For a mystery drama that also taps into the deeper recesses of the psyche, Dinjith Ayyathan’s theatrical release Kishkindha Kaandam ticks all the boxes. Kishkindha Kaandam begins with a routine administrative exercise opening a can of worms involving a missing gun, a missing person and a web of shifting relationships.

Following a government mandate to firearms holders to deposit their weapons at local police stations before the elections, we are introduced to Ajayan (Asif Ali), a forest officer who returns home after a court marriage with Aparna (Aparna Balamurali) to find his father Appu Pillai (Vijayaraghavan) in a cantankerous mood. The grumpy septuagenarian is upset with police officers disturbing his daily routine to inquire about the pistol which he had not yet surrendered. Turns out Appu’s pistol has gone missing.

The missing pistol is not the only cause of concern for the family. Ajayan had a son from his first marriage who went missing three years ago. Days after the news of the missing pistol spreads, gunshots are heard in the forest adjoining Appu Pillai’s mansion. On top of that, the skeleton of a monkey with a bullet injury is found by local workers in the forest. Is Appu lying about his gun? Is the disappearance of Ajayan’s son related to the death of the monkey? The answers are revealed as the layers are peeled off one at a time in this slow burn mystery.

At its core, Kishkindha Kaandam is a deep dive into the secrets we choose to bury and the shadows they cast. It has the thematic depth of the recently-released drama Ullozhukku but stands apart for its blend of moving drama and head-scratching mystery.

Screenwriter Bahul Ramesh, who also serves as the cinematographer, makes the experience as intellectually stimulating as it is visually striking. What initially look like red herrings help one have a better understanding of the characters at the end. Each sequence reveals a new facet of a character rather than mislead viewers.

The setting — a secluded mansion on the edge of a dense forest — becomes a character in itself. The mansion’s serenity, occasionally disturbed by the presence of monkeys and a gentle breeze, mirrors the turmoil the characters hide behind a calm exterior. Mujeeb Majeed’s background score enhances the film’s mood, hitting the right notes of suspense and melancholy.

The performances in Kishkindha Kaandam are integral to its success, especially Vijayaraghavan who brings a mix of pride and vulnerability to his performance as Appu Pillai. Appu is caught between the glory of his past and the frailties of old age, burdened by secrets that he is unable to share, and Vijayaraghavan captures a man wrestling with his inner demons. As Ajayan, Asif Ali has a complex character arc which he pulls off with subtlety and depth. Aparna Balamurali is convincing as Aparna, a woman whose integration in her new husband’s family dynamics is anything but easy.