South Indian cinema has curated an exciting list of films to watch in theaters this week, with January coming to an end in just a few days. If you’re wondering what to watch, here’s a list of upcoming releases.
9 South movies to watch in theaters this week
1. Lockdown
- Mould: Anupama Parameswaran, Charlie, Nirosha, Livingston, Indumati, Rajkumar, Shamji, Lollu Sabha Maran, Vinayak Raj, Vidhu, Abhirami
- Director: AR chord
- Language: tamil
- Style: Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 46 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Lockdown is the story of a young woman named Anita, who experiences a deep fear of returning home. Tormented by unspeakable pain, she is surrounded by the malicious intentions of men who further increase her fear.
When a nationwide lockdown is suddenly announced, she is confined to her home, where every day follows her like an unwanted shadow. His parents are becoming increasingly worried due to his speech, behavior and frequent outbursts of anger.
The film was initially planned for release on December 5, 2025, but was later postponed.
2.Trimukh
- Mould: Sunny Leone, Yogesh Kale, Aakriti Agarwal, Shakalaka Shankar, Mottai Rajendran, Ashu Reddy
- Director: Rajesh Naidu
- Language: Telugu
- Style: suspense crime thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Trimukha is the story of CID officer Shivani Rathod, who is on the hunt for a serial criminal involved in gruesome crimes. Meanwhile, Dr. Yogi, a researcher, investigates a terrifying paranormal phenomenon with his gang.
However, both of their lives change when they realize there is an unexpected connection between their affairs. How they uncover the truth forms the crux of the film.
3. Melissae
- Mould: Kishore Kumar ji, Subatra Robert, George Maryan, Harish Uthman, Dhirav ji, Dhananya Varshini
- Director: Dheeraj ji.
- Language: tamil
- Style: family drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Melissai is an upcoming family drama based on the life of an ordinary man who is passionate about singing. Living with his wife and two children, he dreams of becoming a big name in the music industry, even borrowing money from a moneylender.
However, when his dreams face many obstacles, he must overcome these challenges to ensure the well-being and safety of his family.
4. Vallawara
- Mould: Vedic Kaushal, Master Shayan, Malthesh HV, Harshita R Gowda, Abhay S.
- Director: Sutan Gowda
- Language: Kannada
- Style: coming of age family drama
- Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Valavaara is an emerging drama set in the picturesque landscape of Sakleshpur, Karnataka. The story revolves around family bonds, sibling rivalry and responsibility, encompassing the journey of Kundeshi, a young boy from a farming family who goes through a quest to find a missing cow intertwined with love, loss and his family’s struggles.
5. Prakambanam
- Mould: Ganapathi, Sagar Surya, AL Amin, Rajesh Madhavan, Sheetal Joseph, Prashant Alexander, Kalabhavan Navas, Aziz Nedumangad
- Director: Vijesh Panathur
- Language: Malayalam
- Style: horror comedy
- Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Prakambanam focuses on a group of friends living in a vibrant men’s hostel in Ernakulam, Kerala. His life mostly revolves around campus politics and engaging in various mischiefs, which often makes him the center of attention.
However, their lives take a turn for the worse when they are faced with a shocking event that changes everything. The film shows what happens when their world goes haywire.
6. Seat edge
- Mould: Siddu Moolimani, Raviksha Shetty, Raghu Ramankoppa, Girish Shivanna, Mimikri Gopi, Lakshmi Siddaiah, Kiran Nayak
- Director: Chetan Shetty
- Language: Kannada
- Style: horror thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Siddu, a popular YouTube vlogger known for his creative and viral content, accidentally gets drawn into paranormal investigations, specifically ghost hunting in a notorious haunted town. With cameras rolling, Siddu and his team head into the unknown in the hopes of securing definitive paranormal evidence.
What unfolds is a mysterious and mysterious journey that blurs the lines between content creation and genuine horror.
7. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
- Mould: Tharun Bhaskar Dhassim, Isha Rebba, Brahmaji
- Director: ar live
- Language: Telugu
- Style: satirical comedy family drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi (OSS) is a satirical comedy family drama directed by Pelli Choopulu starring Tharun Bhaskar Dhasyam and Eesha Rebba in the lead roles.
The film is based on the life of Prashanti, a young woman brought up in a traditional and conservative family with patriarchal values. After her relationship with her college lecturer turns abusive, her marriage is arranged with Omkar, a male chauvinist who asserts dominance through violence, plunging their marriage into chaos.
After enduring repeated abuse, Prasanthi eventually fights back, leading to a major change in her life. It then reveals her struggle against social norms and the challenges she faces in her quest for dignity and self-respect. The film is the official Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Jaya Jaya Jaya Haye.
8. Options
- Mould: Prithviraj Patil, Nagashree Hebbar, Harini Srikanth, Ganpati Hegde Vaddinagadde, Ayush Santosh, Swaroop Buch
- Director: Prithviraj Patil
- Language: Kannada
- Style: psychological mystery thriller
- Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
- Release date: 30 January 2026
The Alternative follows a powerful corporate leader who begins to lose his grip on reality as terrifying hallucinations and the re-emergence of suppressed trauma. As the line between truth and illusion blurs, the film descends into a creepy psychological mystery where nothing is certain, not even the mind.
9. Valathu Vasathe Kallan
- Mould: Biju Menon, Joju George, Lena, KR Gokul, Irshad Ali, Vaishnavi Raj, Niranjana Anup, Shyamaprasad
- Director: jeetu joseph
- Language: Malayalam
- Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Style: crime drama thriller
- Release date: 30 January 2026
Valathu Vasathe Kallan is an upcoming crime drama thriller directed by Drishyam director Jeethu Joseph. The film tells the story of a man whose life spins out of control, leading a police officer to launch an important investigation.
As the officer digs deeper, a complex web of deception and lies unfolds, with the truth shrouded in mystery.
The above mentioned movies are among the South Indian movies releasing on the big screens this week.
