South Indian cinema has curated an exciting list of films to watch in theaters this week, especially with Christmas just a few days away. If you’re wondering what to watch, here’s a list of releases.
9 South movies to watch in theaters this week
1.Taurus
- Mould: Mohanlal, Samarjit Lankesh, Nayan Sarika, Ragini Dwivedi, Ajay, Neha Saxena, Vinay Verma, Ramachandra Raju
- Director: Nandada Kishore
- Style: fantasy action drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 17 minutes
- Language: Telugu-Malayalam
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Vrishabha is the story of a powerful and wealthy businessman whose son acts as his guardian. However, after the son visits his native village, the businessman begins to see many visions of his past life.
These visions portray him as a violent and powerful king, whose young ruler, resembling his own son, is his arch rival. Confused by these visions, the son helps his father find peace and begins to search for answers hidden in the past.
2. Champion
- Mould: Roshan Meka, Anaswara Rajan, Kriti Kanj Singh Rathod, Bhavani Neerati, Hyper Adi
- Director: Pradeep Advaitam
- Style: period sports drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 25 December 2025
The story of Champion is based in pre-independence India, at a time when common people were struggling under Razakar rule. During this period, Michael C. Williams, a brilliant footballer, clashes with the imperialists.
As he realizes the harsh realities of the era, Michael decides to use his football skills to stand up against the oppressors. Amidst all this they also find solace in romance.
3. Retta Thala
- Mould: Arun Vijay, Siddhi Idnani, Tanya Ravichandran, Yogi Sami, P. Sai Kumar, John Vijay, Harish Perady
- Director: Chris Thirukumaran
- Style: action thriller
- Runtime: 1 hour 13 minutes
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Retta Thala tells the story of two individuals, Malpe Upendra and Kaali, who come from different backgrounds and have opposite viewpoints. As they collide with each other, the themes of love and money are explored through a high-octane, intense narrative.
The characters are said to exist in morally gray areas, challenging traditional notions of good versus evil.
4. Isha
- Mould: Adith Arun, Hebah Patel, Akhil Raj Uddemari, Siri Hanumanth, Bablu Prithviraj
- Director: Srinivas Manne
- Style: horror thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Isha’s story revolves around four childhood friends who attempt to prove the existence of ghosts and superstitions wrong. Their search leads them to a haunted, abandoned village and a mysterious old house, where they encounter terrifying and unexplained supernatural occurrences.
The film explores what happens to them and whether they survive these events.
5. 45
- Mould: Shiv Rajkumar, Upendra, Raj B Shetty, Rajendran, Kaustubha Mani, Jisshu Sengupta, Pooja Ramachandran
- Director: Arjunjanya
- Style: action comedy
- Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes
- Language: Kannada
- Release date: 25 December 2025
45 focuses on a man experiencing an existential crisis, questioning life, love, and destiny. Blending high-octane action with intense emotions, the film depicts the psychological impact of such turmoil on an individual.
While facing these aspects, man also has to face two entities, one a protector and the other a destroyer.
6. Shambhala
- Mould: Adi, Archana Iyer, Swasika Vijay, Madhunandan, Harsh Vardhan
- Director: Ugandhar Muni
- Style: action horror thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Shambhala focuses on a mysterious meteor crash into a superstitious village in the 1980s, which unleashes supernatural powers and strange behavior among the residents. As the mystery remains unsolved, an atheist takes up the responsibility of uncovering the truth behind the meteor and its effect on the villagers.
The film explores their journey, incorporating elements of science-fiction, horror and mythology.
7. Sirai
- Mould: Vikram Prabhu, LK Akshay Kumar, Anand Thambirajah, Anishma Anilkumar, Harishankar Narayanan, Remya Suresh, Siju Wilson
- Director: Suresh Rajkumari
- Style: action thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Based on a real incident from 2003, Sirai revolves around a police officer who is assigned the task of escorting a criminal from jail to court. What starts as a routine transfer soon turns into a battle for wits and survival.
As their bond develops over the course of the journey, the officer finds himself torn between his duty and his sense of humanity.
8. Sarvam Maya
- Mould: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Janardhan, Preeti Mukundan, Arun Ajikumar, Raghunath Paleri, Madhu Warrier
- Director: Akhil Satyan
- Style: fantasy horror comedy
- Runtime: 2 hours and 27 hours
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Sarvam Maya follows a young man from a Hindu priestly family who is deeply involved in music. While spending time in her ancestral home, she encounters a lovely ghost.
What follows is a comedic tale filled with romance and fear, leading the protagonist to question his faith and identity while forming a bond with a spirit.
9. mark
- Mould: Kiccha Sudeepa, Naveen Chandra, Yogi Babu, Guru Somasundaram, Dragon Manju, Shine Tom Chacko
- Director: Vijay Karthikeya
- Style: action thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Language: Kannada
- Release date: 25 December 2025
Mark explores the story of Ajay Markandey, a suspended police officer, known for his ruthless nature and unwavering determination. As he returns to duty, he faces off against a powerful nexus of gangsters and corrupt politicians to restore justice.
The film highlights how he accomplishes this task and the challenges he faces along the way.
These are some of the major releases of South Indian cinema hitting theaters this week. With Christmas around the corner, it promises to be a festive season on the big screen this year.
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