The second season of the Tamil web series Suzhal: The Vortex was released on Amazon Prime Video on 28 February 2025. Produced by Pushkar and Gayathri, this crime thriller set a new benchmark in Tamil long format storytelling in its first season. Directed by Bramma and Sarjun KM, the series stars actors like Kathir, Aishwarya Rajesh, Lal and Gouri Kishan in the lead roles. Music by Sam CS and cinematography by Abraham Joseph make it a great visual experience. But is this season as thrilling and effective as the first one? Let's find out in this review.
Plot Summary
The second season of Suzhal: The Vortex begins from the end of the first season where Nandini (Aishwarya Rajesh) is in jail for killing her abusive relative. She is struggling with regret and guilt over her actions. Sub-inspector Chakravarthy aka Sakkarai (Kathir), who is Nandini's friend and whose service revolver was used in the murder, is suspended. Chellappa (Lal), a respected lawyer who is fighting Nandini's case, is their ray of hope. The story takes a new turn when Chellappa is shot dead in his cottage and a young girl Muthu (Gauri Kishan) is caught on the spot with the murder weapon. Subsequently, seven other girls surrender themselves at different police stations claiming to be the killers. Sakkarai leads the investigation of this mysterious case, which unfolds against the backdrop of the Ashtakali festival in the town of Kalipattanam. The festival depicts the story of eight goddesses defeating a demon, which forms a symbolic element in the story. Will Sakkarai be able to solve this complex case and will Nandini get justice? This forms the basic plot of this eight-episode series.
Performances and Highlights
Kathir has once again shown his brilliant acting ability in the role of Sakkarai. His dual emotions of a weak and tough cop add depth to the story. Aishwarya Rajesh as Nandini has done a great job of playing a broken and determined woman trapped in jail although her role is less effective than the first season. Lal has left a strong impression as Chellappa and his screen presence makes the story solid. Gouri Kishan has given a strong and emotional performance as Muthu which connects the story of the eight girls. A small but impactful cameo by Manjima Mohan surprises the audience. Saravanan has played a complex character as Murthy who adds a new dimension to the investigation. Anjali Ameer has played a trans character as Vimala who is interesting but her story remains incomplete. In the reviews, many viewers have given special praise to the performances of Kathir and Lal.
Technical Aspects and Direction
Pushkar and Gayathri have tried to mix local culture, mythology and crime thriller just like the first season of Suzhal. The backdrop of the Ashtakali festival gives a unique flavour to the story especially when it connects with the eight girls and their pain. Abraham Joseph's cinematography brings alive the coastal town of Kalipattanam and the seascapes symbolize the deep mysteries of the story. Sam CS's background score makes some scenes more effective especially the climax of Soorasamharam. Bramma has directed the first five episodes, which are fast and engaging while Sarjun KM's three episodes take the story forward. However, Richard Kevin's editing makes some scenes seem long and repetitive. The first four episodes are strong but the story slows down from the fifth episode onwards and the mystery revelations in the last two episodes seem rushed.
What's special and what's lacking
Suzhal: The biggest strength of Season 2 is its initial pace and the depth of the characters. The first three episodes keep the audience engaged with the mystery and the cliffhanger finale. The similarity between the Ashtakali festival and the story of the eight girls makes the story interesting. The attempt to raise serious issues like human trafficking and violence against women is commendable and the harsh realism in the prison scenes jolts the audience. Kathir and Aishwarya's performances, along with Manjima Mohan's cameo and Gauri Kishan's character are special. However, season 2 is less effective than the first season. The lack of depth in the story and many subplots like Nagamma's flashback and incomplete development of some characters disappoint. The revelations of the mystery seem predictable and rushed which does not match the intense climax of the first season. Many reviewers have called it repetitive and overdramatic especially in the final episode where the twists seem forced. The use of the Ashtakali festival is effective but it does not leave as deep an impact as the Mayankollai festival. Some scenes like the treatment of women in the prison and convenient writing in the process of investigation weaken the story.
Audience response and impact
Suzhal 2 has received mixed reviews on social media. Many fans have called it an engaging thriller with Kathir and Lal's performances and the Ashtakali festival backdrop being commendable. One user wrote "#SuzhalS2OnPrime once again keeps you hooked, great screenplay and Kathir's performance is amazing". Manjima Mohan's cameo also received a lot of praise. However, some viewers called it less effective than the first season and called the climax weak and predictable. One user said "The first four episodes are great but the pace breaks later and the end is disappointing". Some called it worth a watch but considered it to be not reaching the heights of the first season. It has received mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes where some gave it a 4/5 rating while some gave it 2/5.
Ratings and Conclusion
Suzhal: The Vortex Season 2 is an engaging crime thriller that tries to blend local culture and mystery like the first season. Performances by Kathir, Aishwarya and Lal, cinematography by Abraham Joseph and the score by Sum CS make it worth watching. Topics like Ashtakali festival and human trafficking add depth to the story. But weak writing, predictable climax and overdramatic scenes prevent it from being as effective as the first season. If you are a fan of the first season or want to watch a light thriller, it is worth a watch but don't expect too much. Our ratings: 3/5. It is a good attempt that is remembered for its stellar cast and some effective moments but fails to replicate the magical intensity of the first season.