A Slow-Burning Mystery Thriller That Loses Its Way in the Second Half
A brutal crime, a mysterious eyewitness, a sketch artist and a police investigation come together in a story that initially creates a lot of curiosity. The opening portions are engaging, especially when the central mystery begins to take shape and the audience starts wondering how the identity of the criminal will be established. The first half gives the impression that the film is building towards a tightly written investigative thriller. However, as the story progresses, the screenplay becomes increasingly complicated and the focus shifts from the murder mystery to an action-heavy second half. The result is a film that starts with promise but struggles to maintain the same level of engagement throughout its runtime. code 42
Identity Movie Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Identity |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Telugu Version | Available |
| OTT Platform | ZEE5 |
| Runtime | 2 Hours 35 Minutes |
| Genre | Thriller, Crime |
| Lead Cast | Tovino Thomas, Trisha Krishnan, Vinay Rai |
| Age Rating | U/A 16+ |
| Audio Languages | Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada |
| Subtitles | English |
| Telugu Audio | Available |
| Verdict | Average |
| Movie Link | Click Here |
Story and Basic Premise
The story begins with a murder.
A person happens to witness a brutal crime, making the eyewitness extremely important to the investigation. But things become complicated when the witness is involved in an accident and suffers from a condition that affects the way the investigation can proceed.
Now the police need to identify the criminal based on the information provided by this witness.
This is where the sketch artist angle becomes important.
The witness is expected to describe the person responsible for the crime, while the sketch artist attempts to recreate the suspect’s appearance based on the available information.
On paper, this is a very interesting premise for a crime thriller.
The audience naturally starts asking several questions.
Who committed the murder?
Why did the person commit it?
How reliable is the eyewitness?
Can the sketch artist accurately identify the suspect?
What exactly happened before the crime?
And most importantly, is the person being identified really the person responsible?
These questions create curiosity during the early portions.
The movie initially uses this mystery effectively.
The First 30 Minutes Are the Best
One of the strongest aspects of the film is its opening.
The first 30 minutes are genuinely interesting.
The movie establishes the central characters, introduces the murder mystery and gives the audience enough information to become curious about what is actually happening.
There is also an interesting setup involving the hero’s past and a CD connected to his character.
At that point, the film gives the impression that the story is going to develop into a carefully constructed investigative thriller.
The sketch artist angle also adds something different to the setup.
Instead of simply having the police investigate CCTV footage, fingerprints and conventional evidence, the movie places importance on the eyewitness’s description and the process of creating a sketch.
That creates an unusual investigative situation.
As a viewer, you naturally become interested in seeing how the investigators will solve the case.
Unfortunately, the film does not maintain the same level of writing throughout.
Where the Movie Starts Losing Its Grip
The biggest problem begins once the movie moves beyond its initial setup.
The murder mystery that initially seemed like the central attraction slowly becomes buried beneath several additional plot elements.
The screenplay introduces different pieces of information and attempts to connect them later.
Instead of making the mystery clearer and more exciting, this approach makes the story increasingly complicated.
There is a point where the film feels like it is trying too hard to connect everything.
The hero’s past, the sketch artist element, the family background and the central murder investigation are all brought together.
Some of these ideas are individually interesting.
The problem is how they are connected.
The connections do not always feel natural.
As a result, certain scenes that were introduced earlier begin to feel less meaningful.
The Hero’s Past
The hero’s backstory is one of the elements that initially creates curiosity.
The movie spends time establishing his history and giving the audience information about his character.
There is also the CD-related point that appears early in the story.
When these elements are introduced, it feels like they are going to become extremely important later.
The audience naturally expects these details to have a strong connection to the main mystery.
But as the movie progresses, the importance of some of these elements becomes questionable.
The backstory is interesting in isolation, but the connection to the central mystery does not feel strong enough.
This is one of the reasons the screenplay starts feeling convoluted.
The Sketch Artist Concept
The sketch artist idea is arguably one of the more interesting aspects of the film.
The eyewitness cannot simply provide conventional evidence, so the investigation depends on visual reconstruction.
This creates an interesting situation.
A person’s memory and description become the basis for identifying a criminal.
That could have been used to create a highly suspenseful investigation.
The movie does use this concept during the initial stages.
However, it does not explore the psychological possibilities of the concept deeply enough.
The audience is given the idea, but the film does not consistently build the entire investigation around it.
Instead, other plot elements gradually take over.
That makes the initial hook feel less important than it appeared in the beginning.
A Similarity With Other Psychological Thrillers
The reviewer’s comparison to movies dealing with memory and perception is understandable.
A thriller becomes much more interesting when the audience cannot completely trust what a character remembers or perceives.
Here, the film introduces a condition that could have been explored in much greater depth.
The question should have been whether the eyewitness’s perception can actually be trusted.
That could have created a tense psychological battle between memory, evidence and investigation.
Instead, the film keeps moving between multiple plot points.
Because of that, the psychological angle does not receive the depth it deserves.
The Second Half Is the Biggest Problem
The second half is where the film becomes particularly difficult to follow.
The movie gradually shifts from a murder mystery into an action thriller.
The transition feels forced.
There is an impression that the filmmakers wanted to build towards a large-scale action sequence involving a flight.
The action itself may be technically ambitious, but the problem is that the screenplay seems to bend towards that set piece.
Instead of the action emerging naturally from the investigation, the investigation starts feeling like a route towards the action.
That weakens the mystery.
The first half asks interesting questions.
The second half spends more time trying to answer them through increasingly complicated developments and action sequences.
The tonal shift is noticeable.
The Flight Action Sequence
The flight sequence is one of the major action elements.
It is clear that considerable effort went into creating the sequence.
However, the problem is not necessarily the action itself.
The bigger issue is whether the action belongs naturally within the story.
The film begins as a crime investigation.
The audience becomes invested in the murder mystery and the identity of the criminal.
Suddenly, the movie starts focusing heavily on large-scale action.
This makes the experience feel less like the thriller that was promised in the beginning.
It feels as though the film wants to demonstrate that it can deliver an elaborate action sequence.
That ambition is understandable, but the transition could have been handled much better.
Too Many Plot Connections
Another weakness is the number of plot points that are introduced.
The film wants to connect several different elements.
The murder.
The eyewitness.
The sketch.
The hero’s past.
The family background.
The investigation.
The criminal’s plan.
The action portions.
All of these are supposed to eventually form one larger picture.
But instead of creating a satisfying puzzle, the screenplay sometimes makes the audience feel like it is constantly introducing another layer.
A good mystery can certainly be complicated.
But complexity and confusion are not the same thing.
Here, the screenplay occasionally crosses that line.
Characters and Their Behaviour
Character behaviour is another area where the film could have been stronger.
In a good detective thriller, the actions of the characters should feel connected to their motivations.
Every investigation step should have a reason.
Every decision should push the story forward.
Here, there are moments where characters behave according to the demands of the screenplay rather than according to their established personalities.
This becomes more noticeable in the second half.
The movie keeps introducing new information, and the characters react to it in ways that are primarily designed to move the plot towards the next twist or action sequence.
That reduces the emotional impact.
Performance of Tovino Thomas
Tovino Thomas delivers a decent performance.
He handles the serious portions of the character effectively.
The role requires a certain level of restraint, particularly during the investigative portions.
His performance is one of the reasons the early sections remain watchable.
However, even a strong performance cannot completely solve problems in the screenplay.
When the writing becomes unnecessarily complicated, the limitations of the character arc become visible.
Tovino does what is required, but the material does not always give him enough opportunities to create a memorable character.
Trisha Krishnan’s Performance
Trisha Krishnan is also decent in her role.
Her character is connected to the central investigation and the sketch-related portion of the story.
She brings a suitable presence to the film.
However, the character itself could have been written with more depth.
The movie introduces certain aspects that suggest the character will become extremely important, but the eventual payoff does not feel as strong as expected.
The performance is fine, but the writing limits its impact.
Vinay Rai
Vinay Rai also performs well within the limitations of his character.
His presence adds another layer to the thriller.
The performances across the main cast are generally competent.
The problem is not that the actors are doing poor work.
The bigger issue is that the screenplay does not consistently give them strong material.
Background Music
The background score by James Bejoy is one of the better technical aspects.
The music attempts to maintain tension throughout the movie.
However, there is one issue mentioned in the review that is worth noting: the same rap-oriented musical element appears repeatedly.
After hearing it multiple times, its impact reduces.
A thriller of this nature benefits from a varied score that can distinguish between mystery, psychological tension, action and emotional scenes.
The background music works in several places, but it could have been more varied.
Technical Aspects
Technically, the movie is reasonably well made.
The production quality is good.
The action sequences have scale, and the cinematography supports the thriller atmosphere.
The movie clearly attempts to look bigger during its action portions.
The technical execution is not the primary reason the film fails to fully engage.
The main problem is the screenplay.
Even a visually polished thriller needs a strong narrative foundation.
Here, the technical elements sometimes appear stronger than the story itself.
Pacing and Runtime
The movie has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes.
For a thriller, that is a considerable runtime.
A long runtime is not automatically a problem.
If the screenplay keeps introducing meaningful developments, a two-and-a-half-hour thriller can still be highly engaging.
But in this case, the runtime becomes noticeable.
The first portion moves reasonably well because the mystery creates curiosity.
Later, when the screenplay becomes more complicated, the length begins to feel more obvious.
There are portions where the movie could have been shortened without losing anything essential.
A tighter edit would have helped significantly.
Does the Movie Have Enough Suspense?
The movie certainly attempts to create suspense.
The central question of the criminal’s identity is enough to generate curiosity.
The audience wants to know whether the eyewitness can actually identify the person responsible.
The film also uses twists to keep the investigation moving.
But the suspense becomes weaker as the screenplay becomes more convoluted.
A mystery works best when the audience feels that every clue is taking them closer to the truth.
Here, there are moments where it feels like the story is moving sideways rather than forward.
That reduces the payoff of the eventual revelations.
Twists and Reveals
There are several twists and revelations.
Some may surprise viewers, but the problem is that the movie tries to connect too many things.
Instead of one powerful twist, the film keeps adding new information.
The result is that the audience may spend more time trying to understand the structure of the story than enjoying the mystery.
The twists would have worked better if the screenplay had maintained a simpler central narrative.
No Strong Emotional Connection
Another limitation is the lack of a strong emotional connection with the characters.
The movie is primarily a plot-driven thriller.
That is perfectly acceptable.
But even a mystery thriller benefits from characters that the audience genuinely cares about.
Here, the focus remains on solving the case.
The family background and character history are introduced, but they do not always create the emotional impact the film seems to be aiming for.
As a result, when major developments occur, the audience may understand their importance without necessarily feeling them deeply.
What Works
| Positive Aspect | Opinion |
|---|---|
| Opening | Strong and curiosity-building |
| First 30 Minutes | Engaging |
| Murder Mystery Setup | Interesting |
| Sketch Artist Concept | Good idea |
| Performances | Tovino, Trisha and Vinay are decent |
| BGM | Good overall |
| Action | Technically ambitious |
| Production Quality | Good |
| Telugu Availability | Makes it accessible to Telugu viewers |
What Doesn’t Work
| Negative Aspect | Opinion |
|---|---|
| Screenplay | Becomes convoluted |
| Second Half | Loses the mystery-thriller feel |
| Pacing | Slow and lengthy |
| Plot Connections | Not always convincing |
| Character Writing | Lacks emotional depth |
| Action Integration | Feels forced |
| Twists | Too many connections reduce impact |
| Runtime | 2h 35m feels long |
| Suspense | Weakens as the story progresses |
Telugu Dubbing
The movie is available in Telugu on ZEE5.
For Telugu viewers, this is a convenient option because the film does not require watching with subtitles.
The Telugu audio allows viewers to follow the investigation more easily, particularly because the film contains a considerable amount of dialogue and investigative information.
The Telugu version is watchable, and viewers who prefer dubbed content can try it without much difficulty.
Content Advisory
The movie carries a U/A 16+ rating according to the provided information.
The film belongs to the crime and thriller genres and contains elements associated with a serious investigation and violence.
Therefore, it is better suited for mature teenage and adult viewers.
It is not being presented as a family-oriented entertainer.
Final Verdict
The film begins with a genuinely interesting idea.
A brutal crime, a sole eyewitness, a sketch artist and an investigation into the identity of a mysterious criminal provide enough material for a gripping thriller.
The first 30 minutes are particularly effective.
The setup creates curiosity and gives the audience the feeling that a tightly written investigative mystery is about to unfold.
Unfortunately, the movie gradually loses that focus.
The screenplay becomes increasingly complicated and tries to connect too many different elements.
The hero’s past, the CD, the sketch artist concept, the family background and the murder investigation are all given importance, but the connections between them do not always feel satisfying.
The biggest problem is the second half.
The movie moves towards action and eventually becomes more of an action thriller.
The flight sequence appears to be one of the major attractions, but the narrative feels as though it has been constructed around reaching that sequence.
Because of this, the original murder mystery loses some of its strength.
The film also feels unnecessarily long.
At 2 hours and 35 minutes, the movie demands considerable patience, especially once the screenplay starts becoming complicated.
The performances are not the problem.
Tovino Thomas, Trisha Krishnan and Vinay Rai all deliver decent performances.
The background score is also effective in several places, while the production quality and action presentation are reasonably good.
But the screenplay ultimately determines the experience, and that is where the movie struggles.
If you enjoy slow-burning crime thrillers and are willing to tolerate a complicated screenplay and a lengthy second half, you can give it a try.
If you are expecting a tightly written murder mystery from beginning to end, the film may disappoint you.
The opening is promising, but the execution does not maintain that promise.
For me, the movie starts as an interesting mystery but gradually becomes an unnecessarily complicated action thriller.
Final Rating: 2.5/5
Verdict: A Promising Crime Mystery With a Strong Opening, Decent Performances and Good Technical Work, But Its Convoluted Screenplay, Slow Pacing and Forced Action-Focused Second Half Reduce the Overall Impact.
OTT: ZEE5
Telugu Audio: Available
Runtime: 2 Hours 35 Minutes
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Age Rating: U/A 16+