Detective ujjwalandirected by debutants Indraneel Gopeekrishnan and Rahul G, is a film that arrives with considerable promise, especially as it carries the weight of being the second entry in the so-called Weekend Cinematic Universe, which began with the widely loved Minnal murali. Set in the quaint village of Plaachikkaavu in the 90s, Detective ujjwalan attempts to weave a murder mystery with liberal doses of comedy and nostalgia. At a crisp runtime of just two hours, thanks to Chaman Chakko’s judicious editing, the film is an easy, largely watchable affair that never quite rises above the familiar ground it treads.

Directors: Indraneel Gopeekrishnan, Rahul G

Cast: Dhyan Sreenivasan, Siju Wilson, Rony David Raj, Kottayam Nazeer, Sema G Nair, Ameen, Nihal Nizam

The story begins with a playful sequence where Ujjwalan’s parents visit a prospective bride’s home, only to face snide remarks about Ujjwalan’s unemployed status and reputation as an amateur sleuth. Played by Dhyan Sreenivasan, the titular protagonist Ujjwalan is introduced as a quirky village detective who helps find missing pets and resolve petty thefts, all while running a crumbling library full of detective novels. While this setup is promising and has the feel of a village satire wrapped inside a murder mystery, the film struggles to maintain its narrative grip once the core mystery unfolds. Dhyan delivers one of his more committed performances here. Unlike his often disinterested screen presence in the recent outings, Dhyan seems to enjoy embodying Ujjwalan. As a skittish, overconfident detective who cannot step out at night and believes his modest deduction skills are indispensable, Dhyan leans into the comedy with a self-deprecating charm that suits the character.