Panorama Studios bets on another Drishyam remake

MUMBAI: Panorama Studios International is doubling down on a proven formula. The Mumbai-based production house disclosed on 25 November that it has acquired rights from Aashirvad Cinemas to adapt Drishyam 3 into Hindi, securing worldwide distribution for the yet-to-be-made remake.

The original Malayalam version, starring Mohanlal and Meena under director Jeethu Joseph’s guidance, is still in production. But Panorama Studios isn’t waiting around. The company has locked in adaptation rights for all global territories, betting that Hindi audiences will once again flock to see the cat-and-mouse thriller that has become one of Indian cinema’s most bankable franchises.

The Drishyam series has proved remarkably fertile ground for remakes. The first film spawned successful adaptations across multiple Indian languages, whilst the Hindi version—starring Ajay Devgn—became a box-office juggernaut. The second instalment repeated the trick, cementing the franchise’s status as remake gold.
Now Panorama Studios is positioning itself to capitalise on the third chapter before Malayalam audiences have even seen it. The strategy is bold but hardly unprecedented in an industry where successful regional films routinely get the pan-Indian treatment.

Whether lightning strikes thrice remains to be seen. But in Bollywood’s risk-averse environment, a franchise with two hits under its belt looks rather like a safe harbour.