Drishyam 3’s box office run continues past ₹200 crore, but the film has attracted an unexpected legal complaint from an unlikely source. A resident of Kunchithanni in Idukki district, identified as Rajeev, has filed a complaint with the Munnar DYSP against director Jeethu Joseph, producer Antony Perumbavoor, and actor Mohanlal, alleging that his vehicle’s registration number was used in the film without authorisation — causing him personal inconvenience and harassment.
In the complaint, Rajeev states that the use of his actual vehicle number in a scene of Drishyam 3 has resulted in difficulties for him — the nature of which the complaint does not specify in the available report, but which typically involve unwanted calls, messages, or queries from members of the public who associate the number with the film’s narrative. He has demanded that the scene be removed from the film and that the makers issue a public apology.
A Recognised Pattern in Indian Cinema
Vehicle number-related complaints are not unprecedented in Indian film production. The standard industry practice is to use fictional or cleared number plates — either deliberately altered sequences or numbers confirmed as unregistered or unused — specifically to avoid this kind of situation. When a real number slips through, whether through oversight in production design or post-production, the registered owner of that vehicle can face a range of inconveniences depending on the nature of the scene.
In Drishyam 3’s case, the specific scene and the nature of the number’s use in the narrative has not been detailed in the complaint as reported. Whether the number was used on a vehicle directly associated with a character or appeared incidentally in a background shot is not confirmed at press time.
Where the Film Stands
Drishyam 3 released on May 21 — Mohanlal’s birthday — and crossed ₹200 crore worldwide in its first week, joining Empuraan and Thudarum as Mohanlal films to reach that mark. It is currently tracking toward the all-time Malayalam box office records held by L2: Empuraan. Reports suggest an OTT release on June 18, which would put the film on digital platforms approximately four weeks after theatrical release — a relatively short theatrical window that reflects the confidence Panorama Studios has in the film’s streaming value.
The complaint has been filed with the Munnar DYSP. Whether it progresses to a formal case, whether the production team responds with a settlement or a scene modification, and whether the Kerala courts take cognisance of the matter are all questions that remain open at press time. Neither Jeethu Joseph, Antony Perumbavoor, nor Mohanlal’s teams have issued a public response to the complaint.
For a film that has otherwise generated almost entirely positive headlines, this is a minor but genuine legal footnote — the kind that productions of this scale encounter occasionally and typically resolve through negotiation rather than litigation.
The OTT Timeline
If the June 18 OTT date holds, audiences who have not yet seen Drishyam 3 theatrically will have access to the film on streaming within days. The complaint’s demand for scene removal from the film would theoretically need to be addressed before that streaming release to have meaningful effect — a timeline that adds a degree of urgency to any resolution the production team might consider.
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