The Drishyam Franchise Explained: From Mohanlal's 2013 Malayalam Hit to Ajay Devgn's Hindi Conclusion
One story, written by Jeethu Joseph, has been remade across Indian languages and abroad. Here is the full timeline, and how the two versions of Drishyam 3 differ in timing.
Few Indian stories have travelled as far as _Drishyam_. What began as a tightly written Malayalam family thriller in 2013 has been remade in several Indian languages and abroad, and in 2026 it reached its third chapter in both Malayalam and Hindi. Here is the full timeline.
The original: Malayalam, 2013
_Drishyam_ was written and directed by Jeethu Joseph and starred Mohanlal as Georgekutty, a cable TV operator in a Kerala village who will do anything to protect his family after an accident leads to a crime. Its clever plot, built on a family's alibi and a man's love of films, made it a huge hit and a template for the thriller genre.
The remakes
The story was quickly remade across India and beyond:
- Telugu: _Drushyam_ (2014), starring Venkatesh.
- Kannada: _Drishya_ (2014), starring V. Ravichandran.
- Tamil: _Papanasam_ (2015), starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Jeethu Joseph himself.
- Hindi: _Drishyam_ (2015), directed by Nishikant Kamat, with Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar and Tabu as the police officer determined to crack the case.
- Beyond India: the story was adapted in Sri Lanka and in China, where _Sheep Without a Shepherd_ (2019) became a box office success.
The sequels
- _Drishyam 2_ (Malayalam, 2021): Jeethu Joseph's sequel, set years later, premiered directly on streaming during the pandemic and was widely praised for its twists.
- _Drishyam 2_ (Hindi, 2022): directed by Abhishek Pathak, it was a major theatrical hit.
Two Drishyam 3s
The third chapter arrived in two languages in the same year:
- Malayalam _Drishyam 3_: released on May 21, 2026, with Mohanlal returning as Georgekutty.
- Hindi _Drishyam 3: The Conclusion_: released on October 2, 2026, with Ajay Devgn, and promoted as the ending of the Hindi story. It had the biggest opening of Devgn's career.
Why it works
_Drishyam_ is not built on stars, fights or songs. Its power comes from an ordinary father outthinking the system, a moral grey zone that leaves audiences arguing, and a plot that rewards attention. That formula travels across languages, which is why so many industries have made their own versions.
Spoiler-free tip: if you plan to watch the new film, start with the earlier instalments in whichever language you prefer. The sequels depend heavily on what happened before.
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
Written by
Newsroom
Reporting, explainers and analysis from The Daily’s editorial desk, based on verified public sources that are listed with every story.
More from The Daily Desk →Enjoyed this story?
Get the best of The Daily in your inbox every Sunday.
