Drishyam 3
Drishyam 3 is a crime thriller directed by Jeethu Joseph and starring Mohanlal, Meena, Asha Sarath, and others. Set to be released on May 21, 2026, this Malayalam film, which has a total run time of 159 minutes, will be released by its producer Antony Perumbavoor, under Aashirvad Cinemas, with co-producers Pen Studios and Panorama Studios.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Drishyam 3 |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Thriller, Crime |
| Director | Jeethu Joseph |
| Writer | Jeethu Joseph |
| Producer | Antony Perumbavoor |
| Lead Cast | Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sarath |
| Music Composer | Anil Johnson |
| Cinematographer | Satheesh Kurup |
| Production House | Aashirvad Cinemas, Pen Studios, Panorama Studios |
| Release Date | May 21, 2026 |
| Runtime | 159 minutes |
Overview
Drishyam 3
Genre
Thriller, Crime
Language
Malayalam
Release Date
21 May 2026
Plot Summary
Georgekutty, the methodical cable TV operator from Goa, returns to the center of the plot. The film has always been about the tension between Georgekutty and the world that refuses to allow the past to be forgotten.
“The Past Never Stays Silent” is a fitting tag line. Georgekutty and his family, including his wife Rani and daughters Anju and Anumol, continue to be on the edge as new and unforeseen complications arise from the consequences of earlier events.
Cast & Crew
Mohanlal, the actor who has played Georgekutty in this franchise, returns as Georgekutty. Meena, his wife Rani, and Asha Sarath return as Geetha Prabhakar. Anju and Anumol, the daughters of Georgekutty, are played by Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil, respectively. The film also has Siddique and Murali Gopy in the cast.
Writing the original 2013 film and Drishyam 2 (2021) earned Jeethu Joseph the credit of both director and screenwriter once again. His precise and disciplined approach to the structure of crime narratives has been a core component of the identity of the entire film series. Anil Johnson composes the original score of the film and Satheesh Kurup is the cinematographer. V S Vinayak is the editor.
Antony Perumbavoor produces the film under the Aashirvad Cinemas label. Pen Studios and Panorama Studios are the production houses. Jayantilal Gada is the presenter.
Where to Watch
Drishyam 3 (2026), slated for theatrical release in Malayalam on May 21, 2026, is in post-production. Aashirvad Cinemas, Pen Studios, and Panorama Studios are involved in the production and distribution.
The teaser shows glimpses of the cast along with the overall tone of the film. The teaser has been added to YouTube for viewing. The film has a 159 minute expected runtime, which is similar to the previous films in the franchise.
Reasons to Watch
Jeethu Joseph’s Talent and Experience
Jeethu Joseph’s Drishyam movie illustrates Joseph’s ability to weave a thick and engaging crime narrative. The first installment caused a strong reaction from audiences in 2013, establishing the potential of psychologically driven crime cinema. The sequel. Drishyam 2, came out in 2021 and raised the stakes while still maintaining the family drama and was praised for continuing a story which many believed had come to an end.
With Joseph back to both writing and directing for the third film of the franchise, the creative continuity which has proven to be the strength of the series is maintained. In their cast and synopsis breakdown for the film, eTimes’ coverage of Malayalam cinema details this strength of the series well.
Genre Context
The Drishyam series has carved its own niche in Indian crime cinema. The films use dramatic irony to build tension alongside the slow build of the moral case.
Since the first film came out in 2013, the crime and thriller genre in Malayalam cinema has rapidly evolved. The third film’s character-focused design will be understood as a case of intentionality, as opposed to an absence of options.
Cast Pairing
The film’s emotional depth is built on the extraordinary ability of the couple Mohanlal and Meena to portray the ordinary. They are able to capture the subtleties of fear and marital tensions in their performances and are able to do so effectively.
Videos
Trailer 1
My Take
For me, the most curious and difficult aspect structurally of Drishyam 3, compared to the other two, is if it will be able to successfully incorporate the history of the two preceding films into the story without losing the audience. In the first movie, the audience was able to get behind and support a good, and different, ‘hero’ character. He was a good, quiet, and patient man that liked to think ahead and outsmart the system instead of using brute force.
The second part of the film was able to sustain the audience’s support for the character without creating an unnecessary conflict. This third film poses a different conflict to the creator’s: how many times can you sensibly show and integrate history before the audience begins to lose faith in the film?
The fact that Jeethu Joseph is able to write and direct another sequel for the franchise puts the audience at a better level of comfort. With Drishyam, the third sequel is more secure and in greater comfort than most. This is especially true considering the majority of continuations of a franchise show some level of deterioration and a different creative team is brought in.
This is also true for Drishyam 3. The film will also show some level of deterioration with the same team, considering the third part of the film is continuing with the theme — “The past never stays silent.” This is the theme of all three films so far.
With a runtime of 159 minutes, and the theme of the past is evident in a large number of the films, the audience is able to recognize that the film is going to be the same and is able to prepare for the theme. Since the theme of the film is already evident, the only thing the audience can consider is the creator’s discretion. The audience is especially looking forward to how the ideology and character of Georgekutty will be developed and presented.
FAQs
When is Drishyam 3 releasing?
The current estimate for the completion of post-production for Drishyam 3 is May 21, 2026 , when it is expected to release in theaters.
Who is directing Drishyam 3?
Jeethu Joseph returns to Drishyam for the third time as both the director and screenwriter. He is also the director of both the first and second incarnation of the Drishyam series (2013) (2021).
Who are the lead actors in Drishyam 3?
Mohanlal, as the lead Georgekutty, Meena as Rani, Asha Sarath as IG Geetha Prabhakar, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil.
What language is Drishyam 3 in?
Drishyam 3 was filmed in Malayalam, which is one of the languages of India.
What genre is Drishyam 3?
The music for Drishyam 3 was composed by Anil Johnson.
Who is the producer of Drishyam 3?
The movie has been produced by Antony Perumbavoor along with his team from Aashirvad Cinemas.
If You Liked These Films, You Might Enjoy This
For viewers who enjoy such domestic crime thrillers, there are some other films in Malayalam that can be appreciated. Drishyam and Drishyam 2 are both a must for viewing, as they will be able to provide context for the coming crime thriller. Both of the films are directed by Jeethu Joseph and have been cast with the same actors.