Last updated: 19 Jun 2026


The past never stays silent
Telugu · Thriller
2h 37m · 21 May 2026
Music: Anil Johnson | DOP: Satheesh Kurup | Writer: N/A
Ratings
Our Rating
2.25
Georgekutty (Mohanlal) has transitioned into a successful film producer, while trying to secure a stable marriage alliance for his elder daughter, Anu (Ansiba Hassan). However, the dark events of their past continue to haunt them. Prabhakar (Siddique), still consumed by a desire for vengeance over his son Varun's death, attempts to systematically disrupt Anu's marital prospects. As the investigation unexpectedly reopens, Georgekutty is forced to draw up new tactical strategies to shield his family from legal doom all over again.
Drishyam 3 shifts its lens from being a pure suspense thriller toward deep-seated family drama. The writing heavily emphasizes the domestic environment, emotional exhaustion, and parental vulnerabilities over high-octane mind-boggling twists. This structural choice results in a sluggish first half that crawls at a very relaxed pace, focusing extensively on household interactions, marriage proposals, and basic plot setups without introducing real suspense early on.
While the second half catches some momentum, it lacks the brilliant, sharp-witted pacing that made the first two films iconic. The writing patterns feel tightly constrained by the franchise's preexisting ambiance, making certain conflict points feel stretched or deliberately prolonged rather than naturally shocking. The film does find stable ground in its final acts, bringing a decent payoff to Georgekutty’s relentless shielding tactics, but it struggles to consistently sustain a modern, edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience.
Anil Johnson’s music and background score attempt to elevate the underlying dread, providing atmospheric support during moments of legal interrogation. Satheesh Kurup's cinematography keeps a functional and grounded visual perspective, though a tighter edit by V.S. Vinayak in the initial stages could have vastly minimized the slower patches. Additionally, the unnatural, bookish translation in the Telugu dubbing tracks often dilutes the raw impact of character dialogues.
Mohanlal: Carries the film effortlessly with his signature understated acting style. Instead of a hyper-calculated mastermind, he portrays a concerned father eager to settle his daughter's life, keeping his screen presence strong throughout.
Meena: Delivers a stable and decent performance as the protective mother, though her overall scope remains restricted in this installment.
Ansiba Hassan: Gets a significantly better and more substantial arc in the second half, portraying emotional vulnerability very well.
Siddique: Excellent. He plays the grieving father burning with revenge with immense poise and emotional depth.
Murali Gopy: Provides an impactful presence as the sharp investigator trying to dismantle Georgekutty's defense.
Asha Sharath: Provides standard work in her returning role, though her character has very little relative significance to the main plot this time.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Jeethu Joseph steers the third chapter on a different, family-centric approach rather than a pure mystery thriller. While his logic holds steady through the final payoff, his direction struggles under a lagging screenplay, predictable writing beats, and a slow narrative build-up that doesn't completely match the high benchmarks of his earlier franchise installments.
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.25 / 5 | |
| 2.75 / 5 | |
| 2.25 / 5 | |
| 2.25 / 5 |
Our Rating
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No centers data available.
No awards data available.
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 35% |
| Neutral | 45% |
| Negative | 20% |
The general critical response labels Drishyam 3 as the weakest installment of the franchise. While reviewers highly appreciated Mohanlal's dependable performance, they noted that the movie feels forced, missing the sharp twists and momentum that defined the earlier parts.
Final Box-Office Result
Drishyam 3 released on 21 May 2026 (2026).
Drishyam 3 is declared a FLOP at the box office.
Drishyam 3 OTT release date not announced yet.
Drishyam 3 directed by Jeethu Joseph. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor.
Drishyam 3 stars Mohanlal, Meena, Siddique, Asha Sarath, Murali Gopy.
Tollybo rates Drishyam 3 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP.
Music for Drishyam 3 composed by Anil Johnson.
Drishyam 3 — Genre: Thriller, Runtime: 157 minutes, Language: Telugu.