It is the inauguration of an eight-lane highway in Madurai. We observe as the Central and State ministers of transport kick-start the already sensational project; to everyone’s disbelief, the JCB unearths unidentifiable skeletal remains from the land, triggering a political storm and a police investigation unlike anything the state has seen before.
We are once again entering the world of Prime Video’s investigative thriller series, Vadhandhi. The second season, titled The Mystery of Mani, is set in the same world as its first season, The Fable of Velonie, and crime enthusiasts must rejoice to know that the sequel not only plays to its strengths but also corrects many of its past misgivings.
At the Padambathur Police Station, SI S Moosa Raaza (Sasikumar), under the command of SP K Rathika Nair (Angha Maruthora), commences his investigation into the skeletal remains. He is now facing a series of unanswered questions: Where is the victim’s hand? Is the victim male or female? Did they die here or elsewhere? If elsewhere, when were they buried? Was it when they died two and a half years ago? Or was it recently? Also, most importantly, was it a murder?
Even tertiary characters in this series feel authentic, with their own psychological make-up and arc. A forensic expert (played by Chetan) who studies human bodies for a living suffers a heart attack and continues to be a smoker; as he says in a different instance, “I’m not God. We must know our limitations.” Even a small arc, like the one about a school dropout who delivers tea to the cops at the police station, finds something of substance to depict.
Sasikumar delivers a wonderfully controlled performance as Moosa, letting the story material do its job. From why he sports a beard despite being a cop to why he goes to such an extent to seek justice for the victim, Moosa commands respect with ease; he is inarguably one of the most well-rounded cop protagonists we have seen in a while. When it comes to performances, SI Ramar (Vivek Prasanna reprising his role) returns with his Tirunelveli slang and stands out in his comedic timing. Interestingly, even though the script had enough opportunities for it, Andrew seems to have refrained from having SJ Suryah’s SI Vivek appear in a cameo.
Those who have watched The Fable of Velonie (Season 1) would understand why the series is called Vadhandhi; however, here, for more than half the series, you are left scratching your head wondering whether a typical honour-killing story has been repackaged as a second season. This is, of course, only until the last two episodes turn the game on its head. A major twist unravels why this story was chosen to be the second season of Vadhandhi. The climax comes eerily close to adopting a trope that has haunted a vulnerable community for decades, but thankfully settles for using it for shock value. Despite a few slip-ups, Vadhandhi Season 2 – The Mystery of Mani remains an engaging and inventive crime series about the depths of human depravity.
Released on August 7, Vadhandhi Season 2 – The Mystery of Mani is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
