Director Jeethu Joseph has confirmed that Drishyam 3 will not be remade in Telugu, Tamil or Kannada — a break from the franchise’s long-running tradition. Instead, the original Malayalam thriller starring Mohanlal will be dubbed and released across all the southern markets at once, on May 21, 2026, so the whole region sees the conclusion of the Georgekutty story together.
The decision marks the end of an era for Telugu star Venkatesh Daggubati, who played Rambabu — the Telugu counterpart to Mohanlal’s character — for more than a decade. Many fans had expected him to reprise the role one last time, but the character’s Telugu journey has now concluded.
A shift toward unified releases
The move reflects a broader trend in Indian cinema toward simultaneous, dubbed releases rather than local remakes. The makers say it preserves the intensity of Mohanlal’s performance, lets audiences in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka see the film in its original form, and avoids the risk of spoilers leaking through staggered remake schedules. The Malayalam trailer has been among the most-watched across India.
Strong advance interest
With the May 21 date approaching, advance bookings have picked up sharply. While fans of the earlier Telugu and Tamil versions may feel a touch of nostalgia, anticipation for Mohanlal’s return is high, and trade watchers expect the film to extend Malayalam cinema’s reach in neighbouring states.
Leave a Reply