The battle lines for the final chapter of the acclaimed Drishyam franchise are drawn, but the victory might already be decided. While the Hindi remake starring Ajay Devgn has secured a poetically perfect release date for 2026, the original Malayalam version led by Mohanlal enjoys a massive, perhaps insurmountable, head start.
The Perfect Release Date Coup
In a strategic move, the makers of the Hindi Drishyam 3 announced its theatrical release for October 2, 2026. This date is a masterstroke for the franchise. Not only is it a national holiday for Gandhi Jayanti, but it also holds deep narrative significance. Throughout the first two films, the Salgaonkar family is relentlessly questioned about their activities on "October 2." Releasing the trilogy's conclusion on that very date brings the saga full circle.
This announcement positions Ajay Devgn's third installment as a major cinematic event for 2026. The actor has been heavily reliant on sequels lately, with projects like Singham Again, Raid 2, and Son of Sardaar 2 in his filmography, experiencing mixed results. Drishyam 3, billed as the final chapter, is undoubtedly one of his most anticipated projects.
Mohanlal's Drishyam 3: The Rs 350 Crore Head Start
However, the real plot twist unfolds behind the scenes. Earlier this month, Panorama Studios and Pen Studios, the producers of the Hindi remake, acquired the global rights to the original Malayalam Drishyam 3 for a staggering reported sum of Rs 350 crore.
This deal has a monumental consequence: Mohanlal's Drishyam 3 is already in the profit zone before its shoot has even concluded. Given the typically modest budgets of Malayalam cinema compared to Bollywood's large-scale productions, every rupee the film earns at the box office will be pure profit. This financial safety net is a luxury the Hindi version does not possess.
The Release Strategy and Inherent Advantage
The acquisition deal reportedly includes a crucial caveat inserted by the original producers, Aashirvad Cinemas. Despite selling the global rights, they ensured the Malayalam version would hit theatres at least two weeks before the Hindi remake. Director Jeetu Joseph confirmed the Mohanlal-starrer is in its final shooting stages and is eyeing a release in the early second quarter of 2025.
This staggered release strategy means the original narrative, with Mohanlal's iconic George Kutty, will reach audiences first, potentially shaping initial reactions and box office momentum. While Ajay Devgn's Vijay Salgaonkar has a symbolic date, Mohanlal's George Kutty has a concrete financial and chronological advantage.
The legacy of Drishyam began in 2013 with Jeetu Joseph's Malayalam thriller. The Hindi remake rights were later acquired, leading to the successful 2015 version directed by Nishikant Kamat. The pattern continued with Drishyam 2. But for the third act, the dynamics have shifted fundamentally due to the landmark rights deal.
In essence, while the Hindi Drishyam 3 has planned a perfect finale on October 2, 2026, the original Malayalam counterpart has already executed a perfect business strategy, securing its win long before the cameras stopped rolling. The race for audience acclaim is still on, but in the balance sheets, George Kutty has once again outmaneuvered the competition.
