Drishyam The Conclusion Explores Themes of Power and Deception in a Post-Truth Narrative
The Hindi film Drishyam The Conclusion, currently running in theatres, presents a narrative where truth is utilized as a deceptive weapon. Starring Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar, a simpleton cable operator, the film explores how a common man channels authority to trick multiple levels of state machinery. Vijay employs methods typically associated with institutional power to shield his family from the actions of the state, rendering truth mutable and corrosive in his hands.
Vijay is not depicted as a collective savior; his primary motivation is protecting his family's honor. This drive stems from an initial crime where his wife, Nandini (played by Shriya Saran), and daughter, Anju (played by Ishita Dutta), killed Sameer Deshmukh, the son of a high-ranking police official, in an act of instinctive self-defence following his obsessive misdemeanours. Recognizing that their reasoning would be ineffective against the influential family of the deceased, Vijay establishes his own path to justice, drawing inspiration from the numerous Hindi films he watches nightly.
A Reversal of Power Dynamics
The core of the narrative features a reversal of traditional crime story details. Rather than focusing on an underdog confronting a system, the story places power in the hands of the deceased's family. The investigation is led by the victim's mother, IG Meera Deshmukh (played by Tabu), turning the pursuit of justice into a vengeful quest.
This dynamic shifts the perspective of victimhood between the two sides. While Vijay’s family is the victim within their own household, Meera’s son is the victim from her perspective. As Meera utilizes her institutional power to secure a conviction, Vijay works to conceal evidence, establish alibis, and deny responsibility for the murder. This conflict intensifies in Drishyam The Conclusion as the emergence of new evidence reopens the case, widening the scope of the struggle.
The Mechanics of Manipulation
To protect his family, Vijay adopts tactics reminiscent of a shrewd politician. He operates under the guiding logic: "Kahani ka sach hona zaruri nahi, sach lagna zaroori hai" (A story doesn’t have to be true; it has to seem true). His efforts to restore justice involve manipulating public perception. Vijay secures support from local churchgoers and fosters anti-establishment sentiments to strengthen his narrative.
His manipulation also extends to digital platforms like WhatsApp, where he influences public opinion by constructing a reality around religion and leveraging artificial anger to his advantage. Through these actions, Vijay utilizes the emotions of the public to bolster his case. The film depicts how repeating a falsehood multiple times can cause it to be accepted as truth, creating a sense of poetic justice when highly educated individuals—including two police officers, a lawyer, and a businessman—are outmanoeuvred by an uneducated man despite their institutional resources and cultural capital.
A Commentary on Authoritarianism
Beyond the immediate plot, the film serves as a cautionary tale against authoritarianism. Vijay becomes a subversive representation of the state, using familiar tools of mass control and deception to forge an alternate reality. He remains a step ahead of police surveillance by maintaining his own watchful eye, though his defiance is aimed at dismantling power rather than upholding it.
This Hindi third installment differs from the original Malayalam version by integrating elements of traditional Bollywood entertainment, including dialoguebaazi and a direct challenge to authority. Released on October 2, a date historically associated with Mahatma Gandhi and principled truth, the film presents a contrast through Vijay's calculated and deceptive approach, positioning him as an icon for a post-truth world.
