22 May,2026 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Still from Drishyam 3
Jeethu Joseph's directorial Drishyam 3 hit screens worldwide on Thursday, coinciding with the 66th birthday of its lead actor, Mohanlal. The film marks the return of Mohanlal as Georgekutty, one of Malayalam cinema's most iconic characters. Across three films, the franchise has narrated the story of a family involved in a murder and their desperate attempts to escape the law. The franchise's biggest USP has been its unpredictable climax twists that kept audiences hooked.
Drishyam 3 saw a wide release in India and overseas owing to its collaboration with Panorama Studios and Pen Studios. With both studios backing the distribution, the film received one of the widest releases ever for a Malayalam film.
On its opening day, Drishyam 3 emerged as the second-highest opener in Malayalam cinema. The record for the biggest opening in the industry is still held by Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan.
Despite receiving mixed reviews after the first shows on Thursday, the film recorded a strong opening. According to box office tracking site Sacnilk, Drishyam 3 earned Rs 15.85 crore nett and Rs 18.37 crore gross in India on its opening day. It also grossed Rs 25 crore overseas, taking its worldwide day-one total to Rs 43.37 crore.
Meanwhile, Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, remains far ahead, having opened to Rs 67 crore worldwide on its first day.
As the film released, Mohanlal took to X to pen a heartfelt note for fans.
Taking to X, the actor wrote, "Drishyam 3 was made with immense love, passion, and gratitude, and seeing that love come back through your response has been deeply moving. Your reviews, your words, and the emotions you have shared mean far more to me than any number ever can. Thank you for watching, for connecting, for feeling every moment, and for embracing Georgekutty and family as your own."
Drishyam Part 1 was released in 2013 and emerged as a massive box office success. Mohanlal also won multiple awards for his performance in the film.
Following the success of the first part, Drishyam 2 was released in 2021 on Amazon Prime Video and received a positive response from audiences. Now, the third and final instalment, Drishyam 3, has arrived amid massive expectations and buzz.
Drishyam 3 marks the return of Mohanlal as Georgekutty alongside Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sarath, Siddique, Murali Gopy, and K. B. Ganesh Kumar in pivotal roles. The film has been written and directed by Jeethu Joseph and is backed by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas.
The crime thriller features music composed by Anil Johnson, cinematography by Satheesh Kurup, and editing by V. S. Vinayak.
