for his perusal. One of the suggestions he made was the inclusion of this popular line from his film. He thought it would evoke intrigue in audiences as to whether there is a Drishyam connection to the film or if the character simply uses a pop-culture reference that seemed apt in the moment.'
Jeethu Joseph's Guidance Influenced the Director
Martin also reflected on his time working with Jeethu Joseph before making his directorial debut. He had previously collaborated with the filmmaker on projects including '12th Man' and 'Neru'. According to Martin, this experience shaped his understanding of storytelling. The filmmaker explained that screenplay structure and realism became major lessons for him during that period. He said, 'One of my major learnings has been about realistic storytelling. Jeethu Joseph's repeated commentary to his associates is about the importance of a strong screenplay, as it forms the foundation of a movie and connects audiences to the story and characters.' Martin suggested that these ideas played an important role in developing Dridam.
Shane Nigam Leads the Crime Thriller
'Dridam' follows the story of Vijay Radhakrishnan, portrayed by Shane Nigam, who arrives in a rural town as a Sub Inspector. What initially appears to be a routine posting gradually becomes complicated after a series of incidents unfold. Multiple murders and a bank robbery create unexpected challenges for the officer, altering the course of his journey. The ETimes review of the film stated, 'Debut director Martin Joseph manages to keep the audience engaged. The problem, with the script by Jomon John and Linto Devasia, is how far will you take the twist to bring novelty to your story and is it worth the risk? Shane looks good, and it is mentioned a couple of times in the story, though it would have been refreshing if a woman colleague was not shown as fawning. He, however, decides to play the character as being overwhelmed by his SI responsibilities, and it doesn't really click, particularly, when we have Shobi easily slipping into the many shades of the veteran ASI.'
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