8 South Films Releasing in Theaters This Week: Satyadev starrer Rao Bahadur to Vishnu Vishal’s Gatta Kusthi 2

South Indian cinema has an exciting slate of films lined up for theatrical release this week. If you're wondering what to watch, here's a list of the upcoming releases.

8 South Films to Watch in Theaters This Week

1. Rao Bahadur

• Cast: Satyadev, Vikas Muppala, Deepa Thomas, Bala Parasar, Anand, Pranay Vaka, Kunal Kaushik
• Director: Venkatesh Maha
• Genre: Psychological Drama
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Rao Bahadur centers on a royal figure who becomes convinced that he is possessed by a malevolent entity, while those around him dismiss his claims and believe he is losing his mind. Trapped in a fading aristocracy, he struggles to distinguish between reality and his terrifying beliefs.

2. Aroopi

• Cast: Vysakh Ravi, Neha Chawla, Joy Mathew, Sindhu Varma, Sakshi Badala, Kannan Sagar, Nebu Abraham
• Director: Abhilash Warrier
• Genre: Supernatural Horror Thriller
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Aroopi follows a vengeful Yakshini who was once sealed inside a doll at the Aryanattu estate and is accidentally unleashed by two thieves. When a brutal murder draws Niranjan, the last surviving heir of the lineage, back to his ancestral home, he must confront an ancient curse and uncover the dark secrets surrounding his family's past.

3. Love Seasons

• Cast: Mukunda Ramaswami, Diya Keerthi, Chandana Gowda, Shwetha Koglur
• Director: Kruthvik Shetty
• Genre: Romantic Comedy Drama
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Love Seasons follows a young dreamer whose life is shaped by three women, each representing a season of love, pain, and transformation. Through broken promises, heartbreak, and hope, he discovers the true meaning of life and relationships in a heartfelt journey where every ending leads to a new beginning.

4. Nagabandham - The Secret Treasure

• Cast: Virat Karrna, Nabha Natesh, Mahesh Manjrekar, Jagapati Babu, Murli Sharma, Ramachandra Raju
• Director: Abhishek Nama
• Genre: Action Adventure Thriller Drama
• Language: Telugu
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Nagabandham - The Secret Treasure revolves around an ancient divine force protected by snake-binding magic and hidden within a sacred temple. As its mysteries begin to unfold, long-buried secrets come to light.

5. Dark

• Cast: Ajay Karthi, Anchana Nethrun, Natarajan Subramaniam, K. Bhagyaraj, VTV Ganesh
• Director: Kalyan K. Jegan
• Genre: Psychological Horror
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Dark follows the terrifying journey of an atheist whose life spirals out of control after moving into a mysterious house with a sinister past. His long-held rational beliefs are challenged as he experiences a series of shocking and unsettling supernatural events within the house.

6. Namkaaldal Hingirlilla Bidi

• Cast: SS Amoghavarsha, Rithya Gowda, Raaghu Ramanakoppa, Yashwanth MK, MC Theirtha, Chandramouli Prabhu
• Director: SS Amoghavarsha
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Language: Kannada
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Namkaaldal Hingirlilla Bidi focuses on an orphaned young man with a spirited heart who hides his deep personal struggles behind an infectious smile. As he navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and unexpected twists in life, he dreams of finding true love and a sense of belonging.

Ultimately, his journey teaches him that family and a place to call home can often be found in the most unexpected ways.

7. Kla Kla Klee Klee Nazriya Thirinjunookki

• Cast: Gautham Harinarayanan, Divya Thomas, Shankar Panicker, Nizar Mamukoya, Vaiga K Sajeeve, Preetha Hari
• Director: KM Hari Narayanan
• Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Language: Malayalam
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Kla Kla Klee Klee Nazriya Thirinjunookki follows colleagues Adithyan and Nazriya, who fall in love. Their lives are turned upside down when Nazriya's family unexpectedly arranges her marriage to someone else without her consent. Determined to stay together, they plan to legally register their marriage the very next day.

However, an unexpected three-day government holiday shuts down administrative offices, forcing them to elope immediately. What happens next forms the rest of the story.

8. Gatta Kusthi 2

• Cast: Vishnu Vishal, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, Karunas, Kaali Venkat
• Director: Chella Ayyavu
• Genre: Romantic Sports Comedy Drama
• Language: Tamil
• Release Date: July 3, 2026

Following the events of the first film, Gatta Kusthi 2 sees Keerthi continue her journey as a professional wrestler pursuing glory at the national level. Meanwhile, Veera takes charge of the household responsibilities and becomes the primary caregiver at home.

As the couple challenges traditional gender roles, they face criticism and ridicule from their conservative community. While balancing domestic responsibilities and personal ambitions, an unexpected turn of events reshapes the dynamics of their relationship.

These are some of the new South Indian films arriving in theaters this week.

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