Jeethu Joseph Unveils “Drishyam 3,” a Psychological Turn for the Iconic Malayalam Thriller

Director Jeethu Joseph returns for *Drishyam 3*, starring Mohanlal as Georgekutty, the former cable operator now living under perpetual police suspicion. Joseph says the film centers on Georgekutty’s fear and constant alertness, making his punishment a lifelong expectation of police scrutiny. Joseph notes the tone is quieter than the franchise’s earlier procedural thrills, emphasizing a lingering psychological menace.

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The 2013 original sparked two sequels and remakes in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil (directed by Joseph with Kamal Haasan), Chinese and Sinhala. Joseph’s attendance at Chinese screenings highlighted the story’s appeal beyond Indian borders. He describes the story as a family drama about a father protecting his daughter while another family seeks justice for their son.

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Jeethu Joseph, known for the thriller *Memories* (2013), stresses storytelling over genre labels and resists the thriller-director tag. Mohanlal reprises Georgekutty, providing continuity. The Tamil remake with Kamal Haasan highlights the franchise’s cross-regional reach.

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Joseph says *Drishyam 3* takes an organic approach, emphasizing psychological menace over procedural twists. He frames the story as a family drama and notes there is no formula for cinema, hoping the film will satisfy audiences despite expectations for clever maneuvers. He stresses that the organic approach is intended to meet fan expectations without relying on a set formula.

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Industry and viewers expect the franchise’s procedural ingenuity, pressuring Joseph to deliver another twist. The film world continues to label him a thriller director, a “blessing and a curse” he says, noting his non-thriller film *Life of Josutty* underperformed due to mismatched expectations. The shift toward introspection may risk alienating viewers who expect the series’ signature twists.

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Remakes exist in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil (with Kamal Haasan), Chinese and Sinhala.

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Joseph argues the core theme—a father’s desperate protection of his family—needs no translation, allowing universal connection. *Drishyam 3*’s psychological focus may expand the franchise’s appeal beyond thrillers, influencing future Indian family dramas.

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• “What ‘Three’ is basically concentrated on is Georgekutty’s fear and his tension, from his angle,” — Jeethu Joseph, Director

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• “He will spend his whole life expecting the police,” — Jeethu Joseph, Director

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• “‘Memories’ and ‘Drishyam’ are a blessing and a curse,” — Jeethu Joseph, Director

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• “I am basically a storyteller, someone who wants to tell stories,” — Jeethu Joseph, Director

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After *Drishyam 3*, Joseph is scripting a Telugu film with screenwriter Santhi Mayadevi (of *Neru*) and a project with actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. He has not ruled out *Drishyam 4*, saying its fate depends on the reception of the third film. Both scripts are currently in the writing stage.

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