Lens (2016) : A review

Lens (2016) is a bilingual (Tamil and Malayalam) drama-thriller written and directed by Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan. The movie begins with the introduction of one of its two leads, Aravind (played by Jayaprakash himself), indulging in a sex video chat with a woman named Julie. It is clear that Aravind is a philanderer, and that he engages in virtual sexual relationships regularly while keeping his wife in the dark. The plot takes a dark turn when he is catfished into another online conversation with "Nikki," who, upon connecting on Skype, turns out to be Yohan (played by Anandsami), a man who demands that Aravind witness his suicide over video call. The rest of the film delves deeply into the characters and their shared history.

This movie serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of the internet, the dangers of online sexual relationships, and the importance of privacy. It is raw, gritty, and remarkably ahead of its time—a must-watch for the internet-savvy generation. The filmmaker wastes no time getting to the point, refusing to downplay the movie’s hard-hitting message or spoon-feed the audience. Unlike many socially driven films, Lens offers no easy solutions or convenient resolutions. Instead, it leaves the audience with an open-ended conclusion, prompting them to reflect and draw their own conclusions—a bold approach I truly appreciated.

That said, the movie is not without flaws. There are minor loopholes in the plot that could have been avoided, and the performances of some secondary characters felt overly melodramatic at times. A subtler approach in these scenes might have elevated the film even further.

Despite these shortcomings, Lens is a brilliant and effective film that delivers its message without resorting to preachiness or contrived resolutions. It’s a refreshing change from typical social-message films where the hero miraculously fixes everything. If you're looking for a gripping, thought-provoking thriller, Lens (2016) is well worth your time. You can stream it now on Amazon Prime—don’t miss it!