The magic of 'Drishyam': Why do the viewers come back again and again?
In the world of popular culture and memes, the date of October 2 has another meaning – 'Drishyam'.
By now you must have come to know that on 2nd October, Vijay Salgaonkar had gone to the satsang at Swami Chinmayanand ji's ashram with his family, had pav bhaji there and returned on 3rd October!
The release date of the film has also become a part of the story. The third and final part of the Hindi film 'Drishyam' starring Ajay Devgan and Tabu is now going to be released on the same historical date i.e. 2nd October.
When theaters started reopening after the Covid pandemic in the year 2022, one question was being asked again and again – will the audience return to theaters again?
The growing influence of OTT, changed habits of the audience and the prolonged period of the pandemic had dealt a deep blow to the film business. Then 'Drishyam 2' was the important film which brought back the breath of cinema by drawing the audience to the theatre.
With earnings of Rs 345 crore, 'Drishyam 2' was the second highest-grossing film of that year.
What is the magic in this extraordinary story of an ordinary family? Why do people get drawn into this maze of suspense again and again?
The answer to this question is hidden not only in the upcoming 'Drishyam 3', but in the entire story which started in Malayalam cinema about 13 years ago.
The original Malayalam film of 'Drishyam' was released in 2013. Writer-director Jeethu Joseph cast the role of Georgekutty to Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.
The audience was so connected with this character and its suspense that 'Drishyam' became the most successful Malayalam film till that time.
Later, apart from Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, its successful remakes were also made in Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. That means the story easily crossed the boundaries of language and region.
The Hindi version was released on 31 July 2015 and was highly successful. It was directed by Nishikant Kamat. For Hindi audiences, Ajay Devgan became Vijay Salgaokar and Tabu became IG Mira Deshmukh.
But the real hero of 'Drishyam' in every language was its script. That unique script, in which what is seen is not always the truth.
We believe what is shown to us and this is where the game of 'Drishyam' begins. Vijay did not destroy the evidence, he changed the memories of others.
Every time the viewer thinks, "Now Vijay is trapped!" And every time the story surprises him. Along with the amazing suspense, the extreme simplicity of the characters also makes the film special.
New genre- family thriller
Thriller is considered to be a very successful genre in cinema and OTT. There is no dearth of films and web series on subjects like murder, mystery, police investigation and crime.
But thriller films are not generally considered family entertainment. They often contain violence, crime, profanity or bold scenes, which an ordinary Indian family may feel uncomfortable watching together.
'Drishyam' changed this equation and created a new genre - family thriller.
The biggest challenge of a thriller is to surprise the audience again and again. 'Drishyam' seemed to be changing this rule also. The biggest thrill here is not who committed the crime. The audience already knows this.
The thrill lies in whether this family will survive? Will there be any mistake in Vijay's plan? That is, instead of hiding the secret, the film creates the fear of revealing the secret.
A lesser-known quality of this series is that its protagonist does not feel relieved even after winning again and again.
In a typical thriller the fear of the 'secret being revealed' is a thrill for the audience. In 'Drishyam' the same fear is a mental burden for the characters. This difference takes the film beyond suspense and turns it into a psychological story.
A good story alone is not enough to remember any film for a long time. Emotional connection of the audience is also important.
This connection is very strong in 'Drishyam'. This is not the story of someone who has a lot of money, power or political access. This is an ordinary family caught in an extraordinary crisis.
These emotions connect the audience with this story and characters.
Why does the story sound so 'Indian'?
A big reason for the success of 'Drishyam' is that it is not just a film made in Indian language, but is a story completely based in Indian society and culture. But everyone has these feelings.
The role of family is very big in Indian society. For parents, children are not just children. The feelings regarding their safety, future and respect are very deep.
In such a situation, when the story shows a father clashing with the law to protect his family, the audience gets emotionally connected with him.
This thriller doesn't have big gadgets, dangerous stunts or even the glamor of masala films. Vijay Salgaonkar is not a very rich or powerful man.
He is neither a policeman, nor a detective, nor an action hero. She is the fourth fail, cable operator.
The same man whom we see in our street taking milk in the morning, dropping children to school and meeting everyone in the neighborhood with a smile. A completely ordinary person.
His strength is his mind, which thinks two steps ahead of the police. He not only saves his wife and daughters, but also makes them a part of his plan. In times of trouble the whole family stands by relying on each other.
'Drishyam' also asks a moral question to the audience - is what Vijay did right or wrong?
The film uses this moral dilemma very effectively.
A film that starts with a murder ends up being about family. It is a battle between the police and a criminal father, but the viewer's heart is with the father.
The success of 'Drishyam' probably rests on this question - if such a situation arises in front of your family, what will you do?
This question takes the film beyond a typical crime thriller and makes it a family film.
'Cinema' is the weapon of victory
One of the most beautiful layers of 'Drishyam' is its hero's love for masala films. Here the hero is crazy about films. Georgekutty/Vijay has studied life not in any college, but from films. This also gives an interesting context to 'Drishyam'.
Popular cinema, which serious intellectuals often consider as 'light' entertainment, 'Drishyam' makes the same cinema the biggest strength of its hero.
From films he understands people's behavior, gets information about police investigations and understands how the investigation can proceed after a crime.
By the time 'Drishyam 2' comes, Vijay himself becomes a film producer. He also uses his new identity very well in his plans.
New pieces and bets every time
'Drishyam' is a new mental battle of tricks and tricks, where the pieces and the stakes change every time. The challenge before 'Drishyam 2' was how to create the same thrill again.
The film answered this in impressive fashion. This time the question was – can the past ever be completely buried? In the end, the plan from hiding the dead body to disposing of it was full of thrills.
But by the time 'Drishyam 3' came, the situation changed.
'Drishyam 3' made in Malayalam has been released in May 2026. The film has achieved great success at the box office, but in the eyes of critics, 'Drishyam 3' did not live up to the standards of the first two films.
Reviewing 'Drishyam 3' (Malayalam), 'Mid-Day' newspaper wrote, "At first glance, it may seem that the twists and turns of the third film are not as complex or impactful as the previous parts. But that's the point! Unlike the previous films, in 'Drishyam 3' Georgekutty is never completely in command of the story."
Then the news came that the story of Hindi 'Drishyam 3' has been changed. At the trailer launch event of the film, Ajay Devgan also confirmed that 'Drishyam: The Conclusion' has been made with a completely new script. This is not at all a matter of making minor changes to the existing story. The Hindi version is completely different from the Malayalam 'Drishyam 3'.
'Drishyam' should also be remembered because its story was not unnecessarily dragged on in the name of hit films, but was stopped at the right time.
The curtain of the story will fall after a journey of thirteen years. Hopefully, the trick in the magic of 'Drishyam' will be the last one and the ending will be remembered.
