Suzhal Season 2 Review: A Predictable End to an Intriguing Premise

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The second season of Suzhal, a Tamil streaming series, has been highly anticipated after the success of its first season. However, the new season fails to deliver the same level of excitement and intrigue as its predecessor. The story follows Nandhini, played by Aishwarya Rajesh, who is now serving time in prison for murdering her uncle, and Sakkarai, played by Kathir, who is helping her from the outside. The plot takes a turn when Chellappa, a lawyer and father figure to Sakkarai, is found dead, and the investigation that follows is filled with twists and turns.

Despite its promising start, the season suffers from a predictable plot and underwhelming character arcs. The story meanders and fails to build a suitable atmosphere, unlike the first season which seamlessly blended folklore, faith, and local culture with an ingenious crime investigation narrative. The characters, including Nandhini and Sakkarai, fail to leave a lasting impression, except for Kathir's performance as Sakkarai, which shines as an unconventional policeman. The music, composed by Sam CS, is one of the few aspects of the show that has stayed consistent, building a brooding thriller through the songs and background score.

The series attempts to build parallels between the narrative and the local folklore, but it isn't as seamless as the first season. The investigation is anything but engrossing, and the story takes forever to unravel the hows and whys. The details of the investigation are needlessly elaborated and spoon-fed, making the overall experience dull. The show's creators, Pushkar-Gayatri, have earned a reputation for being smart filmmakers, but this season feels like a downgrade from their previous work.

The show's use of the small-town murder trope and the locked room mystery trope is reminiscent of shows like Twin Peaks and Broadchurch. However, the execution falls short, and the season feels overstretched. The atmosphere and characters that made the first season so compelling are missing, and the show's attempt to recreate the magic of the first season falls flat. The music is still a highlight, but it's not enough to save the season from its overall lackluster performance.

In an interview, the show's creators talked about their approach to storytelling and how they often have to scrap scripts due to similar shows or films being released. They also shared an anecdote about a feature script they were writing that ended with demonetisation as the climax, only to have it happen in real life, rendering their script obsolete. Despite their best efforts, Suzhal Season 2 fails to live up to its predecessor's standards, and fans of the show may be left feeling disappointed.