Plot:

Jay (Sree Vishnu) works at a daily newspaper and harbors ambitions of becoming a crime reporter. While he is forced to get obit ads by exploiting the emotions of the kith and kin of dead ones, he learns about two deaths that bear similarities. Jay then launches an investigation into the suspicious death of the first case (a bank employee). As he digs deeper, Jay uncovers striking parallels between the employee`s demise and the death of a religious-minded man. His pursuit leads him to the trail of a mysterious contract killer (played by Veer Aaryan) operating in the shadows. A cat-and-mouse chase ensues.

Performances:

1. Sree Vishnu: As a talented actor who doesn`t play typical masala hero roles, Sree Vishnu suits the role perfectly. His investigation makes him look mentally worn out. That makes his acting accessible. He excels in scenes where he is connecting the dots, using his eyes to convey realization.

2. Veer Aaryan: He represents the `mrithyu` in the title. His minimalist movements and a lack of overt emotion make him look dangerous. His contract killer persona feels genuinely sociopathic, although he could have been way better.

3. Reba Monica John: A no-nonsense cop, she is not part of any forced romantic track. That`s a relief. The Samajavaragamana actress, however, is under-utilized.

4. Others: Racha Ravi, Sudarshan, and Ayyappa P. Sharma play Jay`s comrades with little role in the overall scheme of things. They are okay. Chinna plays a constable. Baladitya plays a bit role, while Aishwariyaa is seen as Jay`s aunt whose only purpose is to motivate him in the pre-climax phase.

Technical Departments:

Kaala Bhairava`s background score doesn`t overdo the soundscape in the name of generating a chilling vibe. The score is never over-the-top. After Euphoria, here is another crime drama for which Bhairava comes up with a decent score. The cinematography is run-of-the-mill; the climax fight could have been more dramatic, considering its dialogic nature. The feel and mood are generic in nature.

Merits:

1. The investigative thriller is also a semi-whodunit. Jay must find out who is the culprit and whether he is operating within the city.

2. The villain comes with a personality of his own. He doesn`t rely on his physical stamina, weaponry, nor does he have a gang to back him up. He is on his own. This gives rise to some interesting scenes.

3. The last 10 minutes are solidly well-written. They would have come out even better had the villain looked rugged and native.

4. Sree Vishnu`s characterization is new for the most part. Since he is an aspiring crime reporter, many insights he gains on the go seem believable.

Demerits:

1. Many things fall into place for Jay. He hears an acquaintance tell a painter that practice makes a man perfect. He then draws an inference. And this inference sets off another sure-fire inference. All of this is too far-fetched.

2. In a crucial stretch, Jay resorts to newspaper advertizing as part of his Smart Alec game. The idea lacks any credibility.

3. To make Jay the sole saviour, the entire police department, including the IPS-grade female actor, are turned into passive recipients of his Sukumarean genius.

Verdict:

Mrithyunjay is a fairly cerebral investigative thriller that benefits immensely from Sree Vishnu’s performance and the "Sukumar School" of writing (to an extent).