నిర్భయ నిందితులను ఉరి తీసేది ఇతనే

After two edge-of-the-seat blockbusters, the much-awaited third chapter of the franchise, Drishyam 3, finally hit theaters today. The earlier installments were remade successfully in Telugu with Venkatesh Daggubati, but this time the Malayalam original has arrived directly in dubbed form.

The big question is — does the film retain the gripping brilliance that made the franchise a phenomenon? Unfortunately, the answer is largely disappointing.

Story:

Georgekutty (Mohanlal) is now leading a comfortable life as a successful film producer. While enjoying professional success, his main focus is arranging the marriage of his elder daughter Anu (Ansiba Hassan). However, every alliance mysteriously collapses before reaching the final stage.

Things finally seem to settle when a proposal from an NRI named Avira is confirmed. Georgekutty plans to conduct the wedding quickly and send Anu abroad before new problems arise.

But the past refuses to stay buried. Prabhakar (Siddique), still devastated by the death of his son Varun, continues to seek revenge against Georgekutty and his family. As old secrets begin resurfacing and the investigation regains momentum, Georgekutty once again finds himself trapped in a dangerous game.

Performances:

Mohanlal once again delivers a restrained and natural performance as Georgekutty. However, unlike the earlier films where his sharp intelligence dominated every scene, this version presents him more as an emotionally burdened father than a master strategist. Still, Mohanlal’s effortless screen presence remains one of the film’s few strengths.

Meena has limited scope and performs adequately. Ansiba Hassan gets a more substantial role during the latter portions and performs convincingly.

Siddique, Murali Gopy, and Santhi Mayadevi deliver decent performances within the boundaries of the screenplay.

Surprisingly, Asha Sharath, whose character carried emotional weight in the earlier films, is barely impactful here. Meanwhile, Esther Anil suffers due to repetitive writing and overdramatic scenes.

Technical Aspects:

The strength of the “Drishyam” franchise always lay in director Jeethu Joseph’s gripping screenplay and unpredictable storytelling. Sadly, that spark is largely absent in this installment.

The writing lacks the cleverness, suspense, and emotional tension that defined the first two films. The narrative moves at an extremely slow pace, and several scenes feel unnecessarily prolonged.

While the cinematography and background score are decent enough, the editing becomes a major drawback. The film feels stretched far beyond what the story actually demands.

What Works:

• Final act
• Mohanlal’s performance
• A few emotional moments

What Doesn’t:

• Weak and predictable screenplay
• Missing thrill factor
• Dragging narration
• Underwhelming twists
• Poor Telugu dubbing quality

Analysis:

Drishyam 3 arrives with massive expectations because the first two films set an exceptionally high standard for Indian thrillers. The original “Drishyam” impressed audiences with Georgekutty’s brilliant planning and survival instincts, while the sequel elevated the franchise further with layered twists and courtroom drama.

Unfortunately, the third part struggles to justify its existence.

The biggest issue is the complete absence of tension. The screenplay never creates the kind of suspense that made the earlier installments unforgettable. Most scenes unfold in a predictable manner, and the film lacks the gripping cat-and-mouse moments audiences expect from this franchise.

Even the climax twist, though mildly interesting, doesn’t come close to the brilliance of the earlier films. Instead of delivering a powerful conclusion, the film feels like an extended attempt to prove Georgekutty is still smarter than everyone else.

The emotional drama also fails to land effectively because the storytelling lacks depth and urgency. Prabhakar’s revenge arc never becomes threatening enough, and the investigation portions fail to generate excitement.

By the end, the film leaves behind the feeling that the franchise had already reached a perfect conclusion with the second installment, and this chapter exists mainly to capitalize on the popularity of the brand.

Verdict:

Drishyam 3 turns out to be a disappointing finale to an iconic thriller franchise. Despite Mohanlal’s solid presence, the film lacks the suspense, intelligence, and emotional impact that made the earlier parts classics.

Bottom Line: A forced sequel that fails to recreate the magic of the original films.