The Malayalam film industry is witnessing an unprecedented commercial phenomenon as the upcoming thriller 'Drishyam 3' has shattered all existing records even before its shooting has concluded. The film, starring megastar Mohanlal and helmed by writer-director Jeethu Joseph, has reportedly entered the elite Rs 350-crore club purely through pre-release business deals.
Unprecedented Financial Milestone
The staggering revelation was made public by producer M. Ranjith at an event organized by Manorama. He confirmed that 'Drishyam 3' has secured a monumental Rs 350 crore in pre-business, marking the highest revenue ever recorded by a Malayalam film at this stage. This feat is particularly remarkable as no other Indian regional-language movie has ever amassed such colossal earnings while still in the production phase.
Ranjith emphasized the scale of this achievement by pointing out that the total collections of previous record-breaking Malayalam blockbusters, after their complete theatrical runs, now fall short of the numbers 'Drishyam 3' has already guaranteed. This underscores the immense market confidence and audience anticipation surrounding the third installment of the iconic franchise.
The Rise of Malayalam Cinema and Mohanlal's Legacy
The producer attributed this success to the soaring standards of Malayalam cinema, driven by a consistent output of high-quality content and Kerala's top-class theatre infrastructure. He also noted that while films achieve commercial triumphs, the state government ultimately reaps significant financial benefits through taxes and other revenues.
This landmark cements the 'Drishyam' series as the biggest commercial entertainer in the history of Mollywood. Mohanlal's portrayal of Georgekutty remains one of the most iconic characters in Indian cinema. The actor has a history of setting benchmarks, with his film 'Pulimurugan' being the first in Mollywood to breach the Rs 100-crore mark.
Release Speculation and Director's Track Record
Amidst the financial headlines, another topic is buzzing among fans: the potential release strategy for 'Drishyam 3'. Speculation is rife on social media and fan pages about whether the Malayalam and Hindi versions will have a simultaneous release. A viral chat screenshot, purportedly between director Jeethu Joseph and a fan, claimed the Hindi version would release two months after the Malayalam premiere.
The alleged response from Joseph stated, "No.. we will release first; after 2 months only they can release." However, the authenticity of this screenshot remains unverified by official sources. Meanwhile, Jeethu Joseph's last directorial venture, 'Mirage', failed to connect with audiences, making the roaring pre-business success of 'Drishyam 3' a significant comeback.
This historic pre-business achievement signals a new 'Mohanlal-wood' era, demonstrating the star's unparalleled box office pull and the franchise's powerful grip on the pan-Indian audience. It sets a daunting new benchmark for the entire Indian regional film industry.
