Drishyam 3, featuring Mohanlal and directed by Jeethu Joseph, has started its theatrical run with robust figures at the box office. The film reportedly amassed Rs 13.95 crore nett on its fourth day, bringing its total domestic nett collection to Rs 54.55 crore within the first four days, as per trade sources. The film’s opening day grossed Rs 15.85 crore nett, which then fell to Rs 11.05 crore on the second day before a rebound was observed over the weekend, culminating in a slight increase on Sunday which saw Rs 13.70 crore nett.

Internationally, Drishyam 3 has been well-received, with a total global gross reported at Rs 141.34 crore. This figure includes Rs 63.34 crore from the Indian market and an impressive Rs 78 crore from international audiences. Key contributions have come from regions such as the Gulf, North America, and Europe, highlighting the emotional connection of the Malayali diaspora to the narrative of Georgekutty.

State-wise Revenue Breakdown

A deeper analysis reveals significant contributions from specific regions in India. Of the total Rs 63.34 crore gross from India, Kerala alone accounted for Rs 38.85 crore, representing more than half of the total earnings. Other states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu contributed Rs 9.20 crore, Rs 5.65 crore, and Rs 5.15 crore, respectively, while the remainder of the country contributed Rs 4.49 crore. On Sunday alone, Kerala generated Rs 9.70 crore nett out of the national total of Rs 13.95 crore nett.

The Malayalam version of Drishyam 3 was showcased in 3,186 screenings, boasting an impressive occupancy rate of 69.35 per cent, illustrating genuine enthusiasm from the audience in Kerala. The film’s performances in other languages were modest, with the Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada versions garnering Rs 1.20 crore, Rs 65 lakh, and Rs 35 lakh, respectively, thereby reflecting the varying levels of interest across different regions.

Challenges in Achieving Pan-India Appeal

Despite its notable box office achievements, Drishyam 3 has not fully realised its potential as a pan-India phenomenon. The film’s performance at ₹141 crore globally against a production budget of Rs 100 crore stands as a substantial accomplishment for a Malayalam film. However, the franchise originally established itself with wide cross-cultural appeal, having seen remakes in numerous languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. This extensive reach has set heightened expectations for the third film.

Challenges remain as Hindi audiences are already familiar with their own adaptations of the story led by Ajay Devgn, making it unlikely for them to shift their allegiance back to the Malayalam original. Additionally, the legal issues faced by the Telugu remake have further complicated its presence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In Tamil Nadu, the absence of a Drishyam 2 remake has potentially restricted the audience’s engagement, particularly for those who may have already viewed the original via OTT platforms.

This fragmentation of the audience presents a complex challenge. The very success of the Drishyam franchise has resulted in a varied audience base across regions and languages, making it difficult for Drishyam 3 to connect universally as its predecessors once did. While the film is performing strongly within Kerala, it does not appear to have achieved the same broad resonance that characterised its earlier installations.

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