Drishyam 3
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jeethu Joseph
Written by	Jeethu Joseph
Produced by	Antony Perumbavoor
Starring	Mohanlal
Cinematography	Satheesh Kurup
Edited by	V. S. Vinayak
Music by	Anil Johnson
Production companies	Aashirvad Cinemas Panorama Studios (presented by) Pen Studios (presented by)
Distributed by	Panorama Studios International Aashirvad Cinemas Phars Film
Release date	21 May 2026 (2026-05-21)
Running time	160 minutes[1]
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Box office	₹117 core[2][3]

Drishyam 3 is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas, it is a sequel to Drishyam 2 (2021) and the third installment in the Drishyam film series. The film stars Mohanlal, alongside Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Siddique, Murali Gopy, Biju Menon, Kalabhavan Shajohn, and Asha Sarath.

Principal photography began on 22 September 2025 and concluded on 2 December 2025. Drishyam 3 was released worldwide on 21 May 2026. Unlike its predecessors, the film received mixed reviews from critics.

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Some years after the events of Drishyam 2, Georgekutty has adapted the novel he wrote about his own life into a film, which achieves massive success but draws renewed suspicion from those around him. He is also attempting to arrange a marriage for Anju, but repeated efforts by a broker fail to produce a match due to the controversies surrounding the family.

Varun's parents, Geetha Prabhakar and Prabhakar, continue to grieve their son's death. Geetha believes her husband has failed to deliver justice. Suspended police officer Sahadevan, who had previously harassed the George family, has become an alcoholic with a strong desire for vengeance. The three join forces with Bastin and begin planning a coordinated effort against Georgekutty and his family. Their plan involves framing Anju for a crime she did not commit.

While Georgekutty is occupied with fresh legal complications tied to Varun's case, the conspiracy unfolds separately. Once he uncovers it, he tampers with the staged crime scene and injures his own daughter so that she appears to be the victim rather than the accused.

After neutralising the threat to his family, Georgekutty surrenders to the police for his past crimes. Before his arrest, he meets Prabhakar and warns him to end the feud, or Prabhakar will face the same fate as his son.

After Georgekutty's arrest, Prabhakar asks Geetha whether she is finally satisfied. Her response indicates she is not, and that she still wants Anju to face consequences for Varun's death.

Jeethu Joseph stated that the idea for a third part came to him after completing Drishyam 2, beginning with the climax that first took shape in his mind. During the film's release, when Mohanlal asked whether there was a possibility of another sequel, he shared with him the envisioned climax of the potential continuation, which Mohanlal liked and encouraged Jeethu to develop further.^[4] In February 2021, shortly after the release of Drishyam 2, producer Antony Perumbavoor told Manorama News that Jeethu was contemplating about Drishyam 3 and had discussed it with Mohanlal, expressing hope that it would happen.^[5] A few days later, Jeethu told The Quint, "if I get a thread good enough to explore, I will start developing it. It will be a crime if I don't".^[6] At the Mazhavil Entertainment Awards in August 2022, Antony confirmed that Drishyam 3 would "definitely happen" and they were working on ideas.^[7] In November that year, Jeethu stated that he had "something in mind. However, I'm still looking for the spark to move it forward".^[8]

In a March 2024 interview with Deccan Chronicle, Jeethu said he was exploring the possibility of a sequel and would proceed only if he found a good idea, stressing that he would never make a sequel purely for financial gain.^[9] In August 2024, during an interview with Red FM, he revealed that he was stuck on a particular area of the story, though he already knew how the film would end.^[10] On 20 February 2025, Drishyam 3 was officially announced by Mohanlal through his social media handles.^[11]

Jeethu also revealed that Drishyam 3 would not serve as a conclusion to Georgekutty's story.^[12] However, in February 2026, he stated that he is trying to end the series.^[13] In April 2026, Pen Studios published a statement announcing that they have invested ₹100 crore in Aashirvad Cinemas through Panorama Studios for Drishyam 3, without revealing further.^[14][15] Pen and Panorama received "presented by" credits in the film.^[16]

Principal photography began on 22 September 2025 at Sree Narayana Law College, Poothotta, Ernakulam, with a traditional pooja ceremony.^[17][18] Filming took place across Thodupuzha, Vagamon, Ernakulam and Thiruvalla.^[19] Filming was completed on 2 December 2025.^[20]

Drishyam 3 was released worldwide on 21 May 2026, coinciding with Mohanlal's birthday.^[21] Earlier, the film was planned for release on 2 April 2026, but was postponed due to the 2026 Iran war.^[22][23]

Panorama Studios and Pen Studios jointly bought the theatrical distribution rights of the film.^[24] Phars Film made a distribution partnership with Panorama Studios.^[25]

In April 2026, Amazon Prime Video claimed to be the sole holder of the film's digital rights, stating that the rights had been acquired through a valid agreement with the makers.^[26] The statement followed reports that the makers were negotiating OTT deals with third parties. Subsequently, Amazon Prime Video filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, which granted interim relief restraining the makers from entering into agreements with third parties for the creation or exploitation of OTT rights related to the Drishyam film series.^[27][28]

Rating 4 out of 5 stars, Suchin Mehrotra of The Quint described it as "a solid third chapter" and "a worthy sequel and continuation of Georgekutty’s journey, and I can’t think of a greater compliment".^[29] Sia Viju of Mathrubhumi, who also gave 4 out of 5 stars, noted that "Jeethu Joseph adopts a slightly different narrative rhythm here, choosing to explore emotional repercussions rather than purely relying on twists or procedural drama".^[30] Vishal Menon of The Hollywood Reporter India called the film a "mostly satisfying conclusion", noting that "the storytelling elevates Drishyam 3 beyond thriller territory into a complex morality tale".^[31]

Calling it "a hattrick", Athulya Nambiar of Mid-Day remarked that "it may seem that the twists and turns in the third film are not as elaborate or impactful as those in the earlier instalments. But that is precisely the point. Unlike the previous films, Georgekutty is never entirely in control of the narrative in Drishyam 3. He is constantly reacting to situations rather than orchestrating them".^[32] Bhawana Tanmayi of Moneycontrol rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that "the film has enough suspense and drama to satisfy fans of the franchise thanks to Mohanlal’s commanding performance and Jeethu Joseph’s storytelling".^[33]

Vignesh Madhu of The New Indian Express gave 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as "short on thrills, not soul". The film has "Mohanlal shining the best as the vulnerable Georgekutty, while Jeethu Joseph’s writing takes a hit despite some brave calls".^[34] Divya P. of Deccan Herald rated 3 out of 5 stars, stating that the "credit goes to Jeethu for creating Georgekutty, for whom the audience still roots for. Mohanlal ably anchors the film with his compelling performance", although she felt "Drishyam 3 does not quite meet the standards set by its predecessors".^[35] Anjana George of The Times of India awarded 3 out of 5 stars and wrote: "Jeethu Joseph attempts to explore guilt, paranoia, and psychological exhaustion more than suspense this time. The focus is not entirely on investigation or survival, but on how violence silently continues to exist inside relationships, memory, and everyday life".^[36]

Latha Srinivasan of NDTV gave 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing that "Drishyam 3 is not as thrilling and grilling as the previous two films but it is a must watch for Mohanlal and what Georgekutty represents".^[37] Janani K. of India Today gave 2.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a sequel that prioritises drama over intelligence. While the film has some meaty ideas that could make for a brilliant thriller, it settles for less because of its writing", but praised the actors' performances.^[38]

Gayathri Kallukaran of the Eastern Eye wrote that "Drishyam 3 may not deliver the Georgekutty many expected, but it offers a version of the character shaped by years of fear, guilt and survival. That change is likely to define much of the conversation around the film".^[39] Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing that the "script feels all over the place, evidently torn between the writer-director's attempts to make it both an emotional drama and a crime thriller". However, "only Mohanlal delivers a performance worth mentioning. He highlights the many layers of Georgekutty's psyche with finesse, especially in the climax".^[40]

S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote that "Mohanlal’s interpretation of Georgekutty’s character saves the film from getting completely bogged down by director Jeethu Joseph’s outdated visual style and heavy-handed drama".^[41] Neeshita Nyayapati of the Hindustan Times gave 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "the weakest in Jeethu Joseph's hit franchise. It struggles even with its much-hyped twists".^[42]

The Hindi remake of the same name, directed by Abhishek Pathak, is scheduled to be released on 2 October 2026.^[43]

• Drishyam 3 at IMDb
• Drishyam 3 on Instagram