Inside the real house of ‘Drishyam’: The Thodupuzha home that shaped all three films

A modest home in Thodupuzha’s Vazhithala village has quietly become one of Malayalam cinema’s most recognisable locations. Director Jeethu Joseph first noticed the house years ago while travelling across districts in search of the perfect setting for ‘Drishyam’. When he reached the property the first time, no one was home. He returned the next day, met owner M K Joseph of Madathilparambil, and asked if the house could be used for the film. The moment Joseph heard that Mohanlal was the lead, he agreed instantly. That conversation marked the beginning of a long cinematic association.

Last Tuesday, when Jeethu called “pack up,” the shoot of ‘Drishyam 3’ at the same house also wrapped. All three films have drawn richly from the landscapes and lived-in realism of Thodupuzha.

Jeethu’s third arrival
For every instalment of ‘Drishyam’, Jeethu personally approached the family to request the location. Only after his visit did the rest of the team arrive for preparations. For the latest film, an additional car shed was built, a dozen plantain trees were planted using a JCB, and the walkway from the gate to the verandah received a fresh coat of paint. This time, the schedule at the house ran for 13 days.

Filming took place in the courtyard, the compound and inside the rooms. During breaks, Mohanlal usually rested in the room beside the thinna. Once cameras rolled, Joseph and his family shifted to an inner room, leaving the rest of the house entirely to Georgekutty’s world. Since the kitchen is also used for filming, meals for the family are supplied from the crew canteen.

Where’s the twist?
The unforgettable scene from the first ‘Drishyam’, where the cow’s carcass is lifted from the pit, was shot on the plot beside Joseph’s house. Today, banana plants grow there. From that spot, one can also see the window from which Esther’s character often watched events unfold.

For the second part, the temporary house where the undercover police team operated from — satellite phone and all — was set up on the upper side of this same plot. It was demolished soon after filming, and tapioca grows there now.

This time, filming also took place at the bakery in Vazhithala, with Vagamon, Ernakulam and Thodupuzha forming the major schedule locations. As for the big twist in the new film, fans will have to wait a little longer.

Kaippakkavala to ‘Drishyam Kavala’
Kaippakkavala, near Kanjirappally, played a key role in the first ‘Drishyam’. The cable TV office was created on the terrace of a single-storey building at the junction. After the scenes of Georgekutty climbing the stairs to his workplace aired, the spot earned a new name: Drishyam Kavala.

Many defining moments in his story unfolded here. The tea shop set was built on the nearby volleyball court. On the right side of the road, now covered in wild growth, stood the police station that acted as a major “character” in the first two films. Close to the Malankara reservoir was the station set used in ‘Drishyam’, and the climax of the first film was also shot near the waterbody.

Though the third film hasn’t used this location, the name Drishyam Kavala still remains.

The tale of the table
In the first ‘Drishyam’, the table in Georgekutty’s home was Joseph’s own. By the time the crew returned for the sequel, the old table had been replaced with a new one, prompting the team to bring their own furniture.

Before each shoot, Joseph’s household items are packed into a lorry and shifted to a warehouse. The props and furniture needed for Georgekutty’s home are brought in and arranged. Once the schedule ends, everything is restored exactly to its original place.