MovieTimeहिन्दी
Crime · Thriller · Mystery
Dridam (2026)
दृढम
8 May 2026127 minMalayalam
A young Sub-Inspector takes charge of a police station in a town that has had little crime. Soon after his arrival a robbery and a murder shake the place, and he is pulled into an investigation. A Malayalam investigative thriller led by Shane Nigam.
Editorial preview: written from official information, the trailer and public sources — not a full viewing of the film.
Synopsis
A young Sub-Inspector takes charge of a police station in a town that has had little crime. Soon after his arrival a robbery and a murder shake the place, and he is pulled into an investigation. A Malayalam investigative thriller led by Shane Nigam.
Dridam 2026: a quiet town, a new officer
Dridam 2026 is a Malayalam investigative thriller built on a familiar but durable set-up: a newly posted officer in a place where nothing much happens, and then a robbery and a murder that prove otherwise. Shane Nigam plays Sub-Inspector Vijay Radhakrishnan, posted to the area called Kuzhinilam.
The interest of this kind of story rarely lies in the premise alone. It depends on how patiently the investigation is laid out, how the small-town setting is used and whether the lead feels like a real junior officer rather than a hero in uniform. We have not watched the film, so we cannot say how well it manages that, but the premise points to a procedural rather than a chase-driven action piece.
The team behind it
Martin Joseph makes his feature debut as director; reports note he previously assisted Jeethu Joseph, who presents the film. The screenplay is credited to Jomon John and Linto Devasia. It is produced by E4 Experiments and Bedtime Stories, with Mukesh R. Mehta and C.V. Sarathi among the producers.
The supporting cast includes Shobi Thilakan, Kottayam Ramesh, Krishna Prabha, Nandan Unni, Mathew Varghese, Abhiram Radhakrishnan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Cinematography is by P.M. Unnikrishnan, with Sreerag Saji on music. Sources spell some crew names slightly differently, and no runtime was stated in the material we found, so we have left it out.
Release date and where to watch
Dridam reached theatres on 8 May 2026 and, according to The Week, began streaming on JioHotstar on 12 June 2026. Availability and language options may vary by region, so check the app directly.
If you like Malayalam crime thrillers with a grounded, investigation-first approach, the premise and the Jeethu Joseph connection are the two things most likely to catch your eye. Viewers expecting a stylised, fast-cut action thriller may find the setting more restrained than they want. As with any film we have not seen, treat this as context for deciding, not a verdict.
How to approach it
Because the murder-and-robbery set-up is only the opening, it helps to go in without expecting a particular twist. Malayalam thrillers of this type often reward attention to small details of place and procedure, so a viewing with fewer distractions is likely to serve you better than a background watch.
Also worth noting is that reports describe the director as a debutant, so it is fair to treat this as a first film from a new voice working under an experienced presenter, rather than as a continuation of an existing series.
Who will enjoy Dridam?
- Fans of Malayalam investigative thrillers
- Viewers who follow Shane Nigam's work
- Anyone who likes small-town crime stories
Cast
Shane NigamSub-Inspector Vijay RadhakrishnanBorn 1995 · Ernakulam, Kerala
Kottayam Ramesh
Krishna Prabha
Nandan Unni
Mathew VargheseBorn 1971 · Chennai, Tamil NaduPhoto: TMDB
FAQ
Who directed Dridam and who stars in it?
Martin Joseph directed it in his feature debut, and Shane Nigam plays Sub-Inspector Vijay Radhakrishnan, per The Week.
Where can I watch Dridam online?
The Week reported that it began streaming on JioHotstar on 12 June 2026, after a theatrical release on 8 May 2026.
When was Dridam released?
Dridam was released on 8 May 2026.
Who directed Dridam?
Dridam was directed by Martin Joseph.
How long is Dridam?
Dridam runs for 127 minutes.
