By Susmita Sameera
Shesha 2016 begins at the Pushpagiri Police Station located on the Karnataka–Kerala border. With the Mysore Dasara celebrations scheduled for the next day, most of the officers from the station are assigned to security duty in Mysore, leaving only a small group behind to manage the station.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Anthony Varghese (Pramod Shetty) is seen handling the investigation of a rape case. During the process, he arrests a young man from a nearby cricket ground and brings him to the station. The interrogation that follows is extremely brutal, as Anthony and his colleagues relentlessly beat the suspect until he is made to confesses. After completing his duty, Anthony heads home while Lady ASI Geetha (Archana Kottige) stays back to finish the paperwork. However, Anthony never reaches home — he is kidnapped on the way.
Soon after, the police station receives mysterious calls from an unknown person who communicates through coded references to stories of the “King and Commander.” The caller begins leaving cryptic clues that slowly hint at the motive behind the kidnappings. The situation quickly escalates when Anthony’s severed head is discovered near a forest area. While the officers are still trying to understand what is happening, another shocking discovery follows — Geetha’s head is found abandoned in the middle of a road.
As the night progresses, the caller continues targeting officers from the same station one by one. The pressure begins to take a toll on Sub-Inspector Das R (John Kaippallil), who grows increasingly furious and unhinged, gradually losing control in his anger. With the Mysore Dasara celebrations only hours away, DYSP (Devraj) steps in to take charge and attempts to bring order to a rapidly worsening crisis.
The film unfolds slowly at first but gradually builds tension through a series of disturbing incidents and mysterious clues. Instead of presenting a conventional police-versus-criminal story, Shesha takes a different direction by examining the darker side of the system. The narrative highlights how corrupt practices such as fabricated evidence, forced confessions, wrongful arrests, and staged encounters can exist within law enforcement.
Set over the course of a single night, the film also attempts to deliver a broader message about accountability. It suggests that while many government services — such as education, healthcare, and transportation — have private alternatives, policing remains one system where citizens often have no option but to place their trust in those who hold authority.
The film benefits from a capable ensemble cast. Actors such as John Kaippallil, Pramod Shetty, Archana Kottige, Devraj, Sidhartha Siva, Sreejith Ravi, K. S. Sridhar, Shobraj, and Yash Shetty perform their roles convincingly and help sustain the film’s serious tone.
From a technical standpoint, the film does a reasonably adequate job. The cinematography and background score serve the narrative well enough and help maintain the thriller atmosphere, though they rarely stand out as exceptional. The pacing can feel uneven in places, and certain moments appear slightly exaggerated, which affects the overall flow.
Despite these shortcomings, Shesha remains an interesting watch largely because of its premise. The film’s attempt to portray victims confronting a corrupt system adds a distinct perspective to the crime thriller genre. While the execution may not always match the strength of its ideas, it still offers enough intrigue to keep fans of darker crime dramas engaged.