Jeethu Joseph on Mohanlal’s ‘Drishyam 3’: 'A story set in rural Idukki can’t look like a Scandinavian thriller'

Mohanlal starrer ‘Drishyam 3’ slated for release in theatres worldwide on April 2. Director Jeethu Joseph, in an interview recently divulged some exciting details about the upcoming film. The Mohanlal starrer is set in the fictional town of Rajakkad within Idukki. The director has opened up about why he avoids stylish visuals when telling the story. ‘Drishyam 3’ is one of the most anticipated upcoming films of 2026. The third instalment from the franchise is helmed by the OG Jeethu Joseph, starring Mohanlal. In a recent interview with The New Indian Express, Jeethu Joseph said, “For a story set in rural Idukki, I can’t use soft lighting and make it look like a Scandinavian thriller. It might look stylish, but to me it would feel alien,” he said. The director also opened up on how his frequent collaborator, cinematographer Satheesh Kurup, who has also wielded the lens for ‘Drishyam 3’, gets blamed for not making visuals stylish. “People often blame my cinematographer Satheesh (Kurup), but that’s unfair. He delivers exactly what I want. 12th Man was visually very different. It had an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit feel, but unfortunately, it wasn’t released in theatres. And that style can’t be repeated for Drishyam 3. We’ve experimented slightly with that aesthetic in Valathu Vashathe Kallan, which is also shot by Satheesh.” Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph are reuniting for the fifth time for ‘Drishyam 3’. The third instalment would explore the next chapter in Georgekutty’s life. “The film focuses on what happens in Georgekutty’s life after four-and-a-half years. That is the crux of the story,” Jeethu Joseph earlier said. “The phenomenal response to the first two parts convinced us that Georgekutty’s journey had more to tell. Only after detailed talks with Jeethu did we finalize this new version,” the makers revealed‘Drishyam 3’ was filmed in multiple locations, including Thodupuzha, Vagamon, and Ernakulam. Mohanlal wrapped up his portion of the film in December. Fans of the franchise are now waiting for the April release.