Acclaimed filmmaker Jeethu Joseph, best known for the Drishyam series, returns with his latest thriller Mirage, a film that promises an intricate web of suspense but often leaves viewers caught in a maze of red herrings and half-reveals. While the title cleverly ties into the narrative of deception, the film’s execution raises questions about whether the mystery truly satisfies its audience.
The story revolves around the sudden death of Kiran, played by Hakkim Shajahan, in a train accident. His fiancée Abhirami, portrayed by Aparna Balamurali, suspects foul play when powerful figures— including a businessman’s henchman and a senior police officer—arrive at her doorstep searching for a missing hard disk. What follows is a chase across multiple fronts, as Abhirami teams up with Ashwin (Asif Ali), a determined journalist, to unravel the truth behind Kiran’s death.
From the outset, the film wastes no time in dropping the audience into the central mystery, opting for a high-octane start rather than gradual world-building. However, the overly dramatic staging and stiff dialogues from several characters, particularly the antagonists, dilute the tension. In certain instances, characters are written so predictably suspicious that their eventual reveals feel more contrived than shocking, a shortfall for a thriller of this scale.
Despite its flaws, Mirage has moments of intrigue, especially during Abhirami’s emotionally charged encounter with Kiran’s mother. Yet, much of the screenplay follows a repetitive loop— protagonists chase a lead, antagonists close in, followed by yet another twist. The pattern risks numbing the impact of key revelations, as viewers begin to anticipate the very surprises meant to keep them on edge.
Jeethu Joseph, along with co-writer Srinivasan Abrol, clearly aims to craft the “perfect thriller climax”— one that remains unguessable until the final frame. But in the pursuit of complexity, Mirage occasionally sacrifices clarity and emotional resonance. While the film offers flashes of the director’s signature ability to weave suspense, it ultimately leaves audiences debating whether the endless twists were ingenious or simply excessive.
