Diya Review
Star Cast : Sai Pallavi, Naga Shourya , Baby Veronika
Director : Vijay
Director Vijay who makes feel-good family entertainers is back with Diya, an emotional horror thriller. He manages to drive home the anti-abortion message but beyond that the film fails to keep the interest alive.
The director has taken inspiration from many films in various languages (Kana Kanmani in Malayalam, Gauri-The Unborn Child in Hindi and many Thai and Hollywood films). The film sermonises that every conceived child has a soul and the right to live in this world.
Diya (earlier titled (Karu) opens with the heated argument between the parents of Krishna (Naga Shourya) and Thulasi (Sai Pallavi) in a hospital. The parents come to know that their respective son and daughter are in a serious relationship and the girl (who is just out of school?) is pregnant. After few minutes, both the families decide to conduct the wedding after five years on condition that they should concentrate on their studies and for that Thulasi has to abort the child.
Five years later, the lovers are happily married but Thulasi (now a doctor) has changed as she is living with the guilt of killing her child in womb and keeps updating a diary in the name of her daughter Diya!! Meanwhile, Krishna’s dad, Thulasi’s mom, uncle and the doctor who aborted the child dies in freak accidents. Thulasi realises that it is her unborn daughter who is behind these murders and her next target is Krishna. Can Thulasi save her husband from the spirit of Diya?
The story focuses on Diya, an aborted child who is now 5-year-old ( Baby Veronica) who wants to take revenge and her deep love for her mother. The film’s biggest advantage is Sai Pallavi’s restrained performance as a young mother. Unlike her previous films, the actress has tried to be more subtle and serious. The scene where she breaks down in the interval after knowing that Diya is still living with her in her house is a gem.
The major drawback of the film is predictability, and zero chemistry between the husband and wife. The role of a bumbling investigating officer played by RJ Balaji is one of the most annoying comedy in recent time. Nirav Shah’s camera work is top class, the CG portions and camera angles in the car accident sequence deserve special mention. The runtime (99 minutes) is a major plus. Sam CS’s background score is good.
On the whole, Vijay has made Diya with noble intentions but the method of conveying the message somehow is lost in a ghostly conundrum. Such manipulative sentiments may work well with an average viewer but for others seeking a solid content, it may not be a satisfying experience.
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