Mirage, directed by Jeethu Joseph, brings together Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali in a slow-burning Malayalam crime thriller that explores betrayal, suspense, and moral conflict.
Published: October 14, 2025 7:41 PM IST
Jeethu Joseph, the director known for Mohanlal’s Drishyam and Neru, returns with another suspense-laden thriller titled Mirage. The film threads the urgency of a missing person case with layers of secrecy, betrayal, and conspiracy.
When and where to watch?
After its theatrical run beginning September 19, 2025, Mirage transitions to the streaming world. Starting October 20, 2025, the film will be available on SonyLIV in multiple languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali. It features Asif Ali as investigative journalist Ashwin and Aparna Balamurali as Abhirami, whose fiancé’s sudden disappearance sends her down a rabbit hole of dark revelations. Supporting cast includes Hakim Shahjahan, Hannah Reji Koshy, and Saravanan.
What is the storyline?
The story centers around Abhirami (Aparna Balamurali), whose life is upended when her fiancé Kiran goes missing under mysterious circumstances. Initially presumed dead in a train accident, clues suggest otherwise. Teaming up with Ashwin (Asif Ali), she confronts truth, deception, and danger lurking in corners she never imagined. The more Abhirami digs, the more she realizes that Kiran’s life may have carried secrets tied to a financial consultancy with a dark underbelly. As they peel back layers, past alliances and betrayals come into play, and trust becomes the most elusive commodity.
More about Mirage
On its initial release, it garnered mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. Aparna Balamurali and Asif Ali’s performances were praised, with some noting their “honest and natural chemistry”. However, the film’s weak screenplay and over-reliance on twists were criticized, with some calling it “predictable” and “underwhelming”. At the box office, Mirage earned a modest Rs 4.08 crore, made on budget of Rs 14 crore. The movie’s OTT release on Sony LIV may help it reach a broader audience, which has IMDB rating of 7.1.
Story Highlights
- Mirage, directed by Jeethu Joseph, is a crime thriller that blends mystery, betrayal, and investigative drama.
- Stars Asif Ali as a journalist and Aparna Balamurali as a woman searching for her missing fiancé.
- The film explores dark secrets linked to a suspicious financial consultancy and a faked train accident.
- After mixed box office performance (Rs 4.08 crore), Mirage is now streaming on SonyLIV in seven languages.
Jeethu Joseph’s Mirage is a layered suspense thriller that follows a woman’s desperate search for her missing fiancé, only to uncover a web of deception and hidden pasts. With honest performances by Aparna Balamurali and Asif Ali, the film offers moments of tension but falters in screenplay strength.
