Kerala Crime Files Returns With Quiet Force In Season 2 | In this second season, the crime is merely a starting point; the real story lies in the slow unravelling of human frailties, moral codes, and the quiet burdens of duty. Neelima Menon writes.
| IN THE FIRST EPISODE of Kerala Crime Files S2, we see CPO Ambili Raju (Indrans), a frail, elderly policeman, escorting a handcuffed culprit on a state-run bus. The contrast between the officer’s delicate frame and the man's roughness in custody couldn’t be more apparent. He is loud, uncouth, verbally abuses Ambili, and also provokes the other passengers. But the cop remains unfazed, hinting that he is long accustomed to such bursts of ugliness. Even when three burly men board the bus and begin to thrash the culprit, Ambili doesn’t flinch. The moment the other passengers threaten to join in, however, he steps in with unexpected authority: “The public shouldn’t touch him,” he warns firmly. Get access to 30+ streaming platforms with OTTplay Premium's Power Play monthly pack, for only Rs 149. Claim this limited time offer now! It's a subtly staged scene that efficiently reframes how we perceive Ambili — not as a helpless old man, but as someone with an unshakable inner compass. As the series progresses, we are offered glimpses into the many shades of Ambili Raju. In the department, he is known to be incorruptible, doesn’t accept bribes, doesn’t buckle under pressure, and upholds the law even when it puts him at odds with those around him. Indrans brings an arresting subtlety to the role. Every gesture, silence, and line delivered without a dramatic flourish adds to the intrigue of a man whose power lies in his ability to listen, observe, and act only when necessary. It’s a superb character study, constructed not through bombast or monologues, but through restraint and moral stillness. | This sequence doesn’t just establish Ambili Raju’s character but also sets the tone for Ahammed Khabeer’s Kerala Crime Files 2 . Typically, this series (six episodes long), like its predecessor, also unfolds with quiet deliberation, prioritising character over spectacle. But this time, the narrative deepens our engagement with both the police personnel and the community they serve. So alongside the familiar faces — CI Kurian Avaran (Lal), the steady and seasoned officer, and SI Manoj Sreedharan ( Aju Varghese ) — we’re also introduced to SI Noble (Arjun Radhakrishnan, impressive with his quiet intensity) who has been posted to a modest, out-of-the-way police station on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. It is the sudden and unsettling disappearance of Ambili that triggers the central investigation of this season. FIND OUT | What Director Ahammed Khabeer Has To Say About Kerala Crime Files Season 3 | Written by Bahul Ramesh (similar to his critically acclaimed screenplay debut, Kishkinda Kaandam ), the pacing is deliberate, as we sit with unease, absorb the silences, and deconstruct the grey areas that emerge from the crime and the humans involved in it. That said, Bahul’s tendency toward open-ended interpretations and his inclination to layer the narrative with ambiguous or overly abstract elements can, at times, feel unnecessarily convoluted. While this approach lends the series a certain tonal complexity, it also runs the risk of distancing the viewer, especially when clarity is sacrificed for the sake of mystique. | Noble’s entry into the department is low-key, mirroring his quiet manner. The initial hiccups in his new posting are nicely etched, particularly in his interactions with lower-ranking officers who are older and more experienced than he is. Eventually, you get the portrait of a man who, while clearly idealistic, has quickly adapted to the bureaucratic rhythms and compromises of the system. However, the writing falters when it comes to Noble’s personal life. His relationship with his wife feels hastily constructed, lacking the emotional depth or specificity needed to resonate. His odd detachment from her pet dog, often treated as a recurring motif, also comes across as puzzling. Especially in their attempt to thread his investigative process through casual conversations at home and interactions with the dog, it feels forced and underdeveloped. It also detracts from the otherwise grounded realism of the series. | The junior-senior dynamic between Noble and CI Kurian Avaran is allowed to pace itself organically, with Kurian embodying a kind of quiet mentorship that is more observational than instructional. What makes their interactions especially effective is the ease with which Kurian slips in casual life lessons — seemingly offhand remarks that carry deeper truths. One such moment comes when Noble, caught up in the demands of his new posting, mentions that he hasn’t had time to visit home despite being in his hometown. Kurian, with a knowing smile, offers a gentle cautionary response: if one isn’t careful, they may end up returning to an “empty home.” The line lands without preaching, yet it subtly underscores the emotional costs of a profession that often demands all-consuming commitment. It also perhaps hints at Kurian’s possible regrets. Such moments are what elevate the emotional fabric of the series. FIND OUT | Actor Aju Varghese Has THIS To Say About Kerala Crime Files S2 | Another intriguing character arc is that of Ayyappan (Harishree Asokan), a former convict and thief who now works as a housekeeper and part-time driver at a retirement shelter for police dogs. What’s compelling is his dynamic with Ambili Raju that is rooted in a complicated past. Years ago, it was Ambili who ensured that his estranged wife, whom he had left for another woman, married Ayyappan. That pragmatic and redemptive act, in a way, speaks about Ambili’s moral worldview. The two men share an enduring friendship, marked by shared histories, implicit trust, and a strange emotional symmetry. At one point, the former wife remarks to a police officer, “Isn’t there always a soul connect between a cop and a thief?” It’s a line loaded with irony and quiet poignance, gesturing toward a relationship built not just on shared circumstances but on a mutual recognition of each other’s flaws and decencies. Yet, disappointingly, the series never fully excavates the emotional or philosophical depth of this bond. What could have been a layered exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and masculine vulnerability is reduced to a series of scattered conversations and whispered conspiracies. While both characters are sketched with care individually, their interpersonal relationship remains frustratingly underexplored. | It's also interesting when the narrative takes a detour into the world of police dogs (hitherto unexplored on celluloid) and the emotionally fraught, often unsettling, bonds they share with their handlers. Especially striking is a subplot linking a man’s abandoned childhood with his obsessive attachment to a police training dog. It was haunting to witness a man’s unprocessed trauma finding an outlet in the controlled affection offered by a police dog. In a way, we also tend to introspect the dual realities of these animals. They become both victims and agents, having to silently bear the emotional burdens of their handlers while also helping them navigate the murky terrain of crime and conscience. This thematic layering, which has human vulnerability and cruelty mirrored in the canine gaze, added an emotional texture to the series. In this season, the crime is merely a starting point; the real story lies in the slow unravelling of human frailties, moral codes, and the quiet burdens of duty. Though not all narrative strands land with equal weight, the show’s commitment to nuance is undeniable. Kerala Crime Files Season 2 is currently streaming on JioHotstar. Need more convincing to add to your watchlist? Click here . | Like what you read? Get more of what you like. Visit the OTTplay website or download the app to stay up-to-date with news, recommendations and special offers on streaming content. Plus: always get the latest reviews. Sign up for our newsletters. Already a subscriber? Forward this email to a friend, or use the share buttons below. | | | This weekly newsletter compiles a list of the latest (and most important) reviews from OTTplay so you can figure what to watch or ditch over the weekend ahead. | | Each week, our editors pick one long-form, writerly piece that they think it worthy of your attention, and dice it into easily digestible bits for you to mull over. | | In which we invite a scholar of cinema, devotee of the moving image, to write a prose poem dedicated to their poison of choice. Expect to spend an
hour on this. | | | Hindustan Media Ventures Limited,
Hindustan Times House, 18-20,
Second Floor, Kasturba Gandhi
Marg, New Delhi - 110 001, India | | | If you need any guidance or support along the way, please send an email to ottplay@htmedialabs.com . We’re here to help! | ©️2025 OTTplay, HT Media Labs. All rights reserved. | | | |
