Sookshmadarshini

Story:

Sookshmadarshini is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy mystery thriller directed by M.C. Jithin, with a screenplay by Libin T.B and Athul Ramachandran. Produced by Happy Hours Entertainments and AVA Productions, the film features Nazriya Nazim and Basil Joseph in lead roles. This project marks Nazriya’s return to Malayalam cinema after a four-year break.

Released in theaters on 22 November 2024, Sookshmadarshini received positive reviews from critics and became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.

Plot

Priyadarshini “Priya,” a homemaker, lives with her husband, Anthony, and their daughter, Kani, in a close-knit neighborhood. While actively job hunting, Priya lands a second-stage interview at a company alongside her friend and neighbor, Stephy, a single mother. Around the same time, Manuel, the new owner of Grace Bakers, moves into the neighborhood with his elderly mother, Grace. Though initially charming to the locals, Manuel’s eccentric behavior—such as hosting a party where he secretly serves monitor lizard meat as beef—arouses Priya’s suspicion. Meanwhile, Grace remains reclusive, rarely leaving her home.

During Priya and Anthony’s wedding anniversary celebration, Manuel deliberately starts a fire in their home by leaving an iron box on. Although the fire is contained, Grace disappears amidst the chaos. She is later found near a railway station, but Priya’s doubts about Manuel deepen. Manuel claims Grace has Alzheimer’s, but Priya finds this suspicious since Grace appears capable of managing her daily tasks. Stephy grows close to Manuel and takes a day off to care for Grace while Manuel works. Before leaving, Manuel gives Stephy sedative-laced mango juice for Grace, provided by his cousin, Dr. John. Priya visits Grace during this time, but Grace remains silent. Later, everyone drinks the juice, causing Stephy to fall asleep. Unbeknownst to her, Manuel’s uncle, Roy, takes Grace away. The following day, Manuel falsely claims Grace has gone missing again, intensifying Priya’s concerns.

Manuel’s sister, Diana, arrives from New Zealand to assist with the investigation into Grace’s disappearance. However, frustrated by the lack of progress, Diana plans to return but shares her contact information with Priya. Determined to uncover the truth, Priya teams up with neighbors Sulu and Asma to investigate Manuel’s house. During their search, they find a freshly painted wall with a suspicious crimson damp patch linked to the sewer system. Before they can delve further, Dr. John appears and pours acid into the toilet, seemingly disposing of Grace’s remains. The group retreats, but Priya becomes even more resolute.

Priya later discovers that Manuel has been impersonating Diana by using her phone. She learns that Diana, a lesbian, was in a relationship with Aditi, a Tamil woman in New Zealand, and they were planning to adopt a child. However, Diana had mysteriously vanished. On the day of her job interview, Priya contacts Aditi, who has come to Kerala searching for Diana. Unfortunately, Manuel captures Aditi and chloroforms her.

Priya eventually uncovers the horrifying truth: Manuel’s family orchestrated Diana’s honor killing to suppress the “shame” of her sexuality, with Grace masterminding the plan. They dissolved Diana’s body in acid and now plan to kill Aditi to cover their tracks. Priya locates their hideout at a new bakery site and crashes her car into the building, subduing Manuel and John and rescuing Aditi. The police arrest Manuel, Grace, Roy, and John, bringing the crimes to light. Priya is celebrated as a hero for her courage and determination to seek justice.