Last Sunday, I watched a movie named D-16 (Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru) with my friends. I'm not that of the cinema person but always up for a thriller movie. So when my friends were watching, I joined them.
It was only the first scene, and D-16 already had me hooked. There is something about a good mystery that catches you without even realizing it, and this film is one of those. No flashy effects, no unnecessary drama, just the pure art of storytelling that leaves you guessing about the events till the very end.
I didn’t expect to be so engrossed, but I found myself pausing, rewinding, discussing, and trying to catch the smallest clues. You know those films where every detail matters; it was like that. Karthick Naren, who directed it at just 21, builds the kind of suspense that feels patient and mature. It’s rare to see a debut this confident.
The film follows a retired cop, Deepak, who recalls an old murder case. The story jumps between timelines and even different worlds; truth be told, this non-linear method of storytelling makes it even more fascinating. One is always in a state of transition between what is real and what is possibly an illusion. And by the time the ending hits, it’s like a quiet sla;, you just sit there, processing.
I loved the writing. It challenges its viewers to think. If you are a person who only watches thriller movies when the plot is not laid out for you, then D-16 is the perfect choice. It is not the kind of movie that screams for your attention, but instead, it gets it quietly, progressively.
We finished it and discussed it for a while, thinking about how neatly everything tied together. The kind of satisfaction only a good mystery can give.
So if you haven’t watched it yet, do me a favor, add it to your list tonight. Thank me later :)