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. Funky
- Mould: Vishwak Sen, Kayadu Lohar, Naresh, VTV Ganesh
- Director: Anudeep KV
- Style: romantic comedy drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
- Language: Telugu
- Release date: 13 February 2026
After consecutive box-office flops, Vishwak Sen is all set to make a comeback on the big screen with Funky. Directed by Anudeep KV, the film is based on the life of a quirky and aspiring filmmaker who dreams of making films. Left with no other option, a young producer (played by Kayadu Lohar) steps in to provide the funds, leading to a chaotic turn of events.
What happens during the filmmaking process, how the director and producer develop a romantic bond and the humor surrounding them forms the heart of the film.
2. Pennam Porattam
- Mould: Raina Radhakrishnan, Rajesh Madhavan, Akshay Rajkumar
- Director: Rajesh Madhavan
- Style: social comedy
- Runtime: 2 hours
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Pennam Porattam is based on a village where hidden violence is ready to erupt like a volcano. The film is based on a young woman Charulatha and her pet Dalmatian dog named Suttu.
After a private matter in her life becomes public, Charulata becomes the talk of the town and the focus of mob mentality, social judgment and moral policing. How she deals with these anti-social elements forms the crux of the film.
3. Sweety Naughty Crazy
- Mould: Thriguna A, Srijita Ghosh, Iniya, Thambi Ramaiah, Ravi Maria, Ali Basha
- Director: Rajshekhar ji.
- Style: romantic comedy drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes
- Language: Tamil, Telugu
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Sweety Naughty Crazy is the story of Shiva, a young man who keeps multiple relationships hidden from each other.
As his romantic stories delude him, the film traces the chaos that follows.
4. Couple friendly
- Mould: Santosh Sobhan, Mansa Varanasi, Yogi Babu, Rajeev Kanakala, Livingston, Goparaju Ramanna
- Director: Ashwin Chandrashekhar
- Style: romantic drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
- Language: Telugu, Tamil
- Release date: 14 February 2026
Couple Friendly tells the story of a struggling interior designer and a young IT professional. When they move to a new city, they develop an unexpected bond that turns into romance.
However, as both pursue success, only one is able to achieve the success they desperately need, leading to intense tension. How their relationship develops amidst these circumstances forms the core of the story.
5. Sita Payanam
- Mould: Aishwarya Arjun, Niranjan Sudheendra, Dhruv Sarja, Prakash Raj, Satyaraj, Bithiri Sathi, Arjun Sarja (cameo)
- Director: Arjun Sarja
- Style: family drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 32 minutes
- Language: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
- Release date: 14 February 2026
Actor-director Arjun Sarja returns to the director’s chair after a long gap, with his daughter Aishwarya Arjun in the lead role. Seetha Payanam is a family drama centered on Seetha, an aspiring chef who narrowly escapes a fatal accident that changes her entire outlook towards life.
As she sets out on a journey to express her gratitude to those who saved her, Sita falls in love with Abhishek. However, she harbors a secret that could turn her world upside down.
6. AT: Welcome to the Dark Side
- Mould: Shaju Sridhar, Akash Sen, Nayana Elza, Saran Jith, Rachel David, Sanjana Doss
- Director: donmax
- Style: action thriller
- Runtime: tba
- Language: Malayalam
- Release date: 13 February 2026
AT: Welcome to the Dark Side tells the story of Shivan and Akash, two unrelated individuals who rise up against Kaali, the head of a high-tech empire that deals in imported drugs and illegal media through the Dark Web.
As a deadly race begins to locate a mysterious rogue hacker who holds the encryption keys to this digital underworld, it is revealed that the missing person shares a shocking connection with both the hero and the rival.
7. Pookie
- Mould: Ajay Dhishan, RK Dhanusha, Pandiarajan, Sunil, Shiara
- Director: Ganesh Chandra
- Style: romantic drama
- Runtime: tba
- Language: tamil
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Pookie is the story of Kailash and Aazhi, who have been in love for six years, but one night a heated argument rocks their relationship. When the words “let’s break up” are spoken, what seems like a routine fight turns into a life-changing moment.
This single event sets off a chain reaction that shapes the rest of the film.
8. Sukhmano Sukhmann
- Mould: Matthew Thomas, Devika Sanjay, Jagadish, Manikuttan, Spadicam George, Kudasanad Kanakam, Nobby Marcos, Abin Bynoe, Gibin Gopinath, Sandhya Manoj
- Director: Arunlal Ramachandran
- Style: romantic comedy
- Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Sukhmano Sukhman follows Theo, a shy and lonely young man who becomes an ambulance driver while dealing with personal struggles, searching for love, and interacting with a strange group of “ghosts”.
9. Ka – Forest
- Mould: Andrea Jeremiah, Salim Ghosh, G. Marimuthu, Kamlesh, Akshita, Naveen, Munnar Subramanian, Arjun Singh
- Director: Nanjil
- Style: adventure crime thriller
- Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Ka – The Forest is the story of a wildlife photographer who becomes trapped in a deadly, remote forest. The film depicts his struggle for survival against a cruel and sadistic villain named Victor Mahadevan.
The above mentioned films are among the South Indian films releasing in theaters this week.
Also read: With Love Review: Abishan Jeevinth and Anaswara Rajan deliver a luscious rom-com to melt every hopeless romantic
