The "CBI" juggernaut continues its royal roll. The famous sleuth of Malluwood - Sethurama Iyer - has been back since this Onam to lure audiences to theatres.

The return of Sethurama Iyer attains symbolic significance, almost as if he has come to spread the chills and thrills for which he is so famous during the festivities.

Sethurama Iyer, played by Mammootty, can be termed Kerala's answer to Sherlock Holmes. This time around, he comes face to face with spirits and supernatural beings.

A cursed 'tharavad', fearsome spirits and mysterious deaths confront the suave sleuth in his latest outing.

"Nerariyan CBI", directed by K. Madhu, is the most touted movie to make it to the marquee this season. The film, it is claimed, is poised to enter record books, with the writer-director-actor team coming together to make the fourth sequel of a story.

But does this film have the steam to sustain itself at the box office? That should be final question of the Kaun Banega Crorepati II.

The success of investigative stories mainly depends on the logic and rational way in which the loose ends of the story are neatly tied and comprehensively presented at the end of the proceedings. It seems that the makers of this movie selected the story without giving a thought to the fact that it takes a Herculean effort to pull off such a thing.

This time around, Sethurama Iyer investigates the death of a young girl, Mythili (Samvrutha), at her friend's 'tharavad', where she had come for a short holiday, around four years back.

The plot is filled with suspects all round. The occupants of the 'tharavad' are members of a joint family, each with his or her own ulterior motive, to confuse the viewer.

The film depends heavily on the charms of Sethurama Iyer to cover up for the lack of a convincing storyline. In fact, it is Mammootty who makes the film watchable.

Sethurama Iyer, the character with all Brahminical virtues, has become synonymous with Mammootty and he doesn't disappoint his fans.

Some of the most interesting moments of this film are where he virtually fills the frame. His confrontation with Thilakan, who plays the faith healer Capra with expertise in spirits and disturbed souls, is the best of the lot.

Credit should be given to veteran actor Thilakan, who makes an impact despite his minuscule role. How one wishes that his character were more rounded.

The supporting ensemble, which includes Sethurama Iyer's trusted lieutenants Chacko (Mukesh) and Vikram (Jagathy Sreekumar), does its mandatory jig. Even Jishnu's and Gopika's presence are virtually irrelevant to the proceedings.