Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 has released in cinemas today, October 2. The date is deeply symbolic for fans of the franchise.

The original Drishyam (2015) revolved around October 2, the day Vijay Salgaonkar’s family claimed to have eaten pav bhaji. The scene became an iconic pop-culture reference. Releasing the third film on the same date is seen as a masterstroke.

The frenzy is real. Theatres have added post-midnight shows before release to meet demand. Exhibitors have been asked to match the pricing of Spider-Man and Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the film is jointly produced by Panorama Studios and Viacom18. The original cast returns, with Tabu, Shriya Saran and Akshaye Khanna alongside Devgn.

Drishyam 2 (2022) was a box-office success. Expectations are high that the third chapter will be one of the biggest releases of the year.

The month is shaping up to be a big one for Indian cinema. October’s release calendar also includes Prem Keetanu, Raftaar, Ramayana and other major titles, with studios betting on the festive season to draw audiences back to theatres.