13 South films releasing in theaters this week: Dhruv Vikram’s Bison, Dude to Sidhu starrer Telusu Kada

South Indian cinema is abuzz with excitement after several recent releases, especially after the sensational success of Rishabh Shetty starrer Kantara: Chapter 1. As we approach a new weekend, with the festive Diwali season, many movies are set to release on the silver screen this week.

Here is a list of South movies that are releasing in theaters this week.

13 South movies to watch in theaters this week

1. Bison

• Mould: Dhruva Vikram, Anupama Parameswaran, Lal, Pasupathi, Rajisha Vijayan, Hari Krishnan, Azhagam Perumal
• Director: Mari Selvaraj
• Language: tamil
• Style: sports drama
• Runtime: 2 hours 48 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Bison (also promoted as Bison: Kaalamaadan) is a Tamil film starring Dhruva Vikram in the lead role. Set in the 1990s, the film takes us to a village in Tamil Nadu where a young boy dreams of becoming a Kabaddi player.

Coming from an underprivileged background, he has to face various challenges and internal politics to pursue his goal. His patience and social struggle are the center of this inspiring drama.

2. Theatre: the myth of reality

• Mould: Reema Kallingal, Sarasa Balussery, Dane Davis, Pramod Veliyanad, Krishnan Balakrishnan, Mekha Rajan, N Salim, Balaji Sarma, Akhil Kavalayur, Meenakshi Raveendran
• Director: Sajin Babu
• Language: Malayalam
• Style: mystery drama
• Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes
• Release date: 16 October 2025

A mystery play starring Rima Kallingal, Theatre: The Myth of Reality explores themes of female sexuality and agency through a rooted folk tale. The film blends myth and reality, portraying the fading traditions and mystical elements of Kerala’s cultural heritage.

3. K-Ramp

• Mould: Kiran Abbavaram, Yukthi Thareja, Vennela Kishore, Sai Kumar, Naresh, Chandrika Ravi
• Director: Jain Nani
• Language: Telugu
• Style: romantic action
• Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Release date: 18 October 2025

K-Ramp is a romantic film which is set to release on the big screens on Diwali this year. Directed by Jains Nani, the film stars Kiran Abbavaram and Yukthi Thareja in the lead roles.

The story describes the journey of an athlete who must overcome personal and emotional challenges to win the heart of his lover. The film is a mix of sports drama, romance and action, making it an interesting watch.

4. Carmen Selvam

• Mould: Samuthirakani, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli, MG Abhinay, Karthik Kumar, Badwa Gopi
• Director: Ram Chakri
• Language: tamil
• Style: comedy family drama
• Runtime: tba
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Carmen Selvam tells the story of a peaceful and contented man whose world is shaken when his intense desire to earn more money takes over. In an effort to protect and secure his family’s future, he discovers that the true cost of protection may be much higher than money.

5. Pet Detective

• Mould: Sharaf U Dheen, Anupama Parameswaran, Shyam Mohan, Bhagat Manuel, Vinay Forte, Vijayaraghavan
• Director: Praneesh Vijayan
• Style: action comedy
• Language: Malayalam
• Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Release date: 16 October 2025

Pet Detective tells the story of Tony Jose Alula, a young man who is trying to impress his crush Kaikeyi Menon by working in her father’s detective agency.

Initially, he was assigned cases of missing animals, earning him the nickname “Pet Detective”. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he investigates a dangerous kidnapping involving international smugglers.

How Tony and his partner use their skills to solve the case and conquer Kaikeyi, forms the basis of this fun-filled film.

6. Premigala Gamanakka

• Mould: Shashi Kumar BS, Chirashree Anchan, Subbu S
• Director: Vincent Inbaraj
• Style: romantic drama
• Language: Kannada
• Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Premigala Gamanake focuses on two unmarried couples who were living together during the national lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the complexities and emotional turmoil that come with cohabitation outside marriage in a conservative society.

7. Diesel

• Mould: Harish Kalyan, Atulya Ravi, Vinay Rai, P. Sai Kumar, Ananya, Karunas, Ramesh Thilak, Kaali Venkat
• Director: Shanmugam Muthusamy
• Style: action thriller
• Language: tamil
• Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Diesel is a serious action thriller film starring Labbar Pandu actor Harish Kalyan in the lead role. It is set in Chennai, which explores the underground fuel mafia and follows a masterminded robbery involving the theft of fuel worth Rs. 2 crores.

The film is designed to touch on themes of betrayal, power and survival.

8. Friends circle

• Mould: Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Niharika NM, Vishnu Oy, Raaga Mayur, Prasad Behera, Vennela Kishore
• Director: Vijayendra Sattu
• Style: humor
• Language: Telugu
• Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Release date: 16 October 2025

Mithra Mandali is a comedy film that revolves around a group of misfit friends. The friends’ lives are turned upside down as they get caught up in a feud between a politician and his angry daughter, leading to chaotic and humorous moments.

9. Kambi Katna Kathai

• Mould: Natarajan Subramanian (Naty), Aarti Shalini, Mukesh Ravi, Singam Puli, Sriranjini, Muruganandam
• Director: Rajanathan Periyasamy
• Style: crime comedy drama
• Language: tamil
• Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Kambi Kattana Kathai is a Tamil comedy about a con artist who impersonates a spiritual guru to trick devotees, but gets entangled in another group’s big stake involving a priceless emerald.

The plot is about the chaos and confusion that arises when the two collide, resulting in a humorous tale of betrayal and trust meeting.

10. Timepass

• Mould: Imran Pasha, Rathsha Ram, Om Shree Exif, Prabhakar Rao, Ashwini Srinivas, Naveen Mahabaleshwar
• Director: Chetan Jodihar of
• Style: dark comedy drama
• Language: Kannada
• Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Timepass is a dark humor drama film starring Imran Pasha in the lead role, directed by K Chetan Jodihar. It follows the chaotic lives of seven dreamers, each of whom is determined to make it big in the film industry. With no support from family or society, they are ridiculed and dismissed. But when fate brings them together, they form an odd crew with an extraordinary idea: shoot an entire film in just one day.

With zero budget, the team embarks on a blind journey of filmmaking, with the focus on whether they succeed or fail in achieving their dream.

11. Pathiratri

• Mould: Navya Nair, Soubin Shahir, Sunny Wayne, Ann Augustine, Athmiya Rajan, Harishree Ashokan
• Director: rathina
• Style: drama thriller
• Language: Malayalam
• Runtime: 2 hours 25 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Pathiratri focuses on the strained relationship between Jainsi, a probationary sub-inspector at the Anakkara police station, and constable Harish, mainly driven by his immature attitude towards women.

After going on midnight patrol together, an unexpected incident changes their lives forever. The series of events that follow forces them to confront the conflicts of their personal relationships, the heavy burden of responsibility, and their fight for the truth.

12. Telusu Kada

• Mould: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashi Khanna, Srinidhi Shetty, Harsha Chemudu, Ravi Maria, Rohini
• Director: Neerja Kona
• Style: romantic drama
• Language: Telugu
• Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Telusu Kadha is a romantic comedy film starring ‘Star Boy’ Siddhu Jonnalagadda in the lead role. His directorial debut, directed by costume designer Neerja Kona, tells the story of Varun, who is torn between two women, Anjali and Raag.

As their love triangle unfolds, Varun proposes a polyamorous relationship, becoming a groupie together. The rest of the film is an exploration of modern love, toxic relationships and emotional immaturity.

13. friend

• Mould: Pradeep Ranganathan, Mamita Baiju, Neha Shetty, R. Sarathkumar, Hridayu Haroon, Dravid Selvam, Satya, Rohini
• Director: keerthishwaran
• Style: romantic action comedy
• Language: tamil
• Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes
• Release date: 17 October 2025

Dude is a romantic action film starring Pradeep Ranganathan in the lead role. Directed by debutant Keertheeswaran, the film is based on a young man named Agan aka Dude, who is caught in the emotional turmoil of romance and love.

As he moves on from the unspoken love, his affection and closeness to his childhood friend Kural forms a strange relationship. How he supports her during a turbulent time, when an unexpected bond is formed, forms the central narrative of the film.

So, which movie are you seeing in theaters this week?

Also read: Raju Talikote passes away at 62 – an emotional goodbye to Kannada cinema’s beloved comedian