Following its success in various Indian languages with Kamal Haasan, Venkatesh, and Ajay Devgn leading the casts, “Drishyam” is now poised for an English remake.
Having seen numerous adaptations across Indian languages and even a Chinese version, Jeetu Joseph’s “Drishyam” is set to make its mark in Hollywood. The 2013 Malayalam original, featuring Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil, is primed for an English-language remake.
The Remake: “The iconic #Drishyam franchise is gearing up for global domination following its immense popularity in India and China. Producers Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak announced the Korean remake of this thrilling franchise at the Cannes Film Festival 2023. Now, they unveil the next milestone for the franchise,” wrote trade analyst Ramesh Bala on X, adding, “Panorama Studios, along with Gulfstream Pictures and JOAT Films, are collaborating to bring ‘Drishyam’ to Hollywood, marking a historic moment for Indian cinema! (sic).”
The cult franchise #Drishyam is all set to go global after garnering massive success in the India and China markets. Producers Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak announced the Korean remake of the thriller franchise at the Cannes Film Festival 2023, and now they announce the… pic.twitter.com/J7klzfsnjZ
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) February 29, 2024
Sreedhar Pillai also shared on X that the international remake rights have been secured from the original producers, stating, “Panorama Studios has acquired the international remake rights to ‘Drishyam 1 & 2′ from the original producers, Aashirvad Cinemas.”
The Drishyam Franchise: Since its debut in 2013, the Malayalam blockbuster has inspired filmmakers across borders, leading to multiple remakes. In 2014, it was adapted in Kannada as “Drishya” and in Telugu as “Drushyam” with Ravichandran and Venkatesh in the lead roles, respectively. In 2015, Tamil audiences witnessed “Papanasam,” while Hindi viewers embraced “Drishyam” starring Kamal Haasan and Ajay Devgn, respectively.
Further adaptations followed suit, with a Sinhala version titled “Dharmayuddhaya” in 2017, featuring Jackson Anthony, and a Mandarin Chinese rendition titled “Sheep Without a Shepherd” in 2019, starring Xiao Yang. Various directors helmed the different language versions, with Jeetu Joseph directing only the Tamil iteration. Indonesian and Korean remakes are currently in development.
The Sequel:
In a rare feat, “Drishyam 2,” released in 2021, was hailed as a fitting continuation of the original narrative. Picking up from where its predecessor left off, the sequel delves deeper into the trials faced by Georgekutty, portrayed by Mohanlal, and his family in the aftermath of a crime. Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi remakes of the sequel are also in progress.
