Malayalam film 'Dheeram,' starring Indrajith Sukumaran, has landed with a thud, earning a dismal 1 out of 5 stars in a review published on December 6, 2025. The crime thriller, directed by Jithin Suresh T, is being criticized for its shamelessly graphic violence, a disastrously misplaced background score, and a narrative that fails to engage. The review, written by Anandu Suresh, suggests the film even rivals the poorly received 'Officer On Duty' in its shortcomings.
A Symphony of Poor Choices: The Music That Drowns the Film
The most glaring flaw highlighted in the review is the film's background score by composer Manikandan Ayyappa. The critic notes that an astonishing 95 to 99 percent of scenes are flooded with loud, intrusive music that runs independently of the on-screen action. Instead of enhancing the mood or syncing with the editing, the score stubbornly plays on, ignoring scene transitions and emotional tones. This creative misjudgment, which the director seemingly allowed, results in a viewing experience described as nothing short of a headache. The review poses a poignant question: did no one involved in the final cut recognize this fundamental flaw before release?
A Hollow Narrative and Graphic Exploitation
Beyond the auditory assault, 'Dheeram' falters in its storytelling. The plot follows ACP Stalin Joseph (Indrajith Sukumaran) as he investigates a series of murders linked to a dark past involving a gang rape. The review criticizes the film for relying on a tired trope where violence against women is used as a lazy backstory for a male killer. Worse, the film chooses to depict the gruesome gang rape multiple times in graphic detail, a choice the review finds traumatizing and unnecessary.
The narrative, penned by writers Deepu S Nair and Sandeep Sadanandan, is called hollow and dull. Key characters, including the protagonist Stalin, lack depth, and the dialogue is deemed extremely poor. When the writers hit a wall, they resort to having Stalin magically visualize past events in a space—a device far less logical than similar techniques used in films like 'Memories.'
Forced Twists and Ethical Lapses
As the film progresses, forced twists and the introduction of underutilized actors like Reba Monica John and Sagar Surya fail to salvage the plot. The review points out a particularly troubling ethical lapse in casting: the role of the rape survivor's father is played by actor Sreejith Ravi, who was previously arrested in real life for allegedly flashing schoolgirls. This casting decision is cited as evidence of the makers' lack of sensitivity and ethics.
The film's climax is described as a series of endless, unimpactful twists and red herrings that leave the viewer feeling trapped. In a final comparison, the review ironically suggests that the caricatured villains of 'Officer On Duty' were at least laughable, while everything in 'Dheeram' is simply vexing.
The film features a cast including Divya Pillai, Nishanth Sagar, Renji Panicker, and Aju Varghese. For audiences seeking a compelling thriller, this 1-star review firmly suggests looking elsewhere.
