Drishyam 3

After a wait of nearly four years, the final chapter of the Drishyam franchise is finally set to arrive in theatres. Drishyam 3 is expected to release worldwide on April 2, 2026, bringing the story of one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated thrillers to its conclusion.

Expectations are naturally very high for the film. The first Drishyam, released in 2013, turned into a historic blockbuster and went on to break several box-office records in Kerala. Its gripping screenplay and clever storytelling made it one of the most talked-about thrillers in Indian cinema. The sequel, Drishyam 2, which released directly on OTT in 2021 during the pandemic, was also widely appreciated and became a huge success on streaming platforms.

The impact of the story extended far beyond Malayalam cinema. Drishyam became one of the rare films to be remade in almost every major Indian language, along with adaptations in other countries as well. Very few Malayalam films have achieved that level of reach and recognition.

At the centre of the story is Georgekutty, played by Mohanlal, a character that has become deeply rooted in the minds of audiences. In the first film, the story focused on Georgekutty’s ambitions, his love for his family, and how he managed to protect them after a life-changing incident. The film showed how an ordinary man could use intelligence and careful planning to stay ahead of the law.

The second part explored the emotional aftermath of those events. Even though Georgekutty appeared calm on the surface, the story revealed the constant fear and guilt he carried while the investigation continued. Despite the pressure, he still managed to remain one step ahead of the police.

With Drishyam 3, the story finally moves towards its conclusion. The film is expected to reveal what ultimately happens to Georgekutty and his family, and whether the past that has followed them for years will finally catch up with them.

The film is once again written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, the creator of the series. While the director delivered a strong success with Neru, some of his recent projects like Valathu Vashathe Kallan and Mirage did not perform well commercially. Because of that, Drishyam 3 is considered an important film for him as both a writer and director.

Jeethu Joseph’s collaboration with Mohanlal and Aashirwad Cinemas began with the first Drishyam and has continued for several successful films since then. For Aashirwad Cinemas, the expectations are also high. Their recent film Hridayapoorvam performed very well in theatres, and Drishyam 3 now arrives with even greater anticipation.

Interestingly, reports suggest that the film’s rights have already been sold for around ₹350 crore, covering worldwide theatrical, digital, and satellite rights, reportedly to Panorama Studios. This means the producers have already secured strong business even before the theatrical release.

However, the box-office performance will still be closely watched. The film is arriving during the same festive window as other big Malayalam releases like Aadu 3 and Patriot. With several major films competing for screens during the Vishu–summer season, it will be interesting to see how the collections are shared between them.

In recent years, the box-office trend has also changed significantly, with many films earning a large share of their total collections within the first two weeks of release. Because of this, the opening run of Drishyam 3 could play a crucial role in determining how the film performs during the crowded holiday season.