The third instalment of the much-anticipated Drishyam franchise began production on Monday with a traditional pooja ceremony at Sree Narayana Law College in Kochi. Mohanlal reprises his role as Georgekutty, with Jeethu Joseph once again directing and writing. The launch of Drishyam 3 comes two days after Mohanlal was named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour in cinema. He is only the second Malayali to be recognised with the award, following filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
Producer Antony Perumbavoor of Aashirvad Cinemas said the beginning of the project at this juncture carries added significance, as it coincides with a moment of national recognition for the veteran actor. Since its release in 2013, Drishyam has been regarded as one of the most defining films of Mohanlal’s career and a landmark in Malayalam cinema. Centred on a cable TV operator who takes extraordinary measures to shield his family after a crime, the film’s tightly constructed narrative and emotional resonance made it a major success across audiences.
The franchise's impact extended beyond Kerala, leading to remakes in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Drishyam 2, released in 2021, returned to Georgekutty’s family years later, showing the continuing effects of the original crime. The sequel, too, was remade in other languages, consolidating the series as one of India’s most widely adapted film series.
Speaking about the third instalment, Jeethu made it clear that the film is not designed to be larger in scale than its predecessors. “This simply looks at where Georgekutty’s family is now, about four or five years later. I am not trying to make something bigger than Drishyam 1 or 2. If you are curious to see how their lives have unfolded, that is reason enough to watch,” he said.
Reflecting on the timing of the production start, he said it was especially meaningful as it coincided with Mohanlal being named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. “It’s doubly sweet. When I called him, I said, ‘We’re all proud of you.’ Because he has contributed not only to cinema but also to society and culture. He is truly a deserving person to receive that award.”
On the question of the release date of Drishyam 3, Jeethu said, “We don’t know when the shoot will finish. Once it does and the rest of the work is completed, it is the producer who will decide everything.” Jeethu also reiterated his interpretation of the franchise. “I have never really considered Drishyam a thriller. I consider it a family drama. It was the story of two families, and now it is mainly about Georgekutty’s family, their emotional struggles, the after-effects and the drama in their lives. That is what this film is about, only with a crime at its centre.”
Meanwhile, Mohanlal will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on September 23 in New Delhi at the 71st National Film Awards.