The climax of Drishyam 2 left audiences stunned with its intricate web of deception and foresight. If you're still piecing together how Vijay Salgaonkar pulled off his masterstroke, you're not alone. Let's break down the genius of his plan.
The Witness and The Discovery
The film re-opens
the case when a man named David, who was arrested seven years prior on the night of the incident, reveals he saw Vijay Salgaonkar at the under-construction police station. This leads the new IG, Tarun Ahlawat (Akshaye Khanna), to excavate the station floor, where they finally discover a human skeleton. This discovery brings Vijay and his family back into the clutches of the law, setting the stage for what seems like their inevitable downfall.
The 'Confession' and A New Story
With the police tightening their grip, especially after planting undercover officers who record a partial confession from Vijay's traumatised wife, Nandini, Vijay decides to take matters into his own hands. Witnessing his family being brutally interrogated, he 'confesses' to the crime. However, he tells a completely new story: he claims he accidentally killed Sam during a scuffle at his home and then buried the body under the police station, taking full responsibility and stating his family knew nothing. This confession seems to be the final nail in the coffin.
The Novelist and The Copyright Trap
The case moves to court, where Vijay's lawyer drops the first bombshell. He argues that the police's entire theory, including the confession, is a fabrication based on a popular crime novel titled 'Drishyam'. It's revealed that Vijay had spent years collaborating with a screenwriter, Murad Ali (Saurabh Shukla), to develop a film script. As a form of 'copyright protection', Vijay had this story published as a novel under Murad's name long before his arrest. The story in the book mirrors the police's case against him, making it appear as though the cops simply stole the plot from the novel to frame him.
The Ultimate Checkmate: The DNA Report
Just as the courtroom is reeling from the novelist's revelation, the final, decisive blow is delivered. The forensic report for the skeleton found at the police station arrives. The DNA does not match Sam's. The body the police found was not the one they were looking for. With the physical evidence now discredited and the police's narrative painted as a work of fiction, the case against Vijay completely collapses, leading to his release. The prosecution is left with no credible evidence.
How Did He Do It?
The film then reveals the full extent of Vijay’s foresight. Knowing the body might one day be discovered, he had planned for this eventuality for years. He befriended a security guard at a local morgue and learned of an unclaimed body of a young man of similar age and build who had died from a head injury. After the police excavated the real skeleton from the station, Vijay used his connection at the morgue to swap Sam's remains with the other skeleton before the DNA test could be conducted. He had anticipated every move the police would make, staying several steps ahead the entire time.
