The movie’s name reflects the setting—a small town where the story unfolds. It was a welcome chance to see Kamal Haasan in a familiar role. It felt like a long time since I’d seen him dressed and speaking like that, particularly his Tirunelveli accent was remarkable. As expected, his acting and facial expressions dominated the film; no one else could quite match his skill. It's safe to say the movie belonged entirely…

What’s remarkable about Papanasam is how effectively it manages to make viewers forget the original Drishyam while still establishing itself as its own distinct film. Despite being nearly identical to the Malayalam film frame by frame, it doesn't feel like a remake. The small-town setting, where everyone knows one another, is essential to the story, and Jeethu Joseph convincingly establishes this slow-burning crime t…