Sampath Raj comes out all guns blazing in Drushyam 2

A knowledgeable cinema buff will certainly know that supporting characters are the backbone of any film and a strong performance from their end is necessary to tell a good story. Drushyam 2, that released on Amazon Prime Video, has been largely promoted as a Venkatesh starrer and a Jeethu Joseph directorial among crowds and it's definitely understandable that one needs the presence of big names for a film to get its due. If Venkatesh was the face of Drushyam 2, it's actor Sampath Raj who steers the narrative forward with an excellent performance. 

Sampath Raj in the film is cast as IG Goutam Sahu, who keeps an eye on the case of a missing youngster Varun Prabhakar and his mysterious connection with the family of Rambabu, a theatre owner. While the proceedings in the film remain sombre in the first hour, it's with the exuberant screen presence of Sampath Raj that the narrative gets its enthusiasm. It's easy to have settled for an exaggerated portrayal of a cop in the film and no one would've blinked, but the character actor displays great control over his intensity, body language and dialogue delivery, lending intrigue to the role and his performance.

The pitch of any performance in a film is decided by a director and here, Jeethu Joseph extracts a clinical act from Sampath that's largely realistic and has its elements of drama too. The sequences where Sampath Raj, veterans Naresh and Nadhiya come together are shot very well and all the performers complement each other wonderfully while staying true to the spirit of the scenes. Interestingly, writer, actor Murali Gopy, who essayed Sampath Raj's part in the Malayalam version (Drishyam 2), was also appreciated for his performance.

Drushyam 2 is one of Sampath Raj's more memorable outings in Telugu cinema, and is certain to bring him as much fame that he got through hits like Mirchi, Bheeshma, Jersey and Loukyam in the past. "When I watched Drushyam, I was certain that the film would have a sequel and I wished to be a part of it in some form and today that's a reality. I am quite proud to be associated with Drushyam 2," Sampath said at the film's trailer launch event held in Hyderabad recently. His other Telugu releases this year were Red and Check.