Drishyam 3 - lingering regrets

Drishyam 3

Malayalam, 2026

Genre: Film Noir

Director: Jeethu Joseph 

Stars: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Murali Gopy, Kalabhavan Shajohn

Mohan's Measure: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is nearly impossible for a third installment to supercede the quality of the original. Impossible; for all but Lalettan.

Georgekutty and his family seem like they are finally starting to heal from the torture they have had to endure for over a decade. In fact, even wedding bells are in the air. But, we are the product of the chains we forge in life. And, as such, no one, not even the blushing bride to be, is free from the dangers this family's secret brings.

Indeed, Anju is quietly but effectively brought to the fore as a victim, and as young woman who is never going let anyone supercede her first hero. Drishyam 3 is not merely a film, it is the stuff of Greek Tragedy, with philosophy, faith, idealism, and stark reality coming face to face with believeable human emotions and undoubtedly, the long term effects of painful trauma. The audience is pulled into this mix, and what results is pure movie magic, preventing us from hardly turning our head for the 3 hour duration. 

Director Joseph deserves accolades for keeping the tense and dark nature of the Drishyam universe alive while bringing in the subject of traditional family expectations of young women, parents, and marriage. The lighthearted scenes initially feel like distraction, but in actuality allows for soulful depth in both Georgekutty and his daughter Anju. In one telling moment, we see him facing the men who are ought to ruin his family. A moment without words; we could swear we heard the Lucifer BGM.

Humans turn to devilish ways on both sides. And we are left with bated breath, hoping for another installment.