Ronit J

Kerala Crime Files Season 2 Synopsis:

Subinspector Noble is newly assigned to a remote police station at Kaniyarvila in rural Thiruvananthapuram, where his first case is to investigate the mysterious disappearance of CPO Ambili Raju. Hidden truths unveil as the police discover Ambili Raju’s deep connections and secret associations.

Kerala Crime Files Season 2 Review:

This season is why I even bothered to watch Season 1, which I reviewed just yesterday. Kishkindha Kaandam (written by Bahul Ramesh) was one of the best watches of 2024. I watched Eko last Sunday, and the brilliance of its final scene just compelled me to begin watching Kerala Crime Files. After all, Kishkindha Kaandam, Kerala Crime Files Season 2, and Eko are all written by Bahul Ramesh, making up his Animal Trilogy.

While I had some complaints about Season 1, I’ll admit that overall it’s a decent crime drama. But, did Season 2 live up to the hype that I had built up in my mind? Yes. A resounding yes.

Like the two films directed by Dinjith Ayyathan, Kerela Crime Season 2 heavily features animals are key elements of the plot. The plot itself is pretty convoluted, becoming more complex with each passing episode whilst also unravelling the secrets of its players. In fact, the opening scene as well as a key plot point alongside many more smaller elements revolve around dogs. After The two films and this season, I have to admit, Bahul Ramesh is one of my favourite contemporary film writers, one whose work I will eagerly seek out as and when it releases.

A Significant Improvement From Season 1

All the key characters from Season 1 are still part of the Kerala Police Force, but everyone has been transferred to different spots. Season 2’s protagonist is SI Noble (Arjun Radhakrishnan), who has just been transferred to a remote station, alongside Inspector Kurian (Lal). A major backlash has resulted in 28 police officers being transferred, with two more planned for the next day. One of these two is the infamous CPO Ambili Raju, a respected member of society who happens to have gone missing.

Season 2 continues its motifs of balancing the cops’ personal and professional lives. However, Season 2 seems to do so with more intent and planning. Noble’s private life includes his wife and dog, which plays a role in him discovering a major clue. Ambili Raju’s private life uncovers a complex web of crime and goodwill, both of which paint him as a grey character. Where Season 1 was pretty black-and-white with its cops and criminals, Season 2 chooses to be grey, resulting in a much more compelling watch.

In many ways, the season reminded me of Dinjith Ayyathan’s films, which in itself is a massive compliment to this show. While I do believe this one is the weakest of the Animal Trilogy, it is definitely worthy of note. The plot and narrative alone are a masterclass in writing.

Solid Writing, Strong Finish

I genuinely do believe that having a stronger story and screenplay helped make season 2 a much more compelling season. The tight and focused story—despite the convoluted nature of its web of suspects and motives—resulted in a more captivating narrative. The narrative progression felt natural, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that warranted a binge. Mind you, these weren’t the cheap “I don’t know how to end a story so let me end on a cliffhanger” endings; these episodes ended in ways that raised stakes and doubts, whilst pushing the story forward.

Another improvement I noticed was the cinematography and treatment. The number of ‘hero shots’ was nearly negligible, which helped cement the serious tone of the show. With that seriousness, it became easier to immerse yourself in the crime and mystery. Like all of Bahul Ramesh’s films, this season also played out like a complex puzzle. The flashback scenes—despite seeming random—added a much needed layer of personality and motivation for the criminal, whose reveal made complete sense.

Even though the season didn’t fully explain everything, the unsaid was easy to decipher with the many clues that this puzzling show has put forth for us. Better story, better screenplay, better direction, better treatment, I’m surprised this show isn’t being talked about enough.

Kerala Crime Files Season 2 Ending Explained

Terry (the dog from the opening scene) was diagnosed with CCDS, which rendered him unable to serve. His mind is wandering, leaving him confused about what to eat and what not to. During the chaos of the museum scene, Terry swallows a ring that’s priced at over ₹15 lakhs. Ayappan learns of this, and kills Terry while he’s in the Dog Retirement shelter, stealing the ring. Ayappan and Ambili Raju then sell that ring off-screen to be able to pay off the corrupt Bangalore cops.

However, Terry’s second handler, Jaismon, learns of their misdeed. He is the child from the flashback scenes, who’s overtly fond of dogs. He had learned of Terry’s odd behaviour and even tried to correct it with training after an incident. However, the museum incident resulted in them all being suspended. Jaismon then tries to adopt Terry, but just before the paperwork can be finished, Ayappan kills Terry. He learns from the vet what happened, and proceeds to exact vengeance. How exactly he does it remains unclear, but given that he’s a trained police officer, it’s not so farfetched.

Noble and his team track Jaismon to his native home, where he has hung himself. However, Noble notices that he still has a pulse and they save him. Later, they parade him around the stadium where he explains (without audio) where and what he did. He probably killed Ayappan and Ambili Raju in the car, storing their corpses in his home’s fridge. Chopping off pieces, he’s been scattering them around. To ensure that he doesn’t get away with the crime, the cops plant fake evidence including blood and tools with the help of retired SCPO Pradeep.

As the cops are escorting Jaismon, the stray dogs that Jaismon has been feeding watch him with wagging tails.

Is Kerala Crime Files Season 2 Worth Watching?

Yes. While Season 2 also has some minor issues, it is a significant upgrade to Season 1. The writing is a huge improvement, delivering a solid story with compelling character arcs, and a complex web of crime and drama that resolves in a satisfying manner. If you’ve seen Kishkindha Kaandam or Eko, you know what you can expect from this season.

Will there be a Kerala Crime Files Season 3?

Yes. Season 3 is set to premiere in 2026. If you’re planning on catching up to Kerala Crime Files, now is the perfect time. The short episode lengths make it a perfect weekend binge, especially for fans of crime dramas.

In Conclusion:

Kerala Crime Files Season 2 is a fascinating puzzle that keeps getting more complex as more pieces fall into place. Bahul Ramesh’s second instalment in his Animal Trilogy lives up to high expectations.

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What did you think of Kerala Crime Files Season 1? Let me know in the comments below! Any other manga, anime, series, book, or movie you’d like me to review? Let me know your recommendations, and I’ll be sure to check them out.

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Until next time!