Drishyam 3 Review | Emotionally Heavy Thriller

Drishyam has now become synonymous with cliffhanger-driven thriller storytelling, and the third installment arrives carrying the weight of that legacy. Nearly four and a half years after the events of Drishyam 2, Georgekutty (Mohanlal) has adapted the novel based on his own life into a successful film. But the success once again brings unwanted attention to him and his family. At the same time, repeated attempts to arrange Anju’s (Ansiba Hassan) marriage continue to fail because the controversies surrounding the family refuse to fade away.

On the other side, Varun’s parents, Geetha (Asha Sharath) and Prabhakar (Siddique), are still unable to move on from their son’s death. Their grief and anger eventually bring them together with suspended police officer Sahadevan (Kalabhavan Shajohn) and Bastin (Murali Gopy), who begin plotting revenge against Georgekutty by framing Anju in a fresh crime. While Georgekutty remains occupied with new legal complications connected to Varun’s case, the conspiracy quietly unfolds around his family. As he senses the danger, he once again begins manipulating situations and crime scenes to protect his daughter.

The film takes time to build its plot, but it starts planting seeds of tension from the very beginning. Watching Mohanlal return as Georgekutty instantly brings back memories of how the character has consistently outsmarted impossible situations with the simple intention of protecting his family. This time, however, the emotional burden feels heavier because the attack appears directed towards his daughter. Though the narrative moves at a measured pace initially, it gradually picks up with layered twists and turns that demand attention from the audience. One has to stay invested in the dialogues and unfolding situations to fully grasp what Georgekutty may be capable of doing next.

Unlike the earlier films that thrived largely on shock twists and investigative suspense, this installment appears more interested in emotional fatigue, psychological burden, and the cost of carrying a lie for years. The film repeatedly raises the question of whether Georgekutty is still the mastermind audiences admired or simply a man trapped inside the myth he created for himself. Mohanlal plays the character with visible restraint and quiet exhaustion rather than dramatic heroism. The intelligence remains intact, but this time it carries fear, guilt, and moral ambiguity.

The last couple of scenes leave a strong impact. One particularly noteworthy moment comes when IG Thomas Bastin acknowledges that Georgekutty has always remained a step ahead of whatever they may have planned. But the more emotionally significant scene arrives when Georgekutty decides to surrender and explains to Advocate Renuka (Santhi Mayadevi) that he himself is afraid of what he is capable of doing and how far he can go for the safety of his family. That moment effectively becomes the emotional core of the film because it finally exposes the psychological damage hidden beneath Georgekutty’s intelligence.

Among the supporting cast, Esther Anil as Anu George gets enough space to portray the carefree and affectionate younger daughter. Kalabhavan Shajohn once again makes Sahadevan feel like a genuine threat, expressing rage through subtle micro mannerisms and his intense blood-red eyes. Siddique as Prabhakar emerges as a strong antagonist this time, carefully charting out what appears to be a tightly constructed revenge plan. Despite limited screen time, Asha Sharath leaves a strong impression as Geetha, especially towards the end when she hints that her quest for vengeance is far from over.

While some viewers may feel the first half stretches slightly and delays the thriller momentum associated with the franchise, the film deliberately avoids trying to outdo the earlier installments purely through bigger twists. Instead, it focuses on the emotional consequences catching up with Georgekutty and his family. Even the closing stretch of dialogues seems designed to provide a sense of closure while simultaneously hinting that the story may not be entirely over yet.

For longtime fans of the franchise, this remains an unmissable watch.

Movie: Drishyam 3
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Featuring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Siddique, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Murali Gopy, Asha Sharath, Veena Nandakumar, Santhi Mayadevi
Theatrical Release Date: 21 May 2026
Run Time: 2hrs 39mins
Language: Malayalam