Drishyam3 Review - A Disappointing Return That Struggles to Justify Its Existence

After two brilliantly crafted thrillers that redefined suspense storytelling in Indian cinema, Drishyam 3 arrives with massive expectations. The franchise built its reputation on intelligent writing, emotional depth, and edge-of-the-seat tension, making it one of the most respected thriller series in the country. Unfortunately, the third installment fails to capture the brilliance of its predecessors and ends up being a largely underwhelming experience that feels stretched, repetitive, and emotionally exhausted.

Directed with the intention of expanding Georgekutty’s story once again, the film starts on a reasonably promising note. The atmosphere is familiar, the callbacks to earlier films create nostalgia, and seeing Mohanlal return as Georgekutty naturally brings excitement. However, the excitement fades quickly once the narrative begins unfolding. What made the earlier Drishyam films special was the unpredictability of the screenplay. Every scene had a purpose, every conversation added tension, and every reveal felt earned. Drishyam 3, on the other hand, spends too much time revisiting old emotions and repeating familiar conflicts without adding anything substantially fresh.

The biggest issue with the film is its screenplay. Instead of building a gripping mystery, the story moves at an unusually slow pace with scenes that feel unnecessarily prolonged. The tension that once defined the franchise is mostly absent here. The film constantly hints at major twists, but when those moments finally arrive, they rarely have the impact expected from a Drishyam film. Several plot developments feel convenient rather than clever, which is disappointing considering the franchise was known for its sharp writing and layered storytelling.

One of the strongest aspects of the previous films was how emotionally connected the audience felt to Georgekutty and his family. In this installment, however, the emotional core feels weaker. The family dynamics are repetitive, and many emotional scenes seem designed purely for nostalgia rather than genuine storytelling. Instead of naturally evolving the characters, the script often relies on references to past events to generate engagement. While longtime fans may appreciate some callbacks, the overdependence on nostalgia eventually becomes tiring.

That said, Mohanlal once again proves why he remains one of the finest actors in Indian cinema. Even when the writing lets the film down, his screen presence keeps several scenes watchable. His restrained performance, subtle expressions, and calm intensity still manage to create moments of intrigue. He does everything possible to elevate the material, but even a performer of his caliber cannot completely save a screenplay that lacks the brilliance expected from this franchise.

The supporting cast delivers decent performances overall, but many characters feel underutilized. Some important characters are introduced with potential only to disappear into predictable subplots. The police investigation portions, which should have been the backbone of the film, feel surprisingly generic this time. The intellectual cat-and-mouse game that made the earlier films so compelling is largely missing. Instead of suspense driven by smart writing, the film often depends on dramatic pauses and background music to create tension.

Technically, the film is competent but not exceptional. The cinematography captures the familiar atmosphere well, and the background score does contribute to a few suspenseful moments. However, even the technical strengths cannot compensate for the weak pacing. The runtime feels longer than necessary, especially in the second half where the narrative loses momentum repeatedly. Several scenes could have been trimmed significantly to make the film tighter and more engaging.

Another major disappointment is the climax. The Drishyam franchise earned its reputation because of unforgettable finales that shocked audiences while remaining logically convincing. Here, the climax feels far less impactful and emotionally flat compared to the previous installments. Instead of delivering a satisfying payoff, the ending feels overly safe and lacks the brilliance fans were hoping for. There are attempts to create surprise, but most viewers will likely predict the direction well before the final reveal.

What makes the disappointment stronger is the legacy attached to the franchise. Drishyam was never just about twists — it was about intelligent storytelling rooted in human emotions and moral dilemmas. The earlier films balanced suspense with emotional depth perfectly. Drishyam 3 struggles to maintain that balance. It often feels like a sequel made because the franchise is popular rather than because there was a truly compelling story left to tell.

Overall, Drishyam 3 is not a terrible film, but it is undeniably the weakest entry in the franchise. It has moments of intrigue and benefits greatly from Mohanlal’s commanding performance, but the lack of fresh ideas, weak pacing, and predictable storytelling prevent it from reaching the standards set by the earlier films. Fans expecting another masterclass in suspense may walk away disappointed.

A below-average sequel that fails to recreate the magic of the originals and ultimately feels more unnecessary than essential.

2.5/5 — CineInfinity