Crime thrillers have been par for the course in Tamil cinema for years, and today, Malayalam cinema has mastered the genre, offering some interesting investigative dramas and psychological thrillers. Thus, the filmmakers clearly have their work cut out for them when they try to make a compelling thriller. Director Madhumita’s John DoeStarring Arjun Das, Sanchana Natarajan, Srishti, Zara Vineet Chandoke, Badava Gopi, Archana Chandoke, Jayaprakash, Anupama Kumar and others, this psychological crime thriller tries to do just that.

Chandru (Arjun Das) is a new sub-inspector posted in Kadampuzha, Kerala, when he suddenly finds himself investigating the case of an unidentified child (known as John Doe, as is the custom in America), who has died in a car accident in a lake near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Although Chandru is constantly battling the demons of his childhood, born from his highly verbally abusive father, a cop (Badava Gopi) and the death of his mother, he tries to immerse himself in his job with all sincerity. The John Doe case not only gives him a chance to prove himself as a soldier but also allows him to ‘save’ the child as a way to overcome his childhood trauma. His investigation thus becomes both a professional and a personal journey.

Meanwhile, a family moved from Dubai to Kurinjipadi in Tamil Nadu. After the death of her husband in an accident in Dubai, Darshana (Srishti) arrives in Kurinjipadi with her two children, Lakshmi aka Lucky (Zara Vineet Chandoke) and Hirde (Nirav S), hoping to find a way to recover. Lucky is a difficult teenager who always fights with his mother, while Hirde is an eight-year-old who longs for his sister’s love. Meanwhile, Darshana has her hands full with both of them. But Hirde suddenly goes missing one night, and all hell breaks loose. A desperate Darshana joins hands with local police inspector A Rao (Sanchana Natarajan) to find him. Meanwhile, Chandru also came to Kurinjipadi in connection with his John Doe case. Do they find the heart? Who killed John Doe? Will Rao and Chandru finally solve the case?

Director Madhumita tries to bring the two stories together through the characters of Chandru and Rao, using the investigation as a means to explore the psychological impact of childhood trauma and deteriorating family relationships. While adults struggle with their emotional baggage, children are the ones who suffer in a world created by their parents’ unresolved trauma and psychological issues. It is an interesting concept that the director uses to weave the story together.

Chandru’s characterization is very interesting and, unlike the regular macho cops we see on screen, he is someone who struggles with his insecurities and the need to prove his worth. Her toxic relationship with her father is important to the story, as it makes her emotionally invested in the case. Rao is a stark contrast to Chandru – she is tough, confident, determined and self-assured, and approaches her job with determination and pragmatism.

This contrast between Chandru and Rao is brought out effectively by Arjun Das and Sanchana Natarajan respectively, who both portray their roles and respective character holders. Arjun Das brings a lot of intensity to his role and manages to convey his vulnerability as well, while Sanchana’s character could have had more depth to make it more layered. Srishti does a fair job as a mother who struggles to bear the loss of her husband while taking care of her children, while Zara Vineet Chandhoke makes a big impression with her performance. Zara is particularly good in the sequences involving her complicated relationship with her brother and in the scenes where she interacts with Rao. Anupama Kumar and Jaiprakash have also given importance to the story in their respective roles.

John Doe Its narrative has many twists and turns to keep the audience engaged, but the final reveal is where the film falls apart. A psychological thriller needs a cast of interesting characters with some twists and backstories to keep the audience invested. Some characters’ motivations aren’t compelling enough, while the screenplay doesn’t delve deep enough into their backstories to make their actions convincing.

As a result, the final revelation, instead of being effective and tying the various threads together, feels somewhat weak. The film also struggles with pacing, especially in the second half, where the narrative loses some of its grip despite interesting developments. Additionally, the romantic angle added to the investigation is predictable and a bit jarring, and doesn’t blend seamlessly into the story.

Technically, the film has its moments, with the cinematography by Preetha Jayaraman effectively capturing the atmosphere of the border setting. Mujeeb Majeed’s music elevates many suspenseful scenes, which is an added plus in creating tension. finally, John Doe There is an interesting premise and some good performances, but a tighter screenplay and a more compelling finale could have made this a much more engaging thriller.